Opening times of check-in counters at LHR
Apr 23, 2019, 4:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Programs: KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 106
Opening time of check-in counters at LHR
Flying J class in July and the flight departure time is 11:55. Does anyone knows how early can I check-in at LHR? I know check-in counters usually open 3-4 hours before departure time but considering Qatar has so many flight from LHR daily, any chance that I could check-in earlier??
Last edited by chinhk; Apr 24, 2019 at 2:58 am
Apr 23, 2019, 9:03 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
I have checked in at 5 am for 4 pm flight once but they were not happy doping that. As your flight is much earlier I cant see there being a problem with an early morning check in. The desks are constantly manned from about 4.30 am from memory.
Apr 24, 2019, 12:51 am
#3
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 41
I'm in the same situation as you. I'm arriving from Toronto to LGW early morning around 10AM, then have to transfer to LHR for my QR to Doha flight which is at 9:55PM.
I called Qatar's hotline and they did mention that at LHR, the check in's generally open 4 hours before flight departure. With that said, the agent suggested that once I arrive at LHR, to check in my baggage for my flight (same airline just different time of departures) and then feel free to go to the lounge inside or spend time in the city.
Point - if there is an earlier flight, you can try checking for your flight at the same time.
I called Qatar's hotline and they did mention that at LHR, the check in's generally open 4 hours before flight departure. With that said, the agent suggested that once I arrive at LHR, to check in my baggage for my flight (same airline just different time of departures) and then feel free to go to the lounge inside or spend time in the city.
Point - if there is an earlier flight, you can try checking for your flight at the same time.
Apr 24, 2019, 1:57 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
I'm in the same situation as you. I'm arriving from Toronto to LGW early morning around 10AM, then have to transfer to LHR for my QR to Doha flight which is at 9:55PM.
I called Qatar's hotline and they did mention that at LHR, the check in's generally open 4 hours before flight departure. With that said, the agent suggested that once I arrive at LHR, to check in my baggage for my flight (same airline just different time of departures) and then feel free to go to the lounge inside or spend time in the city.
Point - if there is an earlier flight, you can try checking for your flight at the same time.
I called Qatar's hotline and they did mention that at LHR, the check in's generally open 4 hours before flight departure. With that said, the agent suggested that once I arrive at LHR, to check in my baggage for my flight (same airline just different time of departures) and then feel free to go to the lounge inside or spend time in the city.
Point - if there is an earlier flight, you can try checking for your flight at the same time.
Apr 24, 2019, 5:49 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Programs: KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 106
Thanks for the replies. Its really useful to know that the check-in counters are open from 4:30am and it is possible (subject to the mercy of check-in agents/storage space) to check in earlier than 4 hours.
We are currently considering to either:
Leave Cardiff at 5am and arrive LHR around 8am to check-in (early wake-up + the long drive and long day ahead as we have a connecting flight from DOH)
or
Get a hotel room near Terminal 4 and leave Cardiff the night before so that we do not have to worry about the traffic in the morning and waking up too early.
We are currently considering to either:
Leave Cardiff at 5am and arrive LHR around 8am to check-in (early wake-up + the long drive and long day ahead as we have a connecting flight from DOH)
or
Get a hotel room near Terminal 4 and leave Cardiff the night before so that we do not have to worry about the traffic in the morning and waking up too early.
Aug 22, 2019, 4:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
I have a flight coming up with QR in the next couple of weeks, departing LHR at 21.55. It would be easier for me to go to LHR first thing in the morning, check my luggage and then head into my office in London for the day with just my hand luggage. It seems from this thread that it can be a bit hit and miss as to whether the check-in staff with accept luggage early. Is there any leeway based on the class of travel/FF status? I am OW Emerald, flying in J. In T5 BA is more flexible about early check-in for J pax, but not sure if there is maybe just a bigger problem with the luggage system in T4 that might prevent this? If there is a risk I will be turned away I probably won't bother trying for an early check-in.
