- Domestic checkin without bags at least 30 minutes before departure.
- Domestic checkin with bags at least 45 minutes before departure.
- International checkin at least 60 minutes before departure.
- There are also a couple dozen exception airports that require more time.
That’s similar to American’s checkin cutoff requirements, though Delta allows for checked bags at US airport just 30 minutes before departure, except at exception airports.
Before 6/28, United’s contract of carriage showed the 30/45/60 minute cutoff as is the policy now.
On 6/28, United updated rule 5 in their contract of carriage that you agree to when purchasing a ticket to require checkin at least 60 minutes prior to domestic flight departures and at least 75 minutes prior to international flight departures. Those times apply regardless of whether you are checking bags or not.
Basic Economy passengers that don’t have a United credit card and aren’t checking luggage can only checkin at the airport, so that would be a massive change for those customers.
As you can buy United tickets for up to about 11 months in advance, I don’t think United could be able to implement those changes until 5/30/25 at the earliest due to existing contract of carriage agreements.
I reached out to United to ask when this change would go into effect and they replied that,
“We’ve updated our Contract of Carriage to allow for possible future changes. However, at this time there has been no change to the check-in times on united.com. Any changes in check-in times will be posted there before they go into effect at the airport.”
So there you have it, no changes for now, but this change in the contract of carriage gives United the option to make changes in the future, though by my calculations, not before 5/30/25.
If things change, it will be posted here.
Of course, United would be at a competitive disadvantage if they did this unilaterally, but maybe they assume that at least American will copy them? Though United’s competitive disadvantage for basic economy passengers not being allowed a carry-on bag or checkin online doesn’t seem to make a difference to the airline.
What do you think of this potential change?
HT: wpcoe
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19 Comments On "Is United Changing Its Airport Checkin Cutoff Time?"
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I don’t fly United unless I have no other choice anyway
I do that for AA – will not fly them unless I have no choice. I stick to Delta and United for domestic travel. International I use international airlines usually belonging to the country I’m flying to and use points to fly J.
Why and who you fliy instead?
What do they gain by having a earlier cutoff?
Not allow you onto the plane without giving a refund. Similar to Spirit airline.
Which helps when they overbook flights
“Oh I’m sorry you didn’t check-in on time, but not to worry as your seat is still available for purchase. The fare difference will only be an additional $400 more. Should we put that on your United Explorer card?”
LOL.
With checked bags, I assume the logistics are easier for them with more time. Most lost bags are probably from late arrivalsz etc.
I disagree. I fly close to 100 United & star alliance flights a year, and around 50% of my bags are delayed or mishandled (& I check lots of them for work) all carriers including United make lots of mistakes, regardless of how early or late check in or connecting time is
-1 for Singapore Airlines
On a connection in Singapore I was literally on the ground for a grand-total of about 6 minutes(!!!). I was first to disembark from the first leg, they waited for me by the gate with a golf-cart, and whisked me off to my connecting flight at top-speed. I was sure that my checked baggage will be left behind, as the connection was so short. Lo and behold, to my surprise it arrived!
Southwest Airlines has this figured out as a science.
Baggage can be transferred between aircraft within seconds, especially for connecting flights
Most other airlines who put their heads to it, can do this as well, both manually and mechanically. Airport Baggage systems are set up to sort and transfer bags within moments of arriving at the stand
Don’t bother with basic economy and you can check in on the app or online up to 24 hours in advance. No problems that way. I ignore basic economy, I make believe it doesn’t exist so I’m not even tempted to buy it
I’ve seen differences of hundreds of dollars on some routes…
I completely agree.
What is the reason they don’t let online checkin for basic economy?
Very simple they want to visually verify you’re not bringing a carry-on! As told by a supervisor @ PHX…
They need to up their CSR business it’s getting worst and ugliest. They all play dumbest when it comes to give same status to family members flying with you on different reservations. Even when it was called in with the premier desk they fail to verify both systems and they refuse to talk to the representative on the phone. I had to call in. Have the premier desk verify it was added. The one @airport couldn’t see it. So the one one the phone added it to the second system it took a good 15min and sure enough we went passed 60min. After she found it in her system. But by a miracle she couldn’t explain she was able to issue the second luggage tag. There is really no reason the assistance desk can’t do it herself by verifying the info directly. She kept claiming it doesn’t exist, never ever happened, never heard of it… even called a “supervisor” that verified that it doesn’t exist ( mind you it was 820pm and she kept winning she wasn’t feeling well she was sick and needed to go home so she wouldn’t bother helping a guy that she claimed was going to TLV while in fact we were only flying to CDG)
Forget about the regular people at the premier checking desk having threatening me that it was fraud and they would call airport police to remove me. I stood my ground calmly, firmly and courteously. Followed up with customer assistance that was on a lower floor and once all this was actually resolved proceeded to bring my luggage to the drop off station. A good 90min. wasted. That could have resulted in us missing our flight to CDG which is the last one of the day and mess us up totally with our schedule and most importantly have us coming very tight into the wedding we are supposed to attend this July 4th in the afternoon in Paris.
Educated and kind personnel makes good CSR people that don’t care have no reason to hold these key jobs. It is companies reputation and reliability that is on the line and serious corporations should not overlook this important part of the business
United has become a large corporation that doesn’t care about the customers
Spirit and frontier are getting better with flexible changes and cancellations while United is racing down to the bottom, As it gets pressure from the shareholders to squeeze a little bit more profit and screw the customers