%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-image-WHENTOCHECKIN0525-ecceb22640e040debdb3ec424aec72d3.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
When You Check in for a Flight Matters—Here's Why
Prior to the advent of the Internet, passengers used to have to wait until they were at the airport to check in for their flights. Sounds prehistoric, right? Fortunately, these days, most airlines allow you to check in online, starting at least 24 hours before your flight departs. In fact, they'll even send you emails and texts reminding you to do so. Still, many passengers who are accustomed to checking in at the airport ignore these alerts. Why check in online so far in advance, especially if you have to visit a counter anyway to check a bag? It turns out there are several reasons you should check in early.
Ideally, you can pick your seat for free when you purchase your flight, but that's usually not the case if you're flying coach. If you want to save money and are willing to risk getting a middle seat, your seat will most likely be assigned at check in. In most cases, the earlier you check in, the greater your chances of scoring a window or aisle seat. Some airlines, especially if you're flying on an international itinerary with different airlines, don't allow you to choose a seat—even if you're willing to pay for it—until check in. In that case, the sooner you check in, the sooner you can pick one.
Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines are allowed to oversell flights, within reason, to compensate for no-shows. If there aren't any no-shows, and the plane is overbooked, the airline is allowed to bump passengers to a later flight. One of the criteria they sometimes use to determine who gets bumped is check-in time. If you checked in last, you may be the first to be bumped. Travelers with luggage approaching a check-in counter at the airport.
South_agency/Getty Images
A spokesperson for Delta tells Travel + Leisure that checking in early in person is also essential if you're checking a bag. 'For most U.S. airports, when traveling domestically, baggage must be checked in at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure time.' If you're flying domestically without checking a bag, you only have to be checked in 30 minutes prior to departure. Why the extra 15 minutes for passengers who want to check a bag? Before your bag is loaded onto the plane, it has to be sorted and go through TSA screening. If you check in after the 45-minute cutoff time, you can still board the flight, but your bag probably won't make it, and there's a good chance you'll have to leave it behind. For international flights, you have to check in even earlier—at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure—if you're checking a bag.
Check-in cutoff times vary by airline, so it's important to be familiar with your airline's policy. You should also look up the requirements for the airport you'll be flying out of. According to the Delta spokesperson, some airports require passengers to check in even earlier than the airlines do. For example, if you're flying domestically out of JFK and are checking a bag, you must be checked in at least 60 minutes prior to the departure time. At LGA, meanwhile, the minimum check-in time for flying domestically with a checked bag is 45 minutes.
Even if you selected your seat when you purchased your flight and you're not checking a bag, it's wise to check in as early as possible. For starters, this ensures that as soon as you get to the airport, you can just make your way to security. It may also increase your chances of getting upgraded. Some airlines allow you to request upgrades at check in, and date and time of the upgrade request are often a consideration when it comes to determining who gets upgraded. If there's only room for one more upgrade, and you submit your upgrade request two hours before another passenger with your same status puts in theirs, you may be more likely to get it.
It's important to note that just because you check in online 24 hours prior to your flight, that doesn't mean that you can rock up to the airport 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. 'Delta recommends arriving at the airport two hours prior to domestic and three hours prior to international flights,' says the Delta spokesperson. To keep lines at the counter down, the airline also prefers that you check in via the Fly Delta app or at delta.com. Most airlines share this sentiment.
To make the process even more seamless, see if your airline offers an automatic check-in option. For example, Southwest allows passengers to add EarlyBird Check-In, starting around $15 each way, when they purchase their flights. If you get EarlyBird Check-In, which is complimentary in Southwest's 'Anytime' class fares, you'll have peace of mind knowing that you'll be automatically checked in 36 hours before departure. Passengers without this perk can't check in until 24 hours prior to departure. The sooner you check in on Southwest, the sooner you can choose a seat and board the plane, which is helpful when it comes to getting precious overhead bin space. Singapore Airlines, meanwhile, has an auto check-in box under the 'Manage Booking' tab that you can tick after you purchase your flight and up to 48 hours before departure. It doesn't cost extra, and it ensures that you'll be automatically checked in.
