Travel Articles

Airport check in times vary depending on a number of factors. This article will explain the difference between recommended, minimum and latest check in times and what this means for you. Hopefully this will save you some unnecessary time at check in before your next flight.

Airlines do not like it when people are late as it costs them money. To help counter this, they usually give out recommended check in times. Typically these will be 2-3 hours before a flight. Furthermore, airlines may state that the minimum check in time is 2 hours before a flight. This is almost always false.

The key number to look out for is what time the check in desk closes. Most international flights close between 40 minutes to 1 hour before. There are a few exceptions such as flights to Israel and other countries with high security. Domestic flights often close just 20 minutes before departure. It is pointless to show up 2 hours beforehand in this case.

Many people used to show up early for check in to try and secure a more desirable seat. However this benefit has been diminished with the introduction of internet check in. Passengers can select their seat and print their boarding pass a few days before the flight. Then, they can simply show up before check in closes if they have baggage and still receive the seat they wanted.

Airline websites usually have information on the recommended check in time prominently displayed. The true latest check in time is usually hidden further down the page. For example, American Airlines suggests that international passengers arrive 2 hours prior to departure and those travelling to/from Mexico arrive 3 hours prior to departure. However, they go on to say that the standard “baggage cut off time” is 60 minutes for all international flights.

On a recent American Airlines trip back from Mexico, I showed up 60 minutes before departure only to find a line of about 300 people in front of me. I simply told an AA staff member on duty that my flight was in 1 hour and she took me to the front of the line and I was checked in 50 minutes before my flight departed. This left plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before my flight. Obviously I don’t suggest you cut it as close as I did. However it is important to be aware that what the airlines suggests to you is not the final deadline.

Before your next flight, take a second to look at the airlines website to find out what the real minimum check in time is for your flight. Remember that if you show up just before the deadline and there is a long line the airline will let you go to the front if you talk to one of the staff. Even budget airlines let you do this, so long as you make it know to an airline employee that your flight is leaving shortly. This article has hopefully opened your eyes to how airlines operate and for your next flight will allow you to understand the real airport check in time.

Christian Webster has spent his life flying all over the world find out the secrets of affordable luxury air travel. To find out more about what he thinks of Airport Check in Times click here Wondering how you can save time and money on air travel, visit his blog now at: http://www.neverflyeconomy.com