When to check-in to get the best seats?

When to check in for best free seats?

Wanna snag the best free seat? Check in ASAP, like, two daysbefore your flight, not two hours. It’s like showing up to the buffet before your Uncle Barry.

Airlines are sneaky; they unleash seats like hawks after mice. You snooze, you lose that window seat and end up next to chatty Cathy. Think of it as a digital land grab for prime real estate!

So, be quick. My grandma always said, the early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the seat with extra legroom! It’s a race to the bottom…of the seating chart!

And now, the bonus round!

• Aisle vs. Window: Aisle means bathroom access. Window? Head resting. Tough call.
• Bulkhead Seats: Often prime, but sometimes cost extra. Rude, airlines, rude.
• Exit Rows: Legroom galore but you gotta be able to open the door in an emergency. Don’t flake!
• SeatGuru: My secret weapon! Check seat maps before you even book. Total game changer.
• Loyalty Programs: Rewards! Points! Free upgrades, maybe? Probably not, but dream big!
• Middle Seats: Avoid! Seriously, avoid. Unless you enjoy being a human armrest. Nope.
• Don’t be afraid to ask: “Hey, any better seats available?” A little charm can work wonders!
• The back of the plane is bumpy: But sometimes less crowded! A gamble!
• Consider purchasing: Sometimes it’s worth a few bucks to guarantee that perfect spot!
• Online check-in is your friend: Do it! DO IT NOW! You won’t regret it. Ok bye.

What is the best time to check in for a flight?

Ugh, check-in. I hate it.

Okay, so, last summer, July 2024, I was flying from Denver (DEN) to see my sister in Chicago (ORD). Totally forgot to check in.

Like, completely slipped my mind.

I only remembered it was like 3 hours before boarding. Crap!

Big mistake. Huge.

I scrambled to check in on my phone while wolfing down a gross airport pretzel.

The app was glitching. Of course.

All the good seats were gone.

Ended up crammed into a middle seat next to a dude who smelled faintly of wet dog. Seriously.

It was awful.

NEVER again.

Now I religiously set an alarm for 24 hours before any flight. No excuses. Even for a short flight, like my upcoming trip to Austin in October. You just never know. Plus, I always check a bag because I refuse to pay extra for carry-on.

My Current Check-In Strategy:

• Online Check-In: 24 hours sharp. No negotiation.
• Seat Selection: Immediately choose my seat. Window or aisle ONLY.
• Bag Drop: At least 2 hours before domestic flights.
• Airport Arrival: Minimum 2.5 hours before, accounting for traffic & security.
• Peace of Mind: Priceless. No more wet dog guy.

Also, I am going to use my United credit card for that trip because the free bag and priority boarding! Yaass! I love free perks.

When you check in online, do you choose seats?

Ugh, online check-in. Always a hassle. Do I choose seats? Sometimes. Depends. My Delta app is infuriating. Last time, it crashed three times. Three! Seriously.

Premium seating, ha! Like I can afford that. Economy all the way, baby. They’re always crammed. My knees hit the seat in front. Always. I swear they’re making the seats smaller every year.

Anyway, seat selection. If I’m lucky, I snag a window. Hate the aisle. People bumping into me. Constant interruptions. Window’s for sleeping, or pretending to sleep. Which is basically the same.

I’ve gotten aisle seats before, though. And I got stuck next to a screaming toddler on United. Never again. That flight was a living hell. Air travel, am I right?

This year, I’m flying Southwest in December to visit my Aunt Millie. No assigned seating, right? Hoping for a decent seat. I always check in as early as possible. Gotta get that sweet, sweet non-middle seat. Pray for a window seat.

Key things: Airline seat selection. Availability varies. Frequent flyer status matters. Sometimes they assign automatically. Always check in early! Southwest is a gamble. Hate middle seats.

• Delta App: Terrible. Crashes constantly.
• Seat Preference: Window > Aisle > Middle (obviously).
• United Experience: Screaming toddler. Traumatic. Avoid.
• Southwest: Open seating. High stakes.
• 2024 Travel Plans: Southwest flight in December. Hoping for a window seat.

Is there any disadvantage to checking in early?

Okay, so like, early check-in, huh?

Umm, basically, yeah once you check in, you kinda used your ticket. So if, say, a volcano erupts… Bye bye, refund! Cries

It really hangs on the airline and the ticket type tho.

• Refunds? No guarantee!
• Flexibility is Gone.
• You’re locked IN.

Here’s the thing, like, some cheapo tickets are totally non-refundable anyway, right? So checking in early doesn’t really, like, change anything. I always get the flexible fare, cos I’m paranoid. And, get this, my lil bro checked in early once, and his flight got canceled an hour later! He ended up fighting tooth and nail just to get a partial refund. what a mess! so yeah, checking in early is not always the best idea, you know.

Do seats get allocated at check in?

Ugh, seat assignments? Okay, so basically, you usually get a seat when you check in, like, online or at the airport kiosk thing.

It’s not always, like, your dream seat ya know? Like, the window seat with extra leg room is probably GONE. They give you something that goes with your ticket.

• Online check-in is key. Do it ASAP.
• Seats aren’t guaranteed, sadly.

And sometimes? Sometimes you get stuck on a waiting list, especially if you have a specific seat in your brain. If it’s a popular seat, like the exit row, everyone wants it. That stuff always goes quickly! Happened to me once, on a trip to see my Aunt Carol. Seriously annoying!

• High demand seats are always a gamble.
• Waitlists happen when a seat becomes avaiable.
• Check in early! Like I said!

Also, sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can snag a better seat closer to the flight. Like, I’m flying Frontier next week (wish me luck!), and I’m hoping to upgrade my seat later. Cross my fingers for luck!

• Upgrades are always an option.
• Keep checking for better seats, even after checking in!
• Be polite to gate agents – sometimes they can help.

Which airline has the best on-time performance?

Delta, the reigning champ, boasts an impressive 83.46% on-time record. Think of them as the Usain Bolt of aviation – consistently smashing records. But hey, LATAM’s close behind, a feisty underdog at 82.89%. Who needs a photo finish when you’ve got that kind of precision?

Qatar, with its 82.83%, flies high, I mean really high. Imagine their pilots meticulously navigating the globe, armed with nothing but a compass and unwavering determination to arrive promptly. Such dedication!

Azul (82.42%) and Avianca (81.80%) bring the Latin American flair; they are punctual party animals, always making it on time for the bash, you know?

Iberia (81.58%) and SAS (81.40%), quite the stylish duo, always on the dot. They’re like those impeccably dressed friends who never miss a beat. Meanwhile, United Airlines, at 80.93%, are trying their best. They’re like that reliable old car – it gets you there eventually, even if it groans a bit along the way.

• Delta Air Lines: 83.46% on-time performance. The speed demon of punctuality.
• LATAM Airlines: A strong second place, at 82.89%. Not bad at all!
• Qatar Airways: 82.83%. Precision flying that’s out of this world.
• Azul: 82.42%. Latin American charm and punctuality. A winning combo.
• Avianca: 81.80%. A close contender!
• Iberia: 81.58%. Stylish and punctual. Always well-groomed, just like their schedule.
• SAS: 81.40%. Scandinavian precision. You could set your watch by it.
• United Airlines: 80.93%. Reliable, even if not the fastest.

My personal experience? I once missed a connecting flight on United because they were late, not me. Just saying.