If you do have to check in at the airport at the last minute, don't stress too much about the long lines at the check-in counters inside. Many airports now have self-serve kiosks where you can check yourself in, so look for those. Major airlines at major airports also have curbside check-in counters where you can check in and drop off any bags you want to check. These curbside counters usually have much shorter lines. It's a convenient service that ranges from free to a few bucks, plus a recommended per-bag tip.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
20 photos that show how summer vacation in the US has changed over the last 100 years
Summer has officially begun. Summer vacation these days looks quite different from how it did in the 1920s. Kids used to play sports in the streets, explore on bikes, or play on "dangerous" playgrounds. Summer vacation used to mean two months of freedom: pools, playgrounds, and hours spent hanging out with your friends. But for Gen Alpha and the youngest members of Gen Z, summer is starting to look a little different. Changing technology, safety standards, more cautious parents, and social media have all changed how summer looks. Imagine explaining a unicorn pool float to a Victorian child — it'd send them into a tailspin. These photos show how summer vacation has changed over the last century. In the early 1900s, school used to be centered on crops, and summer wasn't a vacation — it was a time for hard work. Before child labor laws were adopted in the first half of the 20th century, a 1890 United States Census report showed that 20% of kids ages 10 to 15 were workers — that was over 1.5 million children. A decade later, that went up to 1.75 million gainfully employed kids, according to The Social Welfare History Project. Bathing suits used to be a little more elaborate. Bathing suits have come a long way over the past century. Kids didn't need any fancy technology; a stick and a hoop used to be more than enough to keep everyone entertained. Officially, this was called hoop rolling or hoop trundling. It's been around since the 1600s and lives on today in a different fashion: the hula hoop. Stickball was the sport of choice, especially when there was no grass to be found. Stickball has been around since the 1800s and is still played now, but many parents are wary of the potential dangers of playing a sport in the middle of the street. Who doesn't remember sliding down a burning hot metal slide in the dog days of summer? Playgrounds used to play fast and loose with kids' safety (think those metal slides), which was sort of half the fun anyway. All your best stories came from scars earned during your playground days. Over time, metal was replaced by wood and wood chips, which still wasn't great. Remember all the splinters? That's pretty much the only downside of them, though. Kids used to have to meet up with each other just by biking around the neighborhood and seeing who was available. It's rare now to see a pack of young kids biking around without a chaperone. Pool floats were a lot simpler. In general, most things were simpler. There were no Instagram or TikTok followers to show off for. Arcades eventually became the entertainment of choice, with games like "Pac-Man" and "Asteroids" taking over. Arcades are something of a dying institution in 2025 — you can play all your favorite video games in the comfort of your own home. The only arcades left are the big chains like Dave and Buster's, or bars like Barcade that are for adults, not kids. But before '80s kids even had video games, they had comic strips and crosswords. One of the first things many people do in the morning is turn on their phone and fill out the daily mobile crossword of their choosing — maybe you're partial to The New York Times, perhaps USA Today. But back in the day, kids and adults would crack open the daily newspaper and play the games, whether it was a crossword or a word scramble or a word search. And, of course, you can't forget about the comics section — Charlie Brown was just as famous as Bluey or the pups of Paw Patrol. Sometimes, all you needed for a fun time was a tarp, soap, and a hose — voila! A makeshift slip-and-slide. Never mind that sticks, rocks, and anything else on the ground could rip the tarp and cut up your arms and legs. That was part of the fun. And it didn't matter if there was nothing to stop your momentum — sliding into your friends and knocking them over was the whole point. Ideal summer jobs were lifeguarding or being a camp counselor. Even though working teenagers are in high demand and could be making good money, the labor force participation of teens is much lower than it used to be. In 2024, 5.7 million 16-to-19-year-olds worked over the summer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's a five-year high, but nothing compared to the 8.3 million teens who worked during the summer of 1978. Now, bathing suits look a little different. Vintage-style bathing suits are coming back, though, like the '80s-era high-cut one-pieces or belted bathing suits of the '70s. Virtual-reality games mean kids don't even have to go outside to get the summer experience. Per a Florida Atlantic University study in 2024, one in three kids has access to a VR headset. But even if a kid doesn't have access to an Oculus or an Apple Vision Pro, they might have a tablet or some type of video game system. "In our research, we found that kids were spending a lot less time outside," Ruslan Slutsky, an education