Originally Posted by
lincolnjkc
I almost universally (attempt to) check in as soon as I wake up the day before the stay but when I do that probably 80% of the time I get the digital key at or before check-in time (a couple properties I have more extensive experience with pretty consistently push the digital key around noon -- then follow up with a "how's your stay?" text 10 minutes later even though their check in time is 4pm and I may not have even boarded my first flight yet).
This is because after your reservation is checked in, it pops up within a few seconds on the system the property is supposed to use for chat/messaging guests. The desk agent can either send the generic auto greeting at that time or they can delete the prompt and never send the greeting.