If you’re the kind of person who cuts it close and gets to the airport just in time… be careful and pay attention: United Airlines will begin enforcing a new check-in policy starting June 3, 2025. From that date on, all passengers must have completed their check-in at least 45 minutes before the flight’s departure. Why? Because they want to speed up ground operations and reduce pressure at the counters.
This change is going to affect thousands of travellers, obviously, but especially those flying on domestic routes. But there’s no turning back, the airline has already updated its website with the new rules. Want to know more? Here’s what we know.
Why has United Airlines changed this now?
Basically because all airlines are trying to reduce the number of people at the counters and optimize human resources. With more time, the airline can choose to have fewer staff members at the counters, in other words, they want to reduce staff without compromising efficiency.
Of course, this means more responsibility for travellers, mainly because they’ll need to arrive earlier so the staff can handle changes more quickly (reassigning seats, last-minute modifications, etc.)
More control
There’s at least one upside to this change, knowing in advance how many passengers will actually board will allow United to manage overbooking more accurately, a frequent issue in the airline industry.
What is overbooking?
Overbooking is a practice airlines often use where they sell more tickets than there are seats on a flight. Why? Because many people don’t show up for their flight, and when seats go empty, the airline loses money. So that “duplicate” sale helps ensure every seat is filled.
If you’re wondering what happens when both people show us, easy: sometimes they refund one of them, sometimes they find them another available seat, or in some cases they deny boarding (always with some form of compensation).
How will the new check-in work?
Starting June 3, check-in will still be available 24 hours before the flight (as always) online or at the airport kiosks. But if you haven’t completed it 45 minutes before take-off, you’ll lose your seat, even if you make it to the gate on time.
And if I’m not checking luggage?
For flights without checked baggage, you’ll still be able to check in digitally and head straight to security. However, you’ll still have to respect the new 45-minute cutoff. That part doesn’t change.
And what about international flights?
For international flights, the window remains 60 minutes before departure, as always, but, remember that some specific destinations may require more time for document checks (especially where passport stamping or extra paperwork is involved), so maybe you will need to arrive earlier too.
Will this affect frequent travellers?
If you’re a frequent traveller, you will have to change your habits and adjust your schedule! There are no VIP exceptions here.
And while it doesn’t change the check-in process itself, it does force you to arrive earlier to avoid last-minute problems.
Any advice for us?
Even without luggage, any delay getting to the airport, from long security lines to confusion at the gate, could leave you off the flight, so you need to hurry up and arrive earlier to the airport… This new policy makes no exceptions once the check-in cutoff has passed, so we’re all going to have to start showing up earlier at the airport.
With this change, being on time is no longer a guarantee you’ll fly. If you don’t check in on time, you could be left behind, even with your boarding pass in hand.
United will force all passengers to be more organized (by force…)Remember, if you’re flying United starting June 3, set your alarm and double-check your itinerary. Running late is no longer an option! Hurry up!