professor at the University of Toledo, told Vox. "They were spending a lot less time in traditional forms of play because they were playing with devices." But, if "Black Mirror" is to be believed, we all might do with taking a breather from virtual reality and actually concentrating on real life and real relationships. Playgrounds are so safe they've become kind of boring, and some kids have forsaken them altogether. A study conducted in 2012 published by Pediatrics Digest found that kids aren't using playgrounds anymore because they're not stimulated enough. The Atlantic reported that lead researcher Kristen Copeland found that "some participants said that overly strict safety standards made much of the climbing equipment uninteresting, thus reducing children's physical activity." Per a 2024 report by the World Playground Research Institute, not much has changed in the intervening 12 years. In the UK, 27% of kids reported playing outside regularly. Teens and tweens make plans via text, and even when they're together, they barely speak. It's not the same making plans in a group chat. It takes all the fun out of being surprised by your friends biking up unannounced to your house. Now, having a pool without a gigantic float is frowned upon. There's an overwhelming amount of pool floats to pick from in 2025. Sports are well-organized these days, and significantly less dangerous. Though it's probably a good thing that kids aren't allowed to roam the streets without being able to call home, or play sports in the street, or play on potentially dangerous playgrounds — it's just not the same. Finally, even slip-and-slides have been commodified into giant events. Slide the City was a cool event while it lasted — a giant slip-and-slide took over a few blocks of your city — but it was not the same as getting covered in dish soap with your friends. In 2020 and 2021, masked kids were a normal sight because of the pandemic. By 2025, though, masks are a less frequent sight than they were in 2020 and 2021. Read the original article on Business Insider
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Beach bags that carry sunscreen, snacks and other summer essentials
A well-designed beach tote should be stylish and practical, with plenty of space to carry everything you need – from lunch and snacks to extra SPF, hats, towels, books and games. Here are 10 beach bags to ensure everyone has a fun day in the sun. This lightweight tote from Amazon is perfect for sandy beach days. The waterproof mesh material resists water and allows sand to fall through, keeping the interior clean. Its eight spacious pockets organize towels, sunscreen and water bottles. Away has a similar option with a zipper top. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. Anthropologie's striped canvas tote combines classic seaside style with practicality. Its sturdy canvas ensures durability, while the interior pocket secures smaller items. The bold stripes and leather accents add a chic touch, making it the ideal choice for fashion-forward beachgoers. If you like this style, L.L. Bean also makes this beach-worthy tote in a waterproof fabric that's easy to wipe or rinse clean. Known for its rugged durability, the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Bag is made from heavy-duty canvas, and is built to withstand everyday wear and tear. The open design allows easy access to your belongings, but if you prefer something a bit more secure, there is a zip-top iteration. It's available in various sizes and colors and customizable with a monogram. Béis Travel's Large Work Tote doubles as a beach bag, thanks to its roomy interior and water-resistant inner material. With multiple compartments for easy organization – including a padded laptop sleeve that can hold magazines or books – this bag seamlessly transitions from the office to the shore. Its sleek design and neutral tones ensure it's as stylish as it is functional. The brand also makes a dedicated mesh beach tote. Lands' End's multi-pocket tote does it all. It has plenty of pockets and can be worn as a crossbody, hand-carried or slipped through a luggage handle (thanks to a convertible trolley sleeve). The durable cotton fabric withstands water, sand and sunscreen, and a full zip-top keeps valuables tucked away and out of the sun. To keep your small items even more organized, consider adding these pouches. This oversized tote by Scout is great for families. The water-resistant, lightweight fabric and structured design make it perfect for carrying towels, toys and snacks. The bold patterns add a touch of fun, and the bag's ability to stand upright ensures easy packing and unpacking on busy beach days. You can also opt for the various colors and prints, some of which are discounted. No beach day is complete without refreshing drinks and snacks. This insulated tote keeps your drinks and snacks chilled while providing ample room for other essentials. L.L. Bean also makes a cooler tote in durable canvas with a detachable shoulder strap for hands-free carrying. This day tripper bag is both lightweight and splash-proof, making it ideal for beachgoers who want to keep their belongings dry. Its roomy interior fits all the essentials and the durable material ensures it'll last over the years. You can also grab the brand's coordinating zippered pouch to stash small items. For more deals, visit The original Bogg bag is a classic beach hero. It's waterproof, easy to clean and built to stand upright. It's easy to hose off sand and spills and never loses shape, even when packed with towels, sunscreen, snacks, sand toys and more. You can enhance your bag with hooks for sunglasses and decorative charms.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Top California Winery Releases Cool Climate Chardonnay And Pinot Noir Wines
