Flight Check-In Reminder: Online Check-In Opens 24 Hours Before
Online check-in usually opens 24 hours before departure. A flight check-in reminder set for that moment, in the departure city's time, saves the scramble. Here are the airline rules and what to do if you missed it.
A flight check-in reminder should go off 24 hours before departure, because that is when online check-in opens on most airlines, including Delta, JetBlue and Southwest. Count it from the departure time in the departure city's time zone. If you have connecting flights on different airlines, set one reminder per flight.
If you want the reminder now: forward your e-ticket to Tracy in dEssence and ask "remind me when check-in opens". She works out the time and messages you then. The rest of this page covers the airline rules, so you can set the reminder any way you like.
When does online check-in open?
For most airlines, 24 hours before the scheduled departure. These are the rules on the airlines' own pages:
| Airline | Online check-in opens | Check-in deadline | Reminder from the airline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | Up to 24 hours before departure | See Delta's check-in page | Not stated on that page |
| JetBlue | 24 hours ahead | See JetBlue's page | Email, plus app alert if you opted in, when booked directly with JetBlue |
| Southwest | 24 hours before the original scheduled departure | 30 minutes domestic, 60 minutes international | Not stated on that page |
For any other airline, check its own check-in page before you rely on 24 hours. Rules differ between airlines and sometimes between fares.
Why the airline's own reminder is not always enough
Airlines do send reminders, and when they arrive they work. They are easy to lose for a few common reasons:
- you booked through a travel site, so the airline may not have your email, or it goes to whoever booked;
- the email lands in a promotions tab or spam folder;
- your trip has two airlines, and only one of them reminds you;
- you are travelling and not checking email the day before.
A reminder you set yourself, on your phone, avoids all four.
There are three simple ways to get the reminder. The airline's own email or app needs no setup when you booked direct, but it depends on the airline having your email, and each airline only covers its own flights. A phone alarm works for any booking, but you do the time zone math and set one per flight. Tracy works from the ticket you forward: she counts the time for you and sets one reminder per flight.
How to set a flight check-in reminder yourself
- Find the departure date and time on your e-ticket. It is shown in the local time of the departure airport.
- Subtract 24 hours. A 9:40 AM flight on December 18 opens for check-in at 9:40 AM on December 17.
- If you will be in a different time zone the day before, convert that time to where you will be.
- Set the reminder for the opening time, or a little before if you want to be ready with your confirmation number.
- Repeat for every flight on the trip, including the return.
What if I missed online check-in?
You can still check in at the airport, at a kiosk or the counter, as long as you are there before the airline's check-in deadline. Southwest, for example, closes check-in 30 minutes before the original departure time on domestic flights and 60 minutes before on international ones, and asks you to be at the gate at least 10 minutes before departure. JetBlue says that if online or app check-in is not available, you check in at the airport.
What you cannot get back is time. The later you check in, the fewer seats are left, and on a busy morning the counter line can take longer than you expect. If you missed the online window, go to the airport earlier than you planned.
Using Tracy for check-in reminders
dEssence works well for this kind of one-off date. Send Tracy the e-ticket by forwarding the email or sending a screenshot in Telegram, and ask in your own words. She reads the flight time, counts 24 hours back in the departure city's time and reminds you when check-in opens. If the trip has a return or a connection, she sets one for each.
Tracy does not check you in or choose your seat, and she does not read your inbox. If the airline changes your flight time, forward the new email so the reminder moves with it.
Frequently asked questions
Does online check-in always open exactly 24 hours before?
For Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, yes, 24 hours before departure. Other airlines vary, so check the airline's page.
Do I need to check in online if I have no bags?
You need to check in somehow to get a boarding pass. Online is the fastest way; the airport works too, before the deadline.
What about connecting flights on two airlines?
Each flight opens on its own airline's rules, counted from that flight's departure. If both legs are on one ticket, the first airline may check you in for both; if they are separate tickets, check in twice.
Is the 24 hours counted in my time zone?
It is counted from the departure time, which is in the departure airport's local time.