"Airline counter 3 hours before flight time": Absolute?
Jul 22, 2017, 8:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,973
"Airline counter 3 hours before flight time": Absolute?
Our confirmation for a trip starting at BOS says "BE AT AIRLINE COUNTER 3HOURS BEFORE FLIGHT TIME." I would take it that this is a recommendation rather than that we're refused baggage check and boarding if we haven't checked them at the 3-hour mark. We'll plan to get to BOS by inter-city bus that gets to the terminal right at the 3-hour mark and could be a few minutes late. Am I correct that this shouldn't be a worry? What about check-in at FCO for an intra-Europe segment, and at DUS for the final return segment after an overnight?
Jul 22, 2017, 3:53 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,973
The best I can read your reply is that I'm right in thinking three hours isn't an absolute cutoff, but I've read plenty of posts where airlines do have cutoffs, and it's reasonable to ask about it for an airline that's on the LCC side. It's reasonable to ask what would be right for intra-Europe versus transatlantic departures as well. Your post achieves nothing.
Jul 23, 2017, 1:19 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,837
There is absolutely no reason to check in 3 hours early for any airline in the US. AFAIK, all carriers servicing the US insert that language based on DOT recommendations, which aren't for experienced flyers.
Air Berlin actually publishes their check in cut off times at different airports. Some in the US are 60 minutes, others are 90 minutes. At BOS, it is 60 minutes.
https://www.airberlin.com/en/site/checkin.php
Air Berlin actually publishes their check in cut off times at different airports. Some in the US are 60 minutes, others are 90 minutes. At BOS, it is 60 minutes.
https://www.airberlin.com/en/site/checkin.php
Jul 25, 2017, 5:59 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,579
I presume in BOS you're leaving from Terminal E with all the international flights. The airberlin web site blew up when I tried to search for flights so I don't know what time you're leaving. It gets a bit crowded in the terminal for the evening TATL departures, 6 PM on. But I've never seen things run really slow there and usually it is pretty efficient. Of course Airberlin could have a single check in spot open and a long line of pax to check bags. But if I were you, I would not worry.
Aug 7, 2017, 10:08 am
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,635
There is absolutely no reason to check in 3 hours early for any airline in the US. AFAIK, all carriers servicing the US insert that language based on DOT recommendations, which aren't for experienced flyers.
Air Berlin actually publishes their check in cut off times at different airports. Some in the US are 60 minutes, others are 90 minutes. At BOS, it is 60 minutes.
https://www.airberlin.com/en/site/checkin.php
Air Berlin actually publishes their check in cut off times at different airports. Some in the US are 60 minutes, others are 90 minutes. At BOS, it is 60 minutes.
https://www.airberlin.com/en/site/checkin.php
For departures to US/Canada (supposedly starting service to YYZ in 2018), airport check-in begins 3 hours and ends 90 minutes prior to departure.
For departures from US/Canada, airport check-in begins 4 hours and ends 60 minutes prior to departure.