Aug 23, 2019, 5:10 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Programs: KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 106
I have a flight coming up with QR in the next couple of weeks, departing LHR at 21.55. It would be easier for me to go to LHR first thing in the morning, check my luggage and then head into my office in London for the day with just my hand luggage. It seems from this thread that it can be a bit hit and miss as to whether the check-in staff with accept luggage early. Is there any leeway based on the class of travel/FF status? I am OW Emerald, flying in J. In T5 BA is more flexible about early check-in for J pax, but not sure if there is maybe just a bigger problem with the luggage system in T4 that might prevent this? If there is a risk I will be turned away I probably won't bother trying for an early check-in.
According to the responses on this topic - the check-in counters are open throughout so worth trying and do let us know your experience.
Aug 23, 2019, 5:53 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
I have a flight coming up with QR in the next couple of weeks, departing LHR at 21.55. It would be easier for me to go to LHR first thing in the morning, check my luggage and then head into my office in London for the day with just my hand luggage. It seems from this thread that it can be a bit hit and miss as to whether the check-in staff with accept luggage early. Is there any leeway based on the class of travel/FF status? I am OW Emerald, flying in J. In T5 BA is more flexible about early check-in for J pax, but not sure if there is maybe just a bigger problem with the luggage system in T4 that might prevent this? If there is a risk I will be turned away I probably won't bother trying for an early check-in.
Aug 27, 2019, 4:27 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,745
I have a flight coming up with QR in the next couple of weeks, departing LHR at 21.55. It would be easier for me to go to LHR first thing in the morning, check my luggage and then head into my office in London for the day with just my hand luggage. It seems from this thread that it can be a bit hit and miss as to whether the check-in staff with accept luggage early. Is there any leeway based on the class of travel/FF status? I am OW Emerald, flying in J. In T5 BA is more flexible about early check-in for J pax, but not sure if there is maybe just a bigger problem with the luggage system in T4 that might prevent this? If there is a risk I will be turned away I probably won't bother trying for an early check-in.
Aug 27, 2019, 5:05 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,986
Thanks for the replies. Its really useful to know that the check-in counters are open from 4:30am and it is possible (subject to the mercy of check-in agents/storage space) to check in earlier than 4 hours.
We are currently considering to either:
Leave Cardiff at 5am and arrive LHR around 8am to check-in (early wake-up + the long drive and long day ahead as we have a connecting flight from DOH)
or
Get a hotel room near Terminal 4 and leave Cardiff the night before so that we do not have to worry about the traffic in the morning and waking up too early.
We are currently considering to either:
Leave Cardiff at 5am and arrive LHR around 8am to check-in (early wake-up + the long drive and long day ahead as we have a connecting flight from DOH)
or
Get a hotel room near Terminal 4 and leave Cardiff the night before so that we do not have to worry about the traffic in the morning and waking up too early.
Feb 2, 2023, 1:38 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
Can anyone confirm if the QR LHR check-in desks still stay open continuously from the morning flights through to the last flight of the day?
There are a couple of flights close together at 08.05 and 08.35 in the morning, then an almost 6-hour gap through to the next flight at 14.15. I'm just wondering if I turn up at 9am will I be able to check my luggage or do they now close all check-in desks for a couple of hours after the first flights close?
There are a couple of flights close together at 08.05 and 08.35 in the morning, then an almost 6-hour gap through to the next flight at 14.15. I'm just wondering if I turn up at 9am will I be able to check my luggage or do they now close all check-in desks for a couple of hours after the first flights close?
Feb 2, 2023, 9:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
In my most recent experience of trying for early check-in at LHR (whilst desks were open for an earlier flight in the day), I was able to check in and get my boarding passes. But only because I was hand luggage only. It was made clear to me that, if I had had luggage to check in, I would have been instructed to come back later, at T minus 4 hours, to check in my bag.
Of course, YMMV. I should add that my flight was the second of two A380 flights that were leaving within an hour of each other, so they might have been particularly worried about behind-the-scenes luggage storage space at that time.
Of course, YMMV. I should add that my flight was the second of two A380 flights that were leaving within an hour of each other, so they might have been particularly worried about behind-the-scenes luggage storage space at that time.