What is "checking in" at the airport and how to do it online?!

[moopdog]

I noticed that we can check in up to 24 hours before our flight from our home computer... that confuses me. What exactly IS checking in? I thought it meant waiting in line to say "we're here"! and to get our etickets... how can we do that before arriving?

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

You can do it before arriving but you will still need to check your luggage at curbside or inside at the ticket counter. So it is up to you whether or not you want to check in ahead of time and print your boarding pass.

 

[Rhonda]

We like checking in online because you can pick your seats and print your boarding passes. This saves time, because then when you get to the airport, you only have to check your luggage (we do curbside)!

 

[goofy4tink]

I guess it all depends on what airline you are flying. With SW you can check-in after 12:01 a.m. the day of your flight. This way you can get a section A boarding pass. And you are officially checked in, but you will still have to have your baggage checked in when you get there.
When we fly Song, we don't bother with the on-line check-in since we usually have luggage to check. With Song, you can't check-in on-line if you are checking anything. But, it is very easy to use their kiosks at the airport. You just stick in either a FF card or a credit card, for ID only. Then it asks you some questions in order to find the correct info. It will then print out your boarding pass and send you to the nearby luggage check-in slot. They tag your bags, you show your ID and off you go to security.

As far as other airlines, I'm not sure.

 

[moopdog]

Anyone know the check-in online rules with Delta... we will be checking luggage and there is no curb-side check in at our tiny airport!

 

[goofy4tink]

Delta is pretty much the same as Song. Head over to the Delta website and look around. That should answer your questions.

 

[safetymom]

https://www.delta.com/oci/servlet/OCIServlet?cmd=getOciLanding

You can check in 24 hours in advance and print your boarding pass. Then when you get to the airport you will have to check your luggage with the agent.