Aug 3, 2013, 7:10 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
How early may I check my bags before a UA flight?
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...s/default.aspx says,For flights within the U.S., as well as most international flights, baggage will generally not be accepted for check-in more than four hours before a scheduled flight departure, although this policy varies by airport and daily check-in counter hours.
There are reports in this thread of check-in agents allowing bag check in earlier than four hours prior to departure.
May bags be checked in the night before?
If it is more than four hours before scheduled departure, no, and there areno reports some reports for higher elites of a few hour earlier in this thread to the contrary.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...s/default.aspx says,For flights within the U.S., as well as most international flights, baggage will generally not be accepted for check-in more than four hours before a scheduled flight departure, although this policy varies by airport and daily check-in counter hours.
There are reports in this thread of check-in agents allowing bag check in earlier than four hours prior to departure.
May bags be checked in the night before?
If it is more than four hours before scheduled departure, no, and there are
Consolidated "How Early Can I Check My Luggage Before a UA Flight?" Thread [Merged]
Mar 26, 2012, 1:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
Consolidated "How Early Can I Check My Luggage Before a UA Flight?" Thread [Merged]
We have a 6:20 AM flight out of SLC this weekend. We have a lot of bags (Ski bag, boot bag, 4 other pieces of luggage, car seat etc). We also have to return a rental car using after-hour policy at 4:00 AM.
Is there any chance we can check in our luggage the night before? This way we only have to deal with rental car return the morning of the flight? I looked everywhere for information - without any success.
Thanks!
Is there any chance we can check in our luggage the night before? This way we only have to deal with rental car return the morning of the flight? I looked everywhere for information - without any success.
Thanks!
Mar 26, 2012, 1:59 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
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We have a 6:20 AM flight out of SLC this weekend. We have a lot of bags (Ski bag, boot bag, 4 other pieces of luggage, car seat etc). We also have to return a rental car using after-hour policy at 4:00 AM.
Is there any chance we can check in our luggage the night before? This way we only have to deal with rental car return the morning of the flight? I looked everywhere for information - without any success.
Thanks!
Is there any chance we can check in our luggage the night before? This way we only have to deal with rental car return the morning of the flight? I looked everywhere for information - without any success.
Thanks!
Just drive everyone to the airport terminal, and have them check-in your bags for you in their name while you return the car.
Mar 26, 2012, 2:09 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
... going to be hard with a sleepy 4 yr old but what can one do! Hoping that curbside check-in will be open.
Mar 26, 2012, 2:31 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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I feel you pain, I have done a similar thing with my two young kids, but if you return the car at 4AM you should be totally fine (I haven't been through SLC in a while but check-in is unlikely to open before 4AM)
Mar 26, 2012, 4:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Get a cheap hotel room at the airport for the night before. Leave all your stuff there and go return your rental car (which depending when you picked it up might save you a day's rental car charges). That way you can stay with your family and take the shuttle straight to airport in the morning and be dropped off right at departures.
Mar 26, 2012, 5:28 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
Get a cheap hotel room at the airport for the night before. Leave all your stuff there and go return your rental car (which depending when you picked it up might save you a day's rental car charges). That way you can stay with your family and take the shuttle straight to airport in the morning and be dropped off right at departures.
Mar 26, 2012, 7:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Well, we have a 2 month car rental, and a 2 month townhouse rental - so we won't save any money by returning the car a day early... and since we are not staying with family, it is not a big incentive for us to get a hotel room and dump our stuff there. We just did not want to deal with luggae and rental car return in the morning. Thanks for trying to help!
Mar 26, 2012, 8:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NJ
Programs: Avis Preferred, Hertz #1 Gold, National Exective, United Premier Silver
Posts: 1,363
Salt Lake Int’l Airport (SLC)
Terminal 1
776 Terminal Rd.
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
6:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Sun-Fri; .5:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Sat
Terminal 1
776 Terminal Rd.
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
6:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Sun-Fri; .5:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Sat
I am assuming you are flying on Saturday? If so, why are you planning in getting to the airport fot 4:00am? The check in counter will not be open until 5:15am.
