Overview

• Effective June 3, United Airlines requires check-in 45 minutes before departure for most U.S. flights, up from a 30-minute cutoff.
• Passengers who miss the new deadline risk reservation cancellation, denied boarding or refusal to check their bags.
• International flights still require check-in at least 60 minutes before takeoff, with some airports enforcing longer lead times.
• The policy took effect as carriers brace for peak summer travel and aims to streamline bag processing and boarding procedures.
• The deadline shift coincides with United’s legal dispute over Chicago O’Hare gate allocations and follows similar changes by rivals such as Southwest Airlines.