How early can you drop bags for a domestic flight?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 25,746
Given that connections can be up to <24 hours, seems as if it is possible to check a bag that far in advance. So it is likely to be station dependent. They probably won't check bags if there are any gaps in staffing at non-hubs.
Personally I think it is a higher risk of lost or delayed baggage to early check, but can't provide hard evidence as such.
Personally I think it is a higher risk of lost or delayed baggage to early check, but can't provide hard evidence as such.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,294
Just to report back: I checked my bags at the curb between 1230 and 100 for a 530 flight. No one batted an eye. The flight ended up being delayed until almost 7, and despite there being intervening flights, the bags flew with us. They were among the first bags off with the other SkyPriority bags. All in all, it was a great system I fully intend to utilize more when traveling with the family.
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
I’ll be flying into MIA at around 2:00 am on a Wednesday and then flying out around 2:30 pm that same day on Delta. Has anyone tried checking their bag early at MIA lately? I know the official rule is either 4 hours or 6 hours, but I’d like to check the bag ASAP after arrival so I can get back airside for a quick lounge shower and/or leave the airport for a while without needing to haul around my bag. (I know not to tell the agent that I’m leaving the airport.)
Don’t believe I’ve flown Delta out of MIA in at least 10 years, so no idea how things work there. Thanks.
Don’t believe I’ve flown Delta out of MIA in at least 10 years, so no idea how things work there. Thanks.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 25,746
I’ll be flying into MIA at around 2:00 am on a Wednesday and then flying out around 2:30 pm that same day on Delta. Has anyone tried checking their bag early at MIA lately? I know the official rule is either 4 hours or 6 hours, but I’d like to check the bag ASAP after arrival so I can get back airside for a quick lounge shower and/or leave the airport for a while without needing to haul around my bag. (I know not to tell the agent that I’m leaving the airport.)
Don’t believe I’ve flown Delta out of MIA in at least 10 years, so no idea how things work there. Thanks.
Don’t believe I’ve flown Delta out of MIA in at least 10 years, so no idea how things work there. Thanks.
Who are you flying in on? If they interline with Delta then you could have them tag your bags to transfer to DL .
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
I’m flying in on Copa, so no interline possibility. Any idea what time Delta’s counters open at MIA? Googling didn’t yield an answer. Thanks.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 25,746
I looked it up, CM and DL interline. I would ask when checking in with CM. Worst they'll say, no. However it's is possible for them to do so, its a matter of if they're willing to actually do it.
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
I neglected to mention that my Copa and Delta flights are on separate tickets. I know, from Delta’s site, that they’ll only interline on separate tickets to a short list of airlines, but I can’t find Copa’s two-ticket baggage interline policy. I’ll head to the Copa forum for that.
If anyone happens along and knows what time Delta’s counters open at MIA, please post. Thanks again.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 25,746
Interesting; thanks very much. I found the list; Copa has a huge list of non-partner interline agreements.
I neglected to mention that my Copa and Delta flights are on separate tickets. I know, from Delta’s site, that they’ll only interline on separate tickets to a short list of airlines, but I can’t find Copa’s two-ticket baggage interline policy. I’ll head to the Copa forum for that.
If anyone happens along and knows what time Delta’s counters open at MIA, please post. Thanks again.
I neglected to mention that my Copa and Delta flights are on separate tickets. I know, from Delta’s site, that they’ll only interline on separate tickets to a short list of airlines, but I can’t find Copa’s two-ticket baggage interline policy. I’ll head to the Copa forum for that.
If anyone happens along and knows what time Delta’s counters open at MIA, please post. Thanks again.
#28
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,444
Just FYI, the whole point of interlining is because of separate itineraries. If they weren’t separate tix there’s no need to interline. All bags would be checked to destination automatically.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 25,746
Airline ticketing and airline baggage agreements are two separate things. You could get a ticket with VA, CI, and AF flights on it. However you can't check baggage through as VA and AF have no baggage interline agreement.
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009