Is it okay to check-in 2 hours before a flight?

Is there a downside to checking in early?

Checking in early? Big mistake, unless you enjoy the thrill of airline roulette! Think of it like this: early bird gets the worm… but the worm is a middle seat next to a snoring badger.

The downsides are legion, my friend, legion!

• You’re a statistical lamb to the slaughter. Airlines treat early birds like a herd of cattle, funneling you into the dreaded middle seats. It’s a cruel, calculated system, I tell ya!
• Seat selection? Forget about it. Window? Aisle? Ha! You’ll be lucky to get a seat that doesn’t vibrate with the engine’s furious heartbeat. My cousin, bless his cotton socks, got stuck next to the toilet last time – that was a real doozy!
• Packed flights are your destiny. Airlines love it when you check in early. It’s their way of ensuring that most people get stuck with the worst seats, even though you paid for a ticket. It’s rigged, I tell ya! Rigged!
• Missed opportunities! You’ve squandered the chance to grab a decent seat via a last-minute upgrade. Or to use that coveted loyalty points for a free glass of wine, you know? I’m still salty about that one myself!

Seriously though, 24 hours before, you’re golden. After that? Prepare for the airline equivalent of musical chairs. And trust me, you don’t want to play. You’ll probably end up next to someone who’s convinced the safety instructions are a form of subtle government control.

My personal experience last June, flying Southwest to visit my Aunt Mildred in Nebraska? Complete and utter chaos. They made me sit next to a guy who ate chips loudly for 3 hours. I had to sneakily put on noise canceling headphones!

Pro Tip: Wait until the last minute. You might get lucky. Or at least less unlucky.

Is there an advantage to checking in early for a flight?

Dark outside. Thinking about travel… Early check-in. Yeah, good idea. Less stress. Always feel rushed otherwise.

Remember that flight to Denver… 2023… Stuck in the middle seat. Awful. Could have gotten an aisle seat. If I had checked in earlier. Regret that.

• Better seat selection. Big one.
• More time. Especially if baggage issues. Once had my bag delayed in Atlanta. Almost missed my connection. Nightmare. Early check-in helps. Not always, but… you know. Helps.
• Peace of mind. Worth a lot. Hate rushing. Airports are stressful. So many people. Lines… Ugh.

Denver trip… Should have known. Always get an aisle. Need to stretch my legs. Bad knee. Since that skiing accident… 2019. Yeah. Check-in early. Definitely.

Is it worth checking in early?

Early check-in? Worth it, mostly. Think of it as a pre-flight lottery. Wanna gamble on a decent seat? Check in ASAP. Otherwise, prepare for the middle seat equivalent of purgatory.

Why bother checking in early?

• Keep your reservation! Airlines? They’re like overly dramatic theater kids who threaten to quit the play if you don’t show up on time. A few hours should do the trick.
• Seat lottery! Free seat selection? It’s less “winning the lottery” and more “finding a slightly less sticky penny on the sidewalk.” Still, better than nothing.
• Boarding bliss! Ok maybe it’s not bliss. I was being sarcastic! If you are anything like me, Priority boarding is your fast pass to overhead bin domination! I need to put my extra large bag somewhere!

But hey, if you enjoy being a chaos agent, waltz in five minutes before boarding. Let the universe decide your fate. You could end up next to a chatty parrot or a sleep-deprived baby. Ah, the joys of travel!