Check With Your Airline for the Check-in Deadline Before Departure.
It’s been at least ten years since I checked my bag in flight. I never travel that long, and so much, and what, am I going to pay money for the privilege of traveling with things that I … have already paid money for? No thanks.
But on our Hack the World trip to Costa Rica earlier this month, I flew with a bunch of aerosol cans in tow – sunscreen spray, insect spray for the whole team – and hey, the work paid off anyway. I updated my flight information on the Jet Blue app ( always use your airline’s app ! ) To note that I will be checking one piece of baggage, include my corporate card details to cover the (exorbitant) $ 30 fee, and didn’t bother something else about it.
That is, until I got to the airport. I was later than I would have liked thanks to the whim of the JFK air train, but I still had a full 45 minutes before my flight was even set to land. When I walked to the kiosk to print out the luggage tag, I received a dire warning that I only had 10 minutes left before the baggage check for my flight was closed. If there was a queue at the landing site, I would not be lucky.
Everything worked out, but as a responsible person who likes to arrive at the airport early, the thought of what could have happened still makes me a little panic and makes me clench in my chest. Who knew that baggage check-in times were different from boarding times? (Well, probably people who regularly fly with large or liquid-filled luggage, but not me!)
Anyway, my point is this: if you are flying and planning to bring anything other than carry-on baggage, do a quick search to find out your airline’s policy and shutdown times. According iFly.com , most domestic US airlines require that luggage was registered in 30-40 minutes before departure , and for international flights during this period can be up to 60 minutes.
For trips that require checked-in baggage, do not cut too close. And whatever you do, don’t rely on the JFK plane to get you where you are going on time.