HOW EARLY SHOULD I BE AT THE AIRPORT?

The rule of thumb for airport check-in is 2-2½ hours before your scheduled flight departure. They will not issue boarding passes or check your bags more than 3 hours before your flight. We do not make the rules, though it does make life and your experience much more relaxed by following them.

Checking-In

The check in counter is just the beginning but can cost you a lot of time. Consider that most of the people checking-in in front of you is probably departing around the same time you are. So that being said, you are not any more stressed than they are about getting to the gate! You will find that most of the airlines have become computerized in their check-in process. Welcome to the Electronic Age! Be prepared by having your credit card and your picture id at the ready!! You will also hear this over the loud speaker so much that you will be dreaming about it for nights to come.

Depending on the airline, as you approach the check in counter, you will see a computer kiosk and just follow the prompts. If all else fails, the agent will be glad to help. Just touch to screen to begin and it will ask you how many passengers are flying on your booking number as well as how many checked bags you have per person. At this point the agent will weigh your luggage, print out your suitcase tags and your boarding pass. Be prepared to hand over your picture id, (regulations will soon be changing and passports will be the only accepted photo id) and your credit card as some airlines charge to check luggage, or in case you exceed the weight limit. Most Agents will allow you to shift things if you’re suitcase are slightly overweight; but by weighing your luggage ahead of time you can avoid this.

Post 9/11 security has the right to inspect your checked luggage. If you insist on having a lock, make sure that the one you get has the TSA approved logo as they allow airport security officers to inspect your bags. Any lock that does not have the TSA logo will be cut off and all luggage is subject to be searched.

Make sure you SMILE while the agent is reviewing your stunning photos on your five-year-old driver's license or mug-shot picture (passport). Don’t be frightened; they are just looking for any resemblance of the person in the photo. Once they realize that it is in fact you, the agent will hand back your id, credit card and boarding pass but say goodbye to your suitcase. If you are checking bags this is where you will be saying "see you on the other side." Prepare to still have your Driver’s license or passport and boarding pass handy; you will still need it for security.

What Will Speed The Process Along?

There is really no way to make things go faster, as lines and the number of staff agents working to check people in as well as the time it takes to get through security varies and is unpredictable. You can definitely help yourself and those around you by having your travel documents and credit card ready. Plus having your checked baggage weighed before you get to the counter, this allows the agent to get you swiftly checked in and on your way to security.

For Southwest Passengers

If you are flying Southwest, you can pre-print your boarding pass as early as 24 hours before your scheduled flight departure on Southwest’s website! Because Southwest does not have assigned seating, the earlier you check in, the better the number you will get for boarding.

Southwest boards by letter and number, first they board the A group, then B group, and last the C group. Boarding will go something like this: A 1-15, A 16-30, A 30-45, B 1-15, B 16-30…. and so on. For example, if your ticket says A-36, then you will be boarding nestled in between ticket holders A-35 and A-37 in the corresponding group A 30-45 called by the boarding agent. Someone who checks in online 24 hours in advance will likely get really good seating. If you wait until you are at the airport to check in, there is a good chance group C will be printed on your ticket. For those of you who are interested, Southwest has an early bird check-in that allows you to check-in 36 hours before your scheduled departure; however, this is a $10 charge but it is a small price to pay for good seating. Considering Southwest is less expensive than your bigger Airlines, and they don’t charge for checked baggage, $10 is a drop in the bucket.
Once on board, there is open seating so you may sit wherever you wish, providing of course that another passenger does not already occupy the seat.