Be careful on those tricky international tickets with a domestic leg first.

I was going last Xmas EWR-SEA-YVR. I got caught in some traffic, so instead of getting their 90 minutes before, I got there 40 mintues before (plenty of time for a domestic).

Problem is you can't check in at the curb, you HAVE to check in at the counter, so that means a line which means a wait. Also, on this particular trip the international agent told me that they couldn't check me in because I am on a international flight and it was UNDER the cutoff time to check in even though my first leg was DOMESTIC! She couldn't do anything.

So, I ran with my suitcase to the gate, had to gate agent give me a gate baggage check, checked through to YVR and was able to board. But it wasn't fun doing my OJ impersonation with my 29" Rolling bag to the gate.

So be wary, even if the flight's first leg is domestic, even if you are changing plans, they treat the ticket as international.

- HobokenFlyer

Also, I tried to standby on a earlier flight than ticketed from SEA-YVR, but I was denied because they will not fly international baggage without the passenger on the plane anymore. This is not a CO thing; this is an FAA thing.