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-   -   Checking in the night before (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/1564918-checking-night-before.html)

DeterminedToUpgrade Mar 30, 2014 9:02 pm
Checking in the night before
 
This summer I will be commuting between jobs in Maryland and New Hampshire. For the New Hampshire-Maryland leg, I must take a bus to BOS which arrives at 10:35am or 4:35pm. I would like to try to make early morning flights, but I have nowhere to stay in Boston overnight and cannot afford a hotel every week. Is it at all possible to check in for a flight the evening before, say at 6pm for a 6am flight, and sleep at the airport? I suspect the answer is no, but hope springs eternal.

GUWonder Mar 31, 2014 1:24 am
Originally Posted by DeterminedToUpgrade (Post 22618445)
This summer I will be commuting between jobs in Maryland and New Hampshire. For the New Hampshire-Maryland leg, I must take a bus to BOS which arrives at 10:35am or 4:35pm. I would like to try to make early morning flights, but I have nowhere to stay in Boston overnight and cannot afford a hotel every week. Is it at all possible to check in for a flight the evening before, say at 6pm for a 6am flight, and sleep at the airport? I suspect the answer is no, but hope springs eternal.
Yes. Online computer/smartphone check-in or kiosk or airport check-in can take place the night before with various US characters -- usually up to 24 houses before departure from the first scheduled flight for the upcoming trip origin/stopover/return point.

The picture is less complicated if you only have carry-on luggage.

Whether or not you are allowed to stay at the airport overnight or not, not sure but it won't be very comfortable and yet many have done it at BOS without much issue. Have you thought about using cash back websites to get to Priceline or Hotwire and do "opaque" hotel bookings for BOS area hotels? That usually makes Boston/city or airport hotels way cheaper. That or some play of the credit card churn game may land you a few free hotel nights.

cbn42 Mar 31, 2014 3:41 am
Sure you can sleep at the airport. It's loud and the chairs aren't comfortable, but if you're young and able to take it, no one is going to stop you. http://www.sleepinginairports.net/ has specific advice.

DeterminedToUpgrade Mar 31, 2014 8:40 am
GUWonder, I'll look at getting rooms that way. I have overnighted at DEN and PHX during layovers, so at least BOS is an airport with which I am familiar. Will I be able to clear security the night before? I would prefer to sleep past security. Thanks both.

joethekay Mar 31, 2014 8:48 am
Did you ever consider taking the Amtrak overnight Regional train from Boston to Baltimore? It leave s BOS at 9:30pm and arrives at BWI at 6:30 am. Infinitely more comfortable than sleeping at the airport.

coachrowsey Mar 31, 2014 9:27 am
In CLT one can't get past TSA checkpoint until day of dept.

DeterminedToUpgrade Mar 31, 2014 1:09 pm
I hadn't considered that, joethekay. I checked Amtrak routes from Boston to Washington but not Boston to Baltimore. Great idea. Thanks!

Often1 Mar 31, 2014 2:35 pm
Depending on where you are in NH and where you are headed in MD, consider whether MHT-BWI on WN with flights as early as 6:00 AM.


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