United Tightens Check-In Deadline for Domestic Flights
United Airlines is changing its check-in policy for domestic flights, setting a stricter deadline for travelers to officially confirm their intent to fly. Starting June 3, all passengers—regardless of whether they are checking bags—must check in at least 45 minutes before departure. This marks a shift from United’s previous rule that allowed passengers without checked luggage to check in up to 30 minutes before takeoff.
United confirmed the change to Afar, explaining that the adjustment is meant to create consistency across its domestic check-in and baggage deadlines. The airline emphasized that passengers who fail to check in on time will need to explore “other options” and may be denied boarding. According to United’s website, the check-in requirement for international flights remains unchanged at 60 minutes before departure.
This update aligns United with the policies of fellow legacy carrier American Airlines, which already requires all domestic passengers to check in 45 minutes in advance. Delta Air Lines also recently modified its policy. As of April 8, Delta now mandates that travelers with checked bags check in 45 minutes before departure, while those without bags can still check in 30 minutes prior.
The evolving rules across major U.S. carriers are part of a broader push to streamline operations and minimize delays. According to United, syncing the check-in and baggage cutoffs ensures that flights depart on time with all passengers and bags accounted for.
The varying check-in rules among airlines, however, may still cause confusion. Carriers such as Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier publish minimum check-in times ranging from 30 to 60 minutes, and some airports impose stricter requirements regardless of airline policy. For example, United already required a 45-minute check-in deadline for flights departing from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport even before this policy change.
In the era of mobile apps and online check-ins, many travelers complete the process up to 24 hours in advance. But these cutoffs apply specifically to those who choose to check in at the airport in person. Doing so confirms your intention to fly, secures a boarding pass, and assigns a seat if one wasn’t already selected—all essential steps to ensure boarding.
So what’s the best way for passengers to avoid getting tripped up by changing airline policies? Experts agree: arrive early. While the “airport theory” trend that went viral earlier this year suggested travelers can breeze through the airport in just 15 minutes, the reality is far less predictable. Traffic, long TSA lines, and gate changes can all derail even the most tightly planned schedule.
Most airlines recommend arriving at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours before departure for international travel. This buffer helps ensure you have enough time to check in, drop bags, clear security, and reach your gate stress-free—even with the new 45-minute cutoff in place.
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