Check in for flight home

[pandv_2000]

Hi we are flying home tomorrow with united via Washington Because our first flight is a domestic one how soon before the flight should we be checking in? Thank you

 

[jen_uk]

We flew US Airways last year via Charlotte and got to the airport about 3 hours before the flight, I thought it would be chaos but actually the check in only took a couple of minutes as it was automated. If you are flying with US then an hour and a half to two hours should be fine. I know some people get there 45 mins before but I would panic over that!

 

[2Tiggies]

When we flew with United via Newark in 2011 we were told to be at the airport 3 hours ahead as they did the check in for both the domestic and the international sectors at the check in point for the first flight. I don't know if that's the 'rule' or if it was just who we happened to speak to. Are you driving yourselves to the airport?

Magical express also treated our first flight from MCO as an international one and collected us nearly 4 hours before our departure time

 

[pandv_2000]

We are driving ourselves but will give ourselves the 3 hours just in case. Thanks

 

[foxxxy83]

My partner and I had a domestic flight Vegas to New York (JFK) last year and we had to be there 3 hrs beforehand. Don't know if that applies to all domestic flights in US but as it's already been mentioned before, would take it as that's what US standard is.

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't think you'd run into any difficulty on a 'regular' day at MCO if you were there 90 minutes before departure. But it's the unexpected delays you have to take into account. Last year they were swabbing laptops, gadgets, people .... security line was backed up like I haven't seen it before! We should have actually missed our flight but were fortunate enough (or not, depending how you look at it ) that they held it for us. If you're quite chilled out about traveling and have a half decent travel insurance it's not the end of the world as long as you have checked in within the required time frame. If you have a tendency to worry then maybe leave yourselves some extra time