What is the cutoff time for checked baggage? Critical deadlines for major airlines

Airlines urge travelers get astatine the airdrome astatine slightest 2 hours aboriginal for home flights, but whether by prime oregon unforeseen circumstances, determination whitethorn beryllium times erstwhile you chopped it down to the wire.

Even if you tin marque your flight, your bags whitethorn not. That’s due to the fact that astir airlines necessitate a definite magnitude of clip for checking successful luggage.

Delta Air Lines precocious updated their deadlines:

“Beginning April 8, a insignificant alteration took effect for astir U.S. home minimum container driblet times for our customers who cheque a bag. This is truthful Delta teams tin guarantee each customers person a large acquisition that begins with information and continues with a clean, on-time and enjoyable formation with their bags,” a Delta Air Lines spokesperson said successful a connection to USA TODAY.

Delta said astir of their passengers cheque luggage more than 45 minutes anterior to departure and the hose doesn't foresee large disruptions.

Here’s what to cognize earlier your adjacent flight.

How agelong bash you person to cheque bags earlier a flight?

The wide regularisation of thumb is astatine slightest 45 minutes earlier a home formation and longer for planetary flights.

Either way, you’ll request to beryllium astatine the airdrome adjacent earlier to let for waits astatine check-in counters oregon curbside.

Rules for America’s 5 largest airlines:

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines requires bags to beryllium checked successful astatine slightest 50 minutes earlier scheduled departure clip for astir home flights. Travelers flying retired of King Salmon (AKN) and Dillingham (DLG) successful Alaska request to cheque their bags astatine slightest 60 minutes early.

Bags indispensable beryllium checked successful astatine slightest 60 minutes earlier astir planetary flights. Ninety minutes are required for flights leaving Guadalajara (GDL).

American Airlines

American Airlines requires bags to beryllium checked successful astatine slightest 45 minutes earlier scheduled departure clip for astir home flights and astatine slightest 60 minutes earlier astir planetary flights.

Some airports necessitate adjacent much time. For instance, 75 minutes leaving Delhi, India (DEL) and 90 minutes departing from St. Croix (STX) and St. Thomas (STT) successful the U.S. Virgin Islands. Location-specific guidelines tin beryllium recovered connected American’s website.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines requires bags to beryllium checked successful astatine slightest 45 minutes earlier scheduled departure clip for astir home flights and astatine slightest 60 minutes earlier astir planetary flights.

A fewer notable exceptions see New York’s John F. Kennedy planetary Airport, which requires a minimum of 60 minutes, and Athens International Airport (ATH), which requires 2 hours for checked bags. Additional home and planetary deadlines tin beryllium recovered connected Delta’s website.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines' checked baggage argumentation doesn’t specify a cutoff clip for home flights, but the airline’s website states: “Baggage checked successful 45 minutes oregon little earlier the scheduled oregon posted departure clip (whichever is later) is considered ‘Late Check.’ Although each effort volition beryllium made to get precocious checked baggage connected your flight, successful the lawsuit your baggage does not get with you astatine your destination, Southwest volition not presume transportation charges to get your baggage to you.”

Bags indispensable beryllium checked successful astatine slightest 60 minutes earlier astir planetary flights. Passengers leaving Aruba (AUA), with oregon without checking baggage, indispensable cheque successful astatine slightest 75 minutes earlier their scheduled departure.

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United Airlines

United Airlines requires bags to beryllium checked successful astatine slightest 45 minutes earlier scheduled departure clip for astir home flights and astatine slightest 60 minutes earlier astir planetary flights.

Some airports necessitate adjacent much clip but astatine slightest 1 airdrome requires less. Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) successful California lone requires 30 minutes precocious cheque in, with oregon without bags. Other airports with differing clip limits can beryllium recovered connected United’s webbite.

Travelers connected different airlines should cheque with their circumstantial carrier.

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Checking bags? Here’s erstwhile you request to get to the airport