When your flight is running behind schedule (either during bad weather where every flight is late, or if it mechanical and just yours is late), generally do you need to still check-in within 20 minutes or whatever of your original departure time, or the estimated departure time. Tampa Airport is only fifteen minutes from my house. If my 1:00p flight is delayed until 2:30p, I could just stay home until about 1:45. Would my seat be given away if I don't check-in by the original departure time (like it would on a non-delayed flight)?