Hawaii getty As the sun glistened off the crystalline, turquoise-colored water, it consumed the young man with its sheer exquisite transparency, knocking the wind out of him as he couldn't fully imagine its effect on him, as the pictures couldn't do it justice. Then, a quick, deep breath filled his lungs with the unadulterated air, which gave his weary bones, subjected to too many harsh winters, a jolt of renewed life that was much needed. Jeff Crawford, when recently graduated from high school in Minnesota, sought a different type of life experience and ended up living in Hawaii, working for an artisanal oyster mushroom farmer. Although he initially thought it would be an ideal way to briefly recharge after the intense pressures of having to map out his future, he ended up staying a lot longer than he intended. Sonoma vineyard getty It turned out that the man who ran the mushroom farm had once been a winemaker in Sonoma and introduced Jeff to many of California's great wines. The aromas, flavors and textures blew his mind, and it opened his eyes to the transcendent experience these wines can have on the drinker. Wine quickly became a passion of his, especially since his boss, also a man he calls his mentor, would occasionally return to Sonoma to make wine as a hobby at one of his friend's places. At a certain point, Jeff moved from Hawaii to Sonoma, where he assisted his mentor with winemaking to learn as much as possible. He became fascinated by every nuance involved in vineyards and wineries. Jeff ended up working at a top winery in Napa Valley, Merryvale Vineyards, and through time worked himself up to the head winemaker position. One of the projects he is currently overseeing is relocating their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production from Carneros to the Sonoma Coast, making a stronger commitment to Merryvale's goal of crafting refreshing wines in a European style. Merryvale Merryvale Vineyards Merryvale Vineyards has a long history dating back to 1933 when it was established in St. Helena, Napa, under the name of Sunnyhill Winery, and a handful of wine legends made wine there. Its modern history began in 1983 when a small group of partners purchased the property, renaming it Merryvale. In 1991, Swiss-born Jack Schlatter joined that partnership, bringing his son, René, on board a few years later. The Schlatter family eventually became the sole owners of Merryvale, and put an intense focus on elegance-driven wines that possessed an overall European finesse. Jeff Crawford Merryvale Vineyards As one would expect, Jeff Crawford ended up at such a leading Napa producer after attending one of the best universities for winemaking, U.C. Davis. However, what was unexpected was that he pursued a degree in economics, as wine had become such a wonderful passion in his life that he didn't want to lose that passion by turning it into a career. But going to Davis allowed him to take a few viticulture and winemaking classes. As time went on, he started spending more time thinking about winemaking than he did economics. One day, he noticed an announcement for a job fair for viticulture and winemaking, and since they weren't checking one's degree at the door, he walked in and started talking to a bunch of different producers, telling them his story. He ended up getting hired by Merryvale for their sister winery, Starmont, which makes varietal wines from the cooler Napa sub-region of Carneros at an affordable price. First, he worked in their lab, making several small-batch fermentations and finding all the subtle adjustments that ideally conveyed the character of that particular grape from that area. Jeff has always been a detail-oriented person, which helped him in his degree in economics, but it gave him an incredible talent for zeroing in to the most minute qualities and having the passion to never stop trying to bring a precision, for example, such as learning to blend different plots by truly knowing the plots in a given vintage. Sheep in Merryvale's vineyard Merryvale Vineyards Jeff was quickly promoted to cellar master of Starmont, and then, through time, he became the assistant winemaker and, finally, the winemaker. Early last year, he was promoted to the head winemaker position at Merryvale, as well as Starmont. In total, he has been working for Merryvale for 18 years, which is highly uncommon nowadays as the California wine industry typically experiences a lot of movement. But Jeff couldn't be happier working for the Schlatter family as they are just as detail-oriented, and Jeff also shares their mission to express the most elegant aspects of Napa and Sonoma wines. Previously, Merryvale made their ultra-premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from their Carneros vineyards, but they are now ready, with Jeff at the helm, to move closer to creating the epitome of elegance with these wines by relocating the production to the much cooler Sonoma Coast. They have released the inaugural vintage of their Sonoma Coast wines, 2022, and Burgundian techniques are employed in the winery, including the use of native yeasts for both wines and sur lie aging for ten months for the Chardonnay, as well as hand punch-downs for the Pinot Noir. A Resume Only Says So Much Schlatter Family Merryvale Vineyards Every employer wants to find ideal employees, especially if they are eyeing a person who could fill one of the most critical roles in the future. Although there are obvious markers on one's resume to look for, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be a good long-term fit. The Schlatter family has, in the past, walked an unconventional path, as when they took over Merryvale in the early '90s Napa was still young and the consensus among many other producers was to make big, bold wines. But Schlatter believed in Napa's elegant beauty and stayed true to their values, and they were willing to invest more time and resources into seeking and preserving those graceful qualities. Profile Estate Vineyard Merryvale Vineyards Perhaps they saw that passion in Jeff, not only a passion for drinking wine, but also for going beyond what is expected to achieve finding an ideal balance. This balance should have plenty of concentration yet harmony and nuanced complexity and texture, bringing an overall refined quality to the wines. Perhaps they saw someone who loved the details so much that he would be meticulous at every step of the way and thrived from such conscientious work that it filled him with enthusiasm. As Jeff explained perfectly, "There is a reason I have been here so long," as he beamed with a genuine smile that showed a man who was right where he wanted to be. It is interesting to think back to Jeff's early life, the beginning of his journey into the world, and how afraid he was to lose his passion for wine if he made it his career. While he noted that U.C. Davis has a great economics program, there are many other universities he could have attended, and he chose the one with the prestigious winemaking program as well. But he could have never guessed that his own tendency to want to delve into every facet would significantly increase his love for wine as a winemaker rather than destroy it. Sometimes, looking beyond the resume and getting to know the person can be extremely beneficial to a business, especially one that is near and dear to family owners, such as the Schlatters. And sometimes, it is the right step to take that leap when one is young so there are no regrets down the line. What destroyed others' love for wine once they became a winemaker might be the very things that intensify that love for others. Merryvale, Sonoma Coast, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Cathrine Todd 2022 Merryvale, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California: A multifaceted Chardonnay with wet river stones and lemon curd with a hint of spice that has lots of finesse on the palate with pristine nectarine fruit and lots of vitality with marked acidity that has a long, expressive mineral finish. 2022 Merryvale, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California: A strong sense of place from this Pinot Noir with broken earth and dry bark mingled with a juicy core of wild blackberries that is framed by fine tannins and finishes with delightful notes of grated nutmeg and sandalwood along the long length of flavor. Merryvale, Sauvignon Blanc Cathrine Todd 2023 Merryvale, Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, California: Blended from different Napa Valley sub-regions that are harvested at different times to give a lot of layers and an overall harmonious quality to this Sauvignon Blanc, such as mouthwatering acidity with lots of fleshy fruit of peach cobbler flavors and honeycomb with a floral lift and exotic note of lychee syrup that brings another dimension. Merryvale, Cabernet Sauvignon Cathrine Todd 2018 Merryvale, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Sourced from different sub-regions within Napa Valley to achieve a seamless balance, a truly class act with this meticulous, expressive Cab with blackcurrant fruit infused with tobacco and violets that becomes expansive on the palate with manicured tannins. 2018 Merryvale, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California: Sourced from Merryvale's renowned hillside Profile Estate Vineyard, located at 800 feet in elevation, which solely sources their flagship wine 'Profile.' The grapes from this prestigious plot that make wine for long-term aging go into their top wine 'Profile' while the grapes that are more accessible in their youth will go into this St. Helena Napa Cab. Intriguing aromas of smoldering earth, cassis and graphite with a muscular, broad-shouldered structure balanced by mouthfilling fleshy fruit layered with olive leaves and slate with a prolonged length of flavor on the finish. Starmont wines are single-varietal wines made in a fresh, classic style from cool climate regions in the North and Central Coast regions of California. Starmont, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay Cathrine Todd 2023 Starmont, Sauvignon Blanc: Even though this wine retails around only $20, it is impressive and shows Jeff's attention to detail when blending as it has the brightness and zesty lift, the ideal amount of fruit and a touch of structure, giving it drive with lemon confit, apricot skin and kaffir lime leaf flavors, and it is simply just really delicious. 2022 Starmont Chardonnay: Priced similarly to the Sauvignon Blanc - another impressive bottling for the price point as it has a touch of complexity with chalky minerality, almonds and mandarin oil aromas merging with a hint of spice and lemon confit.
