Starting next month, United Airlines will standardize its domestic check-in cutoff for passengers traveling with or without bags in a move aimed at increasing operational efficiency.
Domestic Check-In Cutoff Increased From 30 Minutes To 45 Minutes On United Airlines
Currently, the check-in cutoffs for domestic flights on United are 45 minutes with a bag and 30 minutes without a bag (there are some airports that require an earlier check-in). A memo to gate agents shared with Live And Let’s Fly explains:
Beginning June 3, customers traveling without checked bags must check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights.
- Previously, this cut-off time was 30 minutes.
- There is no change for customers with checked bags; they still need to check in 45 minutes before departure.
Why are we making this change? We are consolidating the four existing domestic cut-off times into a single, consistent time—45 minutes before departure for all domestic passengers. This adjustment also provides our airport Customer Service representatives additional time to assist customers prior to departure.
The 45-minute cutoff also means the system will clear standbys at the 45-minute mark (before boarding begins) rather than the 30-minute mark. Both revenue passengers and employees (who board in group three) should appreciate being cleared onto a flight with sufficient time to store their carry-on bag and avoid the need to have to check it in due to insufficient overhead bin space.
I’m agnostic about this change and tend to think it will negatively impact very few people…in a world in which it is so easy to check-in online or on the United app (heck, Amazon’s Alexa can even do it for you), there will be very few situations in which someone must check-in so close to departures, even at small stations.
Clearing standbys before boarding makes a lot of sense. I’ve been on standby many times as a Premier 1K and had to wait until midway thorough boarding to recieve my seat assignment…this will make standby easier for everyone except those who may try to add themselves onto the list at the very last minute (and that isn’t generally permitted anyway these days).
CONCLUSION
United Airlines is increasing its domestic check-in cutoff from 30 minutes to 45 minutes for passengers traveling without bags. By standardizing the domestic check-in cutoff at 45 minutes, United hopes to achieve better operational performance and board flights more efficiently. The change makes sense to me, considering how easy it is to check in before you reach the airport.
image: United Airlines
Can anyone help me understand why a US domestic passenger without checked bags would choose to wait until they get to the airport to check in? And if they choose to do so, why would they choose to leave themselves such a small margin of time to stand in a potentially long line? Check in online or take your chances.
Yes, I’ve had the app or website fail me and had to do in-person check in, as many of you have. But common sense tells us that since there’s an obvious problem, then obviously we need to get there early because who knows how much time will be required to straighten it out.
My personal record: it once took Delta 45 minutes and three agents to complete my check-in. But that was a one way international flight to a country that was then engaged in a political pissing contest with the US, so Delta’s caution was entirely understandable.
UA does not allow Basic Economy to check in online without either add a checked bag or add payment on file.
Starting recently, you can check in on the app or online even for Basic Economy.
tangentially:
for domestics, never an issue for reasons you mention, though I avoid all unnecessary apps for data collection practices so use web check-in typically and print boarding pass at kiosk if not possible using web to screenshot, but i do know someone who failed to check-in on-time for intl then bought a refundable ticket on another carrier to pass through security to the gate in-time to have gate staff process check-in (gate staff did call the passenger to inquire and emphasized when boarding would close). Wouldn’t expect that from a US based carrier (I’ve had much worse from both UA and DL in recent memory), but big shout out to ANA for understanding this passenger was on their way.
They aren’t reducing it. . .they are just going to 45 minutes for all passengers just like DL and AA. Big whop!
I should have had my second cup of coffee before writing this, but passengers without checked bags will now have 15 minutes less to check-in…so yes, there are changes coming.
Delta is still 30 minutes for domestic passengers not checking bags. United’s action just makes an earlier demand on some passengers.
FYI Multiple spelling errors.
So I completely agree that standbys should be onboarded at 45 min prior, unfortunately one thing this can mess up is someone with IRROPS.
If you are flying DEN-CLE at gate B18, a savvy traveler and UA app user can quickly pull up rebook options. If the flight to gate B22 is to ORD you should be able to quickly reroute through ORD, as seats are available even after standbys cleared, but if it is now 44min until that ORD flight leaves you are SOL, even though you can get onboard (I have had this happen with 25min, trying to rebook and check in your get blocked). A good agent can force the check in you but this isn’t always the case.
I know this is a niche situation, and maybe just me complaining, but I do wish UA would allow some flexibility if you are rebooking on another flight you are checked in for.