I'm scheduled to fly to Europe this weekend. Does anyone have any hard info re: time required to check in? I'm hoping to go to a wedding ceremony before the flight. With the extra time required, I'm not sure this will be possible.

Currently, the official recommendation is to check in at T-3 hours for international flights.

In the past, it was possible to check in 1.5 hours before despite a recommendation of 2 hours and still have plenty of time to make the flight. I'm curious as to whether the current recommendation of 3 hours is realistic or whether 2 is sufficient.

If you are flying in First/Envoy or are a Dividend Miles Preferred customer then maybe 1.5 hrs is okay. If you have to queue up in the economy line, you better give a lot of time. There are 9 outbound Europe flights in about a 3-4 hour window.

If you have no baggage to check, AND you have a paper ticket, then you can go straight to the gate and avoid the main check-in area.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you have no baggage to check, AND you have a paper ticket, then you can go straight to the gate and avoid the main check-in area. </font>

An e-ticket receipt/confirmation should also get you through security if you have no checked bags.

The big lines at the domestic ticket counter are because people can no longer check bags outside at curbside (and those without bags or receipt/ticket can't go right to the gate). But international passengers always had to check-in inside. Of course, increased security procedures could cause a longer wait.

DaveM, I am sitting in the USAirways Envoy lounge as I type. I bought the "three hours in advance for Int'l hooey" - Am on US42 PHL-AMS at 8:15 PM. Figured 3 hours ahead is 5:15 and I'm an hour away so that puts me on the Blue Route at rush hour - so left even earlier!

Breezed through check in and security for B concourse then wlaked to A concourse. Security at A concourse was major backed up, maybe a 15-25 minute wait, as i said B was a breeze.

Good news is I was the first to ask for standby list to use an SWU. Fingers crossed....

I was in one of the PIT City Ticket Offices (CTO) around noon today switching the dates of a ticket when I heard the 'head guy' coming around to the 3 agents telling each of them:

"If people ask about check-in times, tell them the old usual 1 hour/1.5 hour times. There's nobody flying and so no lines."

While I sympathize with the situation, I was surprised to hear them saying this. I suspect it only applies to PIT given that its a CTO - so please don't take this as relevant to all US airports.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Good news is I was the first to ask for standby list to use an SWU. Fingers crossed....</font>

I didn't know you could use the Envoy lounge if you are only on the standby list....In any case, I'm sure you got it with such light loads in light of recent events. You may have been the first on the list in PHL, but what about people who may have checked in from LAX 6 hours earlier?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL:
I didn't know you could use the Envoy lounge if you are only on the standby list....</font>

Judging from your reply, does that mean if he had a confirmed upgrade, he could use the US Air club room? Is this specific to PHL or all of hteClub rooms?



[This message has been edited by irabk (edited 09-19-2001).]

dup

[This message has been edited by irabk (edited 09-19-2001).]

Thank you for all the replies. I will allow my usual 1.5 hours. I'm flying on a discounted ticket and would like to upgrade w/ miles. I called the Silver line 2 weeks ago and was told this fare (H) was not eligible to upgrade w/ miles. Does anyone know if loads are light, exceptions to this will be allowed?

DaveM

It all depends on your charm at the check-in... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif