Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > American Airlines | AAdvantage
Reload this Page >

Minimum airport check-in & baggage times: Dom 0:45 / Int'l 0:60 (Mar 2016)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Aug 22, 2016, 9:33 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Prospero
Minimum Airport Check-in Times as of March 2016
Includes checked baggage check-in

If you do not check in prior to the cutoff times listed, you may not be able to check in for your flight and you will be unable to check baggage. If you are checked in online and wish to check baggage, you must do so by the check-in deadline.
  • Minimum check-in time at US domestic airports: 45 minutes
  • Minimum check-in time for international flights systemwide: 60 minutes
  • Exceptions:
    Caracas - Maiquetia, Venezuela CCS, : 90 minutes
    Dublin, Ireland DUB: 75 minutes
    Ezeiza - Pistorini Buenos Aires, Argentina EZE: 75 minutes
    Maracaibo, Venezuela MAR: 90 minutes
    St. Thomas, USVI STT: 90 minutes

NOTE: Though previously AA listed both minimum check in and baggage check-in times, that is no longer the case. The minimum check-in time applies to checking in at the airport, with or without baggage.
Print Wikipost

Minimum airport check-in & baggage times: Dom 0:45 / Int'l 0:60 (Mar 2016)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:04 pm
  #1  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Minimum airport check-in & baggage times: Dom 0:45 / Int'l 0:60 (Mar 2016)

No announcement I saw, but the airport arrival and check-in time (even without bags) has been increased to 45 minutes for US domestic flights. (No more 30 minute check-in for any domestic flights, as existed at some non-hub locations.)


Check-in times Link

In most locations, you must be checked in:

At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States

At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States


If you’re beginning travel from any of the airports below, the check-in time is longer:

Departing from: Check-in must be completed by:
(minutes before scheduled departure time)
  • Caracas, Venezuela (CCS) 90 minutes
  • Dublin, Ireland (DUB) 75 minutes
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) 75 minutes
  • Maracaibo, Venezuela (MAR) 90 minutes
  • St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT) 90 minutes
Don't forget: should be at the departure gate by T-30 to avoid the possibility losing upgrades or seats, and AA seek to close the jetway / aircraft door by T-10. (Realistically, if you're not at the gate by T-15, you do forfeit your reserved seat.)

This and the inability to load an electronic boarding pass 30 or fewer minutes from departure - also undocumented - make it imperative to allow sufficient time to check in. And yes, there have been recent instances of passengers being denied boarding when they attempted to check in at T-43 without checked baggage.

Also note boarding times:
Attached Images  

Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 9:39 pm
JDiver is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:09 pm
  #2  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
This person just tweeted about it today, having missed a flight because of it:
https://twitter.com/SDYankee69/statu...81304315125760
JonNYC is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:14 pm
  #3  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by JonNYC
This person just tweeted about it today, having missed a flight because of it:
https://twitter.com/SDYankee69/statu...81304315125760
Wow! And thanks. A little email notification would have gone a long way.

The tweets state Mar h 1 for this change, but I've seen it stated as the 14th. Either way, it affects us now (so I'll change the title as we don't have a solid date).
JDiver is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:15 pm
  #4  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Originally Posted by JDiver
Wow! A little email notification would have gone a long way.

The tweets state Mar h 1 for this change, but I've seen it stated as the 14th. Either way, it affects us now (so I'll change the title as we don't have a solid date).
I -think- AA social media is denying so far? (I might be wrong.)
JonNYC is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:33 pm
  #5  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by JonNYC
I -think- AA social media is denying so far? (I might be wrong.)
I'm not seeing them deny or verify there has been a recent change - merely that it is 45 minutes on the website (which it is, now - but it was still 30 minutes when I read the page at aa.com for work on some hub airport wikiposts).

I've seen where others have been affected.

Well, someone did say "Beware the Ides of March", and that would include March 14.
JDiver is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:35 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,929
What does this mean:

In Orlando (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL), baggage for confirmed flights may only be accepted up to four hours prior to confirmed departure.

Can you only check bags more than four hours prior or only within four hours?
MADPhil is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:37 pm
  #7  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by MADPhil
What does this mean:

In Orlando (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL), baggage for confirmed flights may only be accepted up to four hours prior to confirmed departure.

Can you only check bags more than four hours prior or only within four hours?
Within four hours, I'm sure, but someone hamfisted that one too.
JDiver is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:39 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,929
Originally Posted by JDiver
Within four hours, I'm sure, but someone hamfisted that one too.
That would have been my guess, presumably because of the volume off cruises, but they really ought to employ an editor.
MADPhil is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:46 pm
  #9  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by MADPhil
That would have been my guess, presumably because of the volume off cruises, but they really ought to employ an editor.
A WHAT?
JDiver is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:51 pm
  #10  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Originally Posted by JDiver
I'm not seeing them deny or verify there has been a recent change - merely that it is 45 minutes on the website (which it is, now - but it was still 30 minutes when I read the page at aa.com for work on some hub airport wikiposts).
I probabaly would have been more accurate to say "I can't tell if they're denying it or not."
JonNYC is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:56 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SAN
Programs: AA-EXP; US-Silver; Marriott-Platinum; Starwood-Platinum; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 1,260
Originally Posted by JonNYC
I -think- AA social media is denying so far? (I might be wrong.)
It's not like it's a nasty tweet either - just recommending an email or notice to travelers but TWITTER won't budge from their "check the website" mantra....
AA-Flyer-SAN is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 3:59 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,929
A quick look at DL and UA websites shows that they specify 30 minutes but then have quite long lists of places where it is 45 or 60 minutes. Perhaps AA just decided to move it up and avoid the lists. Some of the reported TSA delays suggest that it may not be enough anyway!
MADPhil is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 4:00 pm
  #13  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Originally Posted by AA-Flyer-SAN
It's not like it's a nasty tweet either - just recommending an email or notice to travelers but TWITTER won't budge from their "check the website" mantra....
As a friend of ours said about this:
It would not at all surprise me if they didn't tell themselves either.
JonNYC is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 4:12 pm
  #14  
Marriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Originally Posted by JonNYC
As a friend of ours said about this:
Love it!

Originally Posted by MADPhil
A quick look at DL and UA websites shows that they specify 30 minutes but then have quite long lists of places where it is 45 or 60 minutes. Perhaps AA just decided to move it up and avoid the lists. Some of the reported TSA delays suggest that it may not be enough anyway!
The TSA issue may have been the catalyst for this move due to the recent publicity of passengers missing their flights due to poor staffing levels at TSA security checkpoints. Of course that still doesn't make for a good reason for AA to not send a blanket email to all AAdvantage members notifying us of the change.
controller1 is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2016, 4:48 pm
  #15  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Originally Posted by controller1
...The TSA issue may have been the catalyst for this move due to the recent publicity of passengers missing their flights due to poor staffing levels at TSA security checkpoints. Of course that still doesn't make for a good reason for AA to not send a blanket email to all AAdvantage members notifying us of the change.
Makes sense to me.
JonNYC is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.