Airport Process
Prepare ahead of time for your flight.
Check-in options
You can check in 24 hours before your flight. Make sure to have the necessary travel documents if you’re traveling internationally, like your passport or visa. If a destination requires you to have a visa, you can verify it through the Travel-Ready Center or with a United agent at the airport.
Here’s how you can check in:
Online
- If you are eligible for online check-in, go to united.com/checkin
- Enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name, or log in using your MileagePlus® account information.
- Use a printed boarding pass or electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
- If you are eligible for online check-in, go to united.com/checkin
- Enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name, or log in using your MileagePlus® account information.
- Use a printed boarding pass or electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
On the United app
- Open the United app
- Select check-in and enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name.
- Use your electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
- For international travel, you can also scan your passport using the app.
- Open the United app
- Select check-in and enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name.
- Use your electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
- For international travel, you can also scan your passport using the app.
At the airport
- Visit a kiosk to print your bag tags, or for a quicker experience prepay for your bag online and use bag drop shortcut.
Some airports don't accept cash. Find out what forms of payment we do accept.
Learn more about navigating the airport and information on aircrafts.
- Visit a kiosk to print your bag tags, or for a quicker experience prepay for your bag online and use bag drop shortcut.
Some airports don't accept cash. Find out what forms of payment we do accept.
Learn more about navigating the airport and information on aircrafts.
Online check-in is available in all locations, but not all locations allow a mobile boarding pass. Check the International Travel Requirements page to find out what airports don’t accept mobile boarding passes.
Check-in time limits
United has set time limits for when you can check in and check your bags. Some airports or flights have special time limits which depend on location. If you don't meet your check-in time limits, we have the right to deny service. We may cancel your reservations, deny boarding, or refuse to check your bags.
Without checked bags | With checked bags | International flights |
|---|---|---|
Check in at least 30 minutes before departure. | Check in at least 45 minutes before departure. | Check in at least 60 minutes before departure. |
Without checked bags
check in at least 30 minutes before departure
With checked bags
check in at least 45 minutes before departure
International flights
check in at least 60 minutes before departure
Special time limits for check-in
U.S. airports
U.S. airports
| Airport | Check-in time limit |
|---|---|
| Aguadilla (BQN) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Baltimore (BWI) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Flights to or from Micronesia and the Marshall Islands | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes International flights: 90 minutes |
| Guam (GUM)* | With or without checked bags: 60 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL) | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes |
| Honolulu (HNL) | With checked bags: 45 minutes Without checked bags: 30 minutes International flights: 75 minutes |
| Kahului, Maui (OGG) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Mammoth Lakes (MMH) | With or without checked bags: 30 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Saipan (SPN) | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes International flights: 90 minutes |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| San Juan, PR (JU) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Aguadilla, PR (BQN) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| St. Thomas (STT) | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes International flights: 90 minutes |
| Guam (GUM) | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes *If your flight leaves Guam before 9:30 a.m., you can check in the night before, between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30pm. Food that can go bad should still go through regular check-in. |
| Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL) | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes International flights: 90 minutes |
| Fights to or from Micronesia and the Marshall Islands | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes |
Other airports
Other airports
| Airport name | Check-in time limit |
|---|---|
| Accra (ACC) | 90 minutes |
| Amsterdam (AMS) | 75 minutes |
| Athens (ATH) | 75 minutes |
| Berlin (BER) | 75 minutes |
| Brussels (BRU) | 75 minutes |
| Chuuk (TKK) | 90 minutes |
| Delhi (DEL) | 75 minutes |
| Dubai (DXB) | 75 minutes |
| Dublin (DUB) | 75 minutes |
| Frankfurt (FRA) | 75 minutes |
| Kosrae (KSA) | 90 minutes |
| Lagos (LOS) | 90 minutes |
| Lima (LIM) | 75 minutes |
| Manila (MNL) | 90 minutes |
| Milan (MXP) | 75 minutes |
| Munich (MUC) | 75 minutes |
| Palau (ROR) | 90 minutes |
| Paris (CDG) | 75 minutes |
| Pohnpei (PNI) | 90 minutes |
| Rome (FCO) | 75 minutes |
| Tel Aviv (TLV) | 90 minutes |
| Toronto (YYZ) | 90 minutes |
| Yap (YAP) | 90 minutes |
| Zurich (ZRH) | 75 minutes |
Accra (ACC): 90 minutes
Amsterdam (AMS): 75 minutes
Athens (ATH): 75 minutes
Berlin (BER): 75 minutes
Brussels (BRU): 75 minutes
Chuuk (TKK): 90 minutes
Delhi (DEL): 75 minutes
Dubai (DXB): 75 minutes
Dublin (DUB): 75 minutes
Frankfurt (FRA): 75 minutes
Kosrae (KSA): 90 minutes
Kwajalein (KWA): 90 minutes
Lagos (LOS): 90 minutes
Lima (LIM): 75 minutes
Manila (MNL): 90 minutes
Milan (MXP): 75 minutes
Munich (MUC): 75 minutes
Palau (ROR): 90 minutes
Paris (CDG): 75 minutes
Pohnpei (PNI): 90 minutes
Rome (FCO): 75 minutes
Saipan (SPN): 90 minutes
Tel Aviv (TLV): 90 minutes
Toronto (YYZ): 90 minutes
Yap (YAP): 90 minutes
Zurich (ZRH): 75 minutes
Traveler pro tips
- Before you travel, make sure your flight isn't affected by a travel alert. Then you can plan for extra time if needed.
- For the most part, you can't check a bag more than four hours before departure. Check your airport and daily check-in counter hours.
Security
Recommendations are from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
- At airports in the U.S., expect longer lines and plan for extra time.
- Get to the airport two hours early for domestic travel. Get to the airport three hours early for international travel.
- Mornings, evenings, and holidays are always busy. Please plan for extra time.
- View the TSA's security wait times before leaving for the airport.
- Learn more about the TSA Security checkpoint guidelines. For more relevant information, visit the TSA website.
Get through faster
For a quicker process, you can apply for one of two programs. Available at select U.S. airports.
- TSA Precheck: For travel within the U.S.
- Global Entry: For travel within the U.S. and internationally.
Boarding
For the U.S. flights, we recommend being at the gate 15 minutes before boarding starts. For international flights, we recommend being at the gate 30 minutes before boarding starts.
You must be on board your flight 15 minutes before departure time.
At the following airports, there may be extra security or documentation checks. Because of that you need to be at the gate at a specific time before departure:
- Brussels (BRU): 60 minutes
- Dublin (DUB): 30 minutes
- Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL): 60 minutes
- Koror (ROR): 60 minutes
- Kosrae (KSA): 60 minutes
- Kwajalein (KWA): 60 minutes
- Lima (LIM): 30 minutes
- Majuro (MAJ): 60 minutes
- Pohnpei (PNI): 60 minutes
- Sydney (SYD): 60 minutes
- Truk (TKK): 60 minutes
- Yap (YAP): 60 minutes
Airport process FAQ
Your reservation is eligible for check-in on united.com if:
- The first flight in your itinerary is operated by United.
- Your itinerary has a total of four flight segments or less.
- You are traveling with fewer than nine people.
- You have previously scanned your passport when traveling with United.
- You can scan your passport using the United app to complete check-in or use an airport kiosk.
Reservations are currently not eligible for check-in on united.com if:
- Your reservation contains certain special service requests that require you to see a United representative at the airport.
- The reservation is paper-ticketed.
- You're booked in Basic Economy, unless you specify that you're checking a bag.
Yes. The quickest way to check your bags is by prepaying for them. Check your bags on the United app or united.com and drop them at bag drop shortcut. Learn more about prepaid bags. You may also check your bags by printing your bag tags at a kiosk and checking them with a United ticket counter representative or using curbside skycap (where available).
Yes, if you have an electronic ticket.