Aug 22, 2016, 9:33 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Minimum Airport Check-in Times as of March 2016
Includes checked baggage check-in
If you do not check in prior to the cutoff times listed, you may not be able to check in for your flight and you will be unable to check baggage. If you are checked in online and wish to check baggage, you must do so by the check-in deadline.
NOTE: Though previously AA listed both minimum check in and baggage check-in times, that is no longer the case. The minimum check-in time applies to checking in at the airport, with or without baggage.
Includes checked baggage check-in
If you do not check in prior to the cutoff times listed, you may not be able to check in for your flight and you will be unable to check baggage. If you are checked in online and wish to check baggage, you must do so by the check-in deadline.
- Minimum check-in time at US domestic airports: 45 minutes
- Minimum check-in time for international flights systemwide: 60 minutes
- Exceptions:
Caracas - Maiquetia, Venezuela CCS, : 90 minutes
Dublin, Ireland DUB: 75 minutes
Ezeiza - Pistorini Buenos Aires, Argentina EZE: 75 minutes
Maracaibo, Venezuela MAR: 90 minutes
St. Thomas, USVI STT: 90 minutes
NOTE: Though previously AA listed both minimum check in and baggage check-in times, that is no longer the case. The minimum check-in time applies to checking in at the airport, with or without baggage.
Minimum airport check-in & baggage times: Dom 0:45 / Int'l 0:60 (Mar 2016)
Jul 17, 2016, 12:25 pm
#91
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Thanks. I did write into CS and immediately got a reply after only a few hours. They linked me to the CoC and said it contains "detailed information" on the baggage cutoff time. Which it most certainly does not.
In the grand scheme of things this is not a hill I want to die on, but it is emblematic of the program you, yourself, just mentioned. AA has dozens of policies that are not clearly described or communicated in any way.
I've heard all the excuses:
The merger, lots of new employees, IT challenges, culture change, etc. It all goes back to one thing: you have an obligation to act in good faith with contracts and your customers. If you purposely don't disclose information, rely on its dissemination through opaque channels, and do not attempt to fix issues once they are raised - that is not acting in good faith.
In the grand scheme of things this is not a hill I want to die on, but it is emblematic of the program you, yourself, just mentioned. AA has dozens of policies that are not clearly described or communicated in any way.
I've heard all the excuses:
The merger, lots of new employees, IT challenges, culture change, etc. It all goes back to one thing: you have an obligation to act in good faith with contracts and your customers. If you purposely don't disclose information, rely on its dissemination through opaque channels, and do not attempt to fix issues once they are raised - that is not acting in good faith.
Of all the complaints that one can make about the current state of AA operation/policies/lack of transparency, etc.,, this one strikes me as very trivial.
Jul 17, 2016, 1:43 pm
#92
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Birmingham, AL
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA Plat
Posts: 131
None of this is going to change, so, how it is is how it is. I personally don't think a cut-off time of 45 minutes for checked bags is even remotely burdensome or unreasonable. And, as pointed out, not really all that confusing either.
Of all the complaints that one can make about the current state of AA operation/policies/lack of transparency, etc.,, this one strikes me as very trivial.
Of all the complaints that one can make about the current state of AA operation/policies/lack of transparency, etc.,, this one strikes me as very trivial.
Not to mention you are ignoring that the policy was recently changed without announcement.
I never said 45 minutes is unreasonable. I said AA needs to communicate cutoff times clearly, not keep outdated information on their website, and if they make a change actually consider communicating.
Jul 17, 2016, 1:49 pm
#93
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Birmingham, AL
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA Plat
Posts: 131
You all can say, "AA doesn't make this clear", "AA is so bad", etc. etc. But it doesn't change the fact that checking luggage is part of the check in process and its quite clear on the website that the check in process has to be completed at least 45 minutes prior to departure. Just because you have checked in online doesn't exempt you from check in time requirements.
Don't blame the airline for not getting to the ticket counter in enough time.
Don't blame the airline for not getting to the ticket counter in enough time.
They had a very detailed and clear policy -- as Delta and United still do -- on their website. No issue with changing the time to 45 minutes. But put that in the CoC or on the baggage information page.
Gary Leff actually has a post on this from June. He didn't know about it either. Do you think Gary is uninformed when it comes to airline policies? Is he not capable of understanding their policies?
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 9:55 pm Reason: Redacted unfriendly bit
Jul 17, 2016, 1:57 pm
#94
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Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 9:55 pm Reason: Redacted previously deleted post content
Jul 17, 2016, 3:27 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
Also in my opinion this time-limit should manually be over-ridden with
supervisory intervention ! I can understand that for large airports the
45 minute limit is needed but for smaller airports this could be little
flexible.
I had a similar issue with Air Canada in Boston where their baggage
check-in and baggage loading is literally next to each other. They were
able to accept my baggage when I had missed the cut-off time by couple
of minutes or so.
I do understand that there needs to be time given for TSA security etc. but
in certain situations, this policy should be a little flexible when it is
possible to load the baggage without delaying the flight..
Not everything need to be controlled by computers !
F.A.
supervisory intervention ! I can understand that for large airports the
45 minute limit is needed but for smaller airports this could be little
flexible.
I had a similar issue with Air Canada in Boston where their baggage
check-in and baggage loading is literally next to each other. They were
able to accept my baggage when I had missed the cut-off time by couple
of minutes or so.
I do understand that there needs to be time given for TSA security etc. but
in certain situations, this policy should be a little flexible when it is
possible to load the baggage without delaying the flight..
Not everything need to be controlled by computers !
F.A.
Jul 17, 2016, 3:42 pm
#96
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
<redacted>
The actual policy is published on the AA website. At https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/arrival-times.jsp , it states
"In most locations, you must be checked in At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States"
This seems to be something that could reasonably be relied upon
Checking a bag in , is part of checking in.
Since the bag was not checked in at least 45 minutes before departure , then it was after the listed check in time
The actual policy is published on the AA website. At https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/arrival-times.jsp , it states
"In most locations, you must be checked in At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States"
This seems to be something that could reasonably be relied upon
Checking a bag in , is part of checking in.
Since the bag was not checked in at least 45 minutes before departure , then it was after the listed check in time
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 9:57 pm Reason: Redacted previously deleted post content
Jul 17, 2016, 10:40 pm
#97
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
Also in my opinion this time-limit should manually be over-ridden with
supervisory intervention ! I can understand that for large airports the
45 minute limit is needed but for smaller airports this could be little
flexible.
I had a similar issue with Air Canada in Boston where their baggage
check-in and baggage loading is literally next to each other. They were
able to accept my baggage when I had missed the cut-off time by couple
of minutes or so.
I do understand that there needs to be time given for TSA security etc. but
in certain situations, this policy should be a little flexible when it is
possible to load the baggage without delaying the flight..
Not everything need to be controlled by computers !
F.A.
supervisory intervention ! I can understand that for large airports the
45 minute limit is needed but for smaller airports this could be little
flexible.
I had a similar issue with Air Canada in Boston where their baggage
check-in and baggage loading is literally next to each other. They were
able to accept my baggage when I had missed the cut-off time by couple
of minutes or so.
I do understand that there needs to be time given for TSA security etc. but
in certain situations, this policy should be a little flexible when it is
possible to load the baggage without delaying the flight..
Not everything need to be controlled by computers !
F.A.
<redacted>
Since March 2016, the check-in cutoff time has been 45 minutes before departure for domestic flights regardless or whether or not you are checking bags. Although Ross Feinstein has clarified that AA can technically issue a boarding pass up to 30 minutes before departure, that is not what is published in the contract of carriage.
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 9:58 pm Reason: Redacted previously deleted post content
Aug 22, 2016, 6:54 pm
#99
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Check-in times
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 9:15 pm Reason: Redacted unfriendly bits
Aug 22, 2016, 9:18 pm
#100
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Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Jan 24, 2023, 5:15 pm
#101
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ABQ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Southwest A-List
Posts: 1,426
Sorry to resurrect an old thread…
so if you’re checking in for a domestic flight that connects to an international flight, so you have to be at the checkin desk with your bags 45 or 60 mins before the first flight?
so if you’re checking in for a domestic flight that connects to an international flight, so you have to be at the checkin desk with your bags 45 or 60 mins before the first flight?