UA Domestic Bag Cutoff Time Now 45 Minutes (2018)
Sep 13, 2018, 5:53 pm
#1
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Sep 13, 2018, 5:59 pm
#2
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The list of airports which previously cut-off bag check at 45 minutes was pretty long and included all the hubs. Seems like the "exceptions" to 30 minute cut-off were pretty much swallowing the rule.
Dec 16, 2018, 7:41 pm
#3
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If already checked in, what is the checked bag cutoff time?
I always check in on the app at T-24, and almost never check a bag, but I need to on a flight this week. I was trying to figure out what the cutoff is for dropping off the checked bag if I'm already checked in, but the website only seems to refer to cut offs for checking in. Is it the same cutoff?
Dec 16, 2018, 7:46 pm
#4
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Dec 16, 2018, 7:53 pm
#5
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I always check in on the app at T-24, and almost never check a bag, but I need to on a flight this week. I was trying to figure out what the cutoff is for dropping off the checked bag if I'm already checked in, but the website only seems to refer to cut offs for checking in. Is it the same cutoff?
Some domestic airports are 30 minutes for domestic flights, many/most are 45 (example: CVG is 45, despite not being a particularly large or busy airport). Other international airports have other cutoffs, and flying international can have different cutoffs, as well (example: flights to/from Canada have a (pretty strict, IME) 60 minute cutoff). Make sure you give yourself time to actually be at the counter and get the bagged checked before the actual cutoff - simply being in line isn’t going to help (though a sympathetic agent may tag the bag as ‘late’ with you signing a waiver that it’s your responsibility to retrieve it should it not make the flight).
Dec 16, 2018, 8:27 pm
#7
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Dec 16, 2018, 8:50 pm
#8
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45 is soooo stupid at places like EGE or ASE or BZN or JAC. At least UA tends not to be super fascist in enforcing, unlike AA or, God help you, DL.
Dec 16, 2018, 9:09 pm
#9
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Dec 16, 2018, 9:12 pm
#10
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Anyway, reasonably sure the 45 minute limit is really the point at which they *could* reject checking but that they could still allow it too.
Dec 16, 2018, 9:54 pm
#11
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The 60 minutes comes from the US Government requirement to submit APIS data at least 60 minutes before departure, which means that everyone needs to be checked in by that time. Of course, that doesn't directly affect baggage drop-off, but it's obviously less confusing to tie to two together.
Dec 19, 2018, 5:58 am
#12
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I flew recently with AA out of DAY, checked my bag past 45 min cutoff and didn't get a word from the agent about my bag past the cutoff time. Maybe I got lucky that day.
Dec 19, 2018, 6:55 am
#13
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Dec 19, 2018, 7:00 am
#14
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You'd think that at places like MRY as well...but 90% of the time the people checking you in are the gate agents so they like to get everything done and then go to the gate for the inbound arrival and subsequent departure.
Dec 19, 2018, 7:05 am
#15
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the owners of gate checked bags provide their own transportation to the gate. Then they get dropped to the plane below, are some of the last pieces of luggage aboard.Also, Its not uncommon to have limited space or weight allowed for these bags, particularly in the summer on the 739 fleet on short departing runways (SNA comes to mind) or very hot days (PHX)
Regular checked luggage needs to be transported to the plane via baggage carts and needs to be loaded, generally before the gate checked stuff.