Last Updated: January 30, 2023
How Early Can You Check Bags For A Flight? A Detailed Guide
Traveling with checked luggage and you want to know precisely how early you’re allowed to check your bags for a flight? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this guide covers everything you need to know about checking luggage on international and domestic flights!
I’ve extensively covered the rules for all the major airlines, including both local airlines in the United States and international ones. So, whether you’re flying within the States or going on an overseas trip, you should find all the information you need below!
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How Early Can You Check Your Luggage for A Flight?
How early you’re allowed to check luggage for a flight depends on the airline and the airport. You’re usually given more time to check luggage for international flights from the US, but have a shorter time period to check your bags on domestic flights. In any case, below