Check-In for Same Day Return?
 

A quick, naive question that hopefully the folks who have done same day trips far more than me can answer: is there a way to check in for a same day return flight prior to departure/within 24 hours?

I flew a round trip same day flight about a year or two ago, and the only way I was able to pull it off was to do it via CSR at the UC. Any other way to do it via the app, website, etc.?

Thanks.

The app will actually split out your checked in leg and "flights eligible for checkin".

I just did it yesterday.

I have done two same-day return flights recently and both times was automatically checked in for the return when checking in for the outbound. It was treated like a connection.

But not allow you to check in for the return until you arrive?

This, although it really depends on how long your layover is, mine were often <4 hours so it just checked me all the way through.

For some reason if you're trying to check bags the agent should be able to check it all the way through at the airport.

No bags. >4 hour "layover"

Previous time I made this trip, essentially the app said I was already checked in for my flight whereas it was only the outbound. No other options to do anything. Only got the outbound mobile boarding pass.

So what you are saying is checking in once checked you on both legs?

Technically not same day, but I had to fly to FLL for dinner one night, and back to IAH early next morning on the first flight out. When I checked in at IAH, the kiosk spit out the return boarding pass for the next morning as well.

I flew from Dulles to Singapore last Sunday, returning on Tuesday. When I checked in at Dulles I was presented with all of my boarding passes.

This is an odd one. Doing a mileage run and returning on same same aircraft as I come in on, with a 1 hr turnaround window. Would this cause any problems?

Assuming you're talking about a domestic flight, should be no problems.

If it's an international flight, then it's a different story.

You will have to exit on arrival and then be re-scanned / board as part of the normal departure.

And in the case of IRROPS and depending on the airport, the aircraft could change.

Doing exactly what you mentioned now (EWR-LAS-EWR). Checked in and got BP's for both flights at T-24 before the first flight.

Did this a couple years ago when I was ~0.5 segments short of Platinum. CLE-ORD-CLE for about $120... Met an ORD-based crew friend for lunch, came back home. Same aircraft, same seat, same gate. Wish I could have left my laptop bag instead of dragging it with me ;)

IIRC, I got both boarding passes when I checked in at around 24 hours out.

As mentioned before, depends on route. I did ORD-MKG-ORD mileage run a few years back when I was ~$100 PQD short and spent more time waiting to push back due to snow ops than I did in the air. As MKG was an outstation, it was the same (and only) UX plane at MKG so I didn't have to worry about a misconnect. Both boarding passes got spit out at the check in kiosk at ORD. Got some funny looks from the stewardess when I got back in the same seat for the return flight.

Yes that is understood.

I am concerened about snow at my origin airport in the morning and then again for my early afternoon arrival back at my origin airport.