What is your car rental company's off-hours return policy? Are they on or off property?
As far as early baggage check goes. Despite the 4 hour rule, one should be able to check bags at any point during the "business day" of departure.
Mar 28, 2012, 9:35 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
The above is from United.com.
I am assuming you are flying on Saturday? If so, why are you planning in getting to the airport fot 4:00am? The check in counter will not be open until 5:15am.
What is your car rental company's off-hours return policy? Are they on or off property?
As far as early baggage check goes. Despite the 4 hour rule, one should be able to check bags at any point during the "business day" of departure.
I am assuming you are flying on Saturday? If so, why are you planning in getting to the airport fot 4:00am? The check in counter will not be open until 5:15am.
What is your car rental company's off-hours return policy? Are they on or off property?
As far as early baggage check goes. Despite the 4 hour rule, one should be able to check bags at any point during the "business day" of departure.
Car rental is on property - so that is a saving grace. Their counters close at midnight and do not open till 7:00 AM. We have to use the after-hour return service.
PS I tried to find a number for UA offices at SLC - no luck. Does anyone know how to get in touch with them without having to drive up there? Thanks!
Last edited by pindi; Mar 28, 2012 at 9:47 am
Jun 4, 2012, 6:24 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: Alas, the Gravy Train Hath Ended...just happy to be an OW Sapphire and a ST Ivory...whatever
Posts: 4,389
Along these same lines, I am taking the evening p.s. flight LAX-JFK, but have to check-out of my Santa Barbara hotel at noon. If I shuttle to LAX around noon, can I check my bag then (10 hours or so early)? It will be the same day with no baggage left overnight. I know that the supposed cutoff is 4 hours, but if it is same-day, would they let you do that at LAX for 10+ hours?? 
Jun 4, 2012, 7:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 191
Along these same lines, I am taking the evening p.s. flight LAX-JFK, but have to check-out of my Santa Barbara hotel at noon. If I shuttle to LAX around noon, can I check my bag then (10 hours or so early)? It will be the same day with no baggage left overnight. I know that the supposed cutoff is 4 hours, but if it is same-day, would they let you do that at LAX for 10+ hours??
As long as flights are still going, checking early typically isn't an issue unless the parking lot gets full--which typically doesn't happen unless of major IRROPS or no more flights are scheduled for the night and they shutdown the parking conveyor for the night at which most airports want the belt empty and jettison out any baggage to baggage services.
Jun 25, 2012, 9:41 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: UA
Posts: 257
Consolidated "How Early Can I Check My Luggage Before a UA Flight?" Thread [Merged]
I will have an early departure at around 5 am in SIN (SIN-HKG). Since the *G lounge opens 24 hours, I am thinking of staying a fews hours in the lounge or in the air-side transit hotel.
Question: can one give the luggage to UA the day before? Say, 8 PM in the evening before the departing day.
As I remembered, the security check at sIN is at the spot near the gate. Can I just take the luggage with me in the lounge the day before and check it on the day of departure?
Question: can one give the luggage to UA the day before? Say, 8 PM in the evening before the departing day.
As I remembered, the security check at sIN is at the spot near the gate. Can I just take the luggage with me in the lounge the day before and check it on the day of departure?
Jun 25, 2012, 9:48 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: *Gold / HHonors Gold
Posts: 395
I will have an early departure at around 5 am in SIN (SIN-HKG). Since the *G lounge opens 24 hours, I am thinking of staying a fews hours in the lounge or in the air-side transit hotel.
Question: can one give the luggage to UA the day before? Say, 8 PM in the evening before the departing day.
As I remembered, the security check at sIN is at the spot near the gate. Can I just take the luggage with me in the lounge the day before and check it on the day of departure?
Question: can one give the luggage to UA the day before? Say, 8 PM in the evening before the departing day.
As I remembered, the security check at sIN is at the spot near the gate. Can I just take the luggage with me in the lounge the day before and check it on the day of departure?