United Airlines Says No to Last-Minute Check-In—Here’s What You Need to Know

United Airlines Says No To Last Minute Check In—here’s What You Need To Know

Planning to breeze through airport check-in last minute? United Airlines just said, not anymore.

Starting June 3, United is enforcing a new rule for all domestic flyers: you’ve got to check in at least 45 minutes before takeoff, even if you’re not checking a bag. No exceptions. No more 30-minute cutoffs. Just 45 solid minutes—or risk getting left behind while your plane heads off without you.

This move brings United’s check-in cutoff in line with what most major U.S. airlines already do. American and Delta? Same deal. So if you’re flying United and thinking you’ve got extra time, think again.

“This change helps ensure a smoother boarding experience for everyone and keeps flights running on time,” United said in a statement reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Let’s break it down: you’ve still got 24 hours to check in online or via the app. That hasn’t changed. But if you’re rolling into the airport thinking you can check in 29 minutes before your flight—United says nope. That boarding pass might not happen.

Miss the 45-minute cutoff and United might try to help. But they’re not making any promises. You could be rebooked or bumped. Worst case, your seat’s gone. Your trip starts with a sad latte in the terminal instead of wheels up.

International flights? The one-hour minimum still stands. That hasn’t changed.

The shift comes just in time for the summer travel surge, when airports turn into chaos factories and check-in lines stretch longer than a Marvel movie post-credits scene.

Some flyers online weren’t thrilled.

“I was already sprinting to make it through security. Now I need a 15-minute head start just to check in?” one traveler posted on Reddit. Another joked, “At this rate, I’m going to need to check in the day before just to be safe.”

But others welcomed the change. “Consistency is good,” one frequent flyer told AP News. “I’d rather everyone play by the same rules.”

Fair point. Nobody likes confusion at the airport. And if this helps avoid delays? It might be worth setting that alarm 15 minutes earlier.

United’s goal is simple: less chaos, more on-time flights. Whether you see that as a win or a nuisance probably depends on how early you like to arrive.

Bottom line—show up, check in early, and maybe skip that extra episode of Succession before heading to the airport. The clock’s ticking.