Last edit by: JDiver
Minimum Airport Check-in Times as of March 2016
Includes checked baggage check-in
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 chevk-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
Minimum airport check-in & baggage times: Dom 0:45 / Int'l 0:60 (Mar 2016)
#1
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Minimum airport check-in & baggage times: Dom 0:45 / Int'l 0:60 (Mar 2016)
No announcement I saw, but the airport arrival and check-in time (even without bags) has been increased to 45 minutes for US domestic flights. (No more 30 minute check-in for any domestic flights, as existed at some non-hub locations.)

Don't forget: should be at the departure gate by T-30 to avoid the possibility losing upgrades or seats, and AA seek to close the jetway / aircraft door by T-10. (Realistically, if you're not at the gate by T-15, you do forfeit your reserved seat.)
This and the inability to load an electronic boarding pass 30 or fewer minutes from departure - also undocumented - make it imperative to allow sufficient time to check in. And yes, there have been recent instances of passengers being denied boarding when they attempted to check in at T-43 without checked baggage.
Also note boarding times:

Check-in times Link
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
If you’re beginning travel from any of the airports below, the check-in time is longer:
Departing from: Check-in must be completed by:
(minutes before scheduled departure time)
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
If you’re beginning travel from any of the airports below, the check-in time is longer:
Departing from: Check-in must be completed by:
(minutes before scheduled departure time)
- Caracas, Venezuela (CCS) 90 minutes
- Dublin, Ireland (DUB) 75 minutes
- Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) 75 minutes
- Maracaibo, Venezuela (MAR) 90 minutes
- St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT) 90 minutes
This and the inability to load an electronic boarding pass 30 or fewer minutes from departure - also undocumented - make it imperative to allow sufficient time to check in. And yes, there have been recent instances of passengers being denied boarding when they attempted to check in at T-43 without checked baggage.
Also note boarding times:
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 22, 16 at 10:39 pm
#2
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This person just tweeted about it today, having missed a flight because of it:
https://twitter.com/SDYankee69/statu...81304315125760
https://twitter.com/SDYankee69/statu...81304315125760
#3
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This person just tweeted about it today, having missed a flight because of it:
https://twitter.com/SDYankee69/statu...81304315125760
https://twitter.com/SDYankee69/statu...81304315125760
The tweets state Mar h 1 for this change, but I've seen it stated as the 14th. Either way, it affects us now (so I'll change the title as we don't have a solid date).
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I -think- AA social media is denying so far? (I might be wrong.)
#5
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I'm not seeing them deny or verify there has been a recent change - merely that it is 45 minutes on the website (which it is, now - but it was still 30 minutes when I read the page at aa.com for work on some hub airport wikiposts).
I've seen where others have been affected.
Well, someone did say "Beware the Ides of March", and that would include March 14.
I've seen where others have been affected.
Well, someone did say "Beware the Ides of March", and that would include March 14.

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What does this mean:
In Orlando (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL), baggage for confirmed flights may only be accepted up to four hours prior to confirmed departure.
Can you only check bags more than four hours prior or only within four hours?
In Orlando (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL), baggage for confirmed flights may only be accepted up to four hours prior to confirmed departure.
Can you only check bags more than four hours prior or only within four hours?
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A quick look at DL and UA websites shows that they specify 30 minutes but then have quite long lists of places where it is 45 or 60 minutes. Perhaps AA just decided to move it up and avoid the lists. Some of the reported TSA delays suggest that it may not be enough anyway!
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#14

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Love it!
The TSA issue may have been the catalyst for this move due to the recent publicity of passengers missing their flights due to poor staffing levels at TSA security checkpoints. Of course that still doesn't make for a good reason for AA to not send a blanket email to all AAdvantage members notifying us of the change.
A quick look at DL and UA websites shows that they specify 30 minutes but then have quite long lists of places where it is 45 or 60 minutes. Perhaps AA just decided to move it up and avoid the lists. Some of the reported TSA delays suggest that it may not be enough anyway!
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...The TSA issue may have been the catalyst for this move due to the recent publicity of passengers missing their flights due to poor staffing levels at TSA security checkpoints. Of course that still doesn't make for a good reason for AA to not send a blanket email to all AAdvantage members notifying us of the change.