Airport Process
Prepare ahead of time for your flight.
Check-in options
You can check in 24 hours before your flight. If a destination requires you to have a visa, you can verify it through the Travel-Ready Center or with a United agent at the airport.
Here’s how you can check in:
Online
- Go to united.com/checkin
- Enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name.
OR
- Log in using your MileagePlus® account information.
- For international travel, first scan your passport and then check in.
On the United app
- Open the United app
- Select check-in and enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name.
- For international travel, you can also scan your passport using the app.
At the airport
- Visit a kiosk where you can print your boarding pass and check your bags.
Or see an agent at the United check-in counter. - Skip the line with bag drop shortcut. First, check a bag online or on the United app during check-in. Then, drop your bag in the bag drop shortcut area where an agent will tag your bag.
Online and mobile check-in are not available for travel to or from some international destinations. For more information about online check-in see the FAQ below.
Some airports don't accept cash.Find out what forms of payment we do accept.
Check-in time limits
United has set time limits for when you can check in and check your bags. Some airports or flights have special time limits which depend on location. If you don't meet your check-in time limits, we have the right to deny service. We may cancel your reservations, deny boarding, or refuse to check your bags.
Without checked bags | With checked bags | International flights |
|---|---|---|
Check in at least 30 minutes before departure. | Check in at least 45 minutes before departure. | Check in at least 60 minutes before departure. |
Without checked bags
check in at least 30 minutes before departure
With checked bags
check in at least 45 minutes before departure
International flights
check in at least 60 minutes before departure
Special time limits for check-in
U.S. airports
U.S. airports
| Airport | Check-in time limit |
|---|---|
| Baltimore (BWI) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Honolulu (HNL) | With checked bags: 30 minutes Without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 75 minutes |
| Kahului, Maui (OGG) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Mammoth Lakes (MMH) | With or without checked bags: 30 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| San Juan, PR (JU) | With or without checked bags: 45 minutes International flights: 60 minutes |
| Flights to or from Micronesia and the Marshall Islands | With or without checked bags: 90 minutes International flights: 90 minutes |
Other airports
Other airports
| Airport name | Check-in time limit |
|---|---|
| Toronto (YYZ) | 90 minutes |
| Aguadilla (BQN) | 45 minutes |
| Lima (LIM) | 75 minutes |
| St. Thomas (STT) | 90 minutes |
| Amsterdam (AMS) | 75 minutes |
| Athens (ATH) | 75 minutes |
| Berlin (BER) | 75 minutes |
| Brussels (BRU) | 75 minutes |
| Dublin (DUB) | 75 minutes |
| Frankfurt (FRA) | 75 minutes |
| Milan (MXP) | 75 minutes |
| Paris (CDG) | 75 minutes |
| Rome (FCO) | 75 minutes |
| Dubai (DXB) | 75 minutes |
| Tel Aviv (TLV) | 90 minutes |
| Chuuk (TKK) | 90 minutes |
| Delhi (DEL) | 75 minutes |
| Guam (GUM)* | 60 minutes |
| Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL) | 90 minutes |
| Kosrae (KSA) | 90 minutes |
| Manila (MNL) | 90 minutes |
| Palau (ROR) | 90 minutes |
| Pohnpei (PNI) | 90 minutes |
| Saipan (SPN) | 90 minutes |
| Yap (YAP) | 90 minutes |
| Accra (ACC) | 90 minutes |
| Lagos (LOS) | 90 minutes |
Toronto (YYZ): 90 minutes
Aguadilla (BQN): 45 minutes
Lima (LIM): 75 minutes
St. Thomas (STT): 90 minutes
Amsterdam (AMS): 75 minutes
Athens (ATH): 75 minutes
Berlin (BER): 75 minutes
Brussels (BRU): 75 minutes
Dublin (DUB): 75 minutes
Frankfurt (FRA): 75 minutes
Milan (MXP): 75 minutes
Paris (CDG): 75 minutes
Rome (FCO): 75 minutes
Dubai (DXB): 75 minutes
Tel Aviv (TLV): 90 minutes
Chuuk (TKK): 90 minutes
Delhi (DEL): 75 minutes
Guam (GUM): 60 minutes*
Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL): 90 minutes
Kosrae (KSA): 90 minutes
Kwajalein (KWA): 90 minutes
Manila (MNL): 90 minutes
Palau (ROR): 90 minutes
Pohnpei (PNI): 90 minutes
Saipan (SPN): 90 minutes
Yap (YAP): 90 minutes
Accra (ACC): 90 minutes
Lagos (LOS): 90 minutes
*If your flight leaves Guam before 9:30 a.m., you can check in the night before, between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30pm. Food that can go bad should still go through regular check-in.
*If your flight leaves Guam before 9:30 a.m., you can check in the night before, between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Food that can go bad should still go through regular check-in.
Traveler pro tips
- Before you travel, make sure your flight isn't affected by a travel alert. Then you can plan for extra time if needed.
- For the most part, you can't check a bag more than four hours before departure. Check your airport and daily check-in counter hours.
Security
Recommendations are from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
- At airports in the U.S., expect longer lines and plan for extra time.
- Get to the airport two hours early for domestic travel. Get to the airport three hours early for international travel.
- Mornings, evenings, and holidays are always busy. Please plan for extra time.
- View the TSA's security wait times before leaving for the airport.
- For more relevant information, visit the TSA website. You can also read the TSA Security checkpoint guidelines.
Get through faster
For a quicker process, you can apply for one of two programs. Available at select U.S. airports.
- TSA Precheck: For travel within the U.S.
- Global Entry: For travel within the U.S. and internationally.
Boarding
For the U.S. flights, we recommend being at the gate 15 minutes before boarding starts. For international flights, we recommend being at the gate 30 minutes before boarding starts.
You must be on board your flight 15 minutes before departure time.
At the following airports, there may be extra security or documentation checks. Because of that you need to be at the gate at a specific time before departure:
- Brussels (BRU): 60 minutes
- Dublin (DUB): 30 minutes
- Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL): 60 minutes
- Koror (ROR): 60 minutes
- Kosrae (KSA): 60 minutes
- Kwajalein (KWA): 60 minutes
- Lima (LIM): 30 minutes
- Majuro (MAJ): 60 minutes
- Pohnpei (PNI): 60 minutes
- Sydney (SYD): 60 minutes
- Truk (TKK): 60 minutes
- Yap (YAP): 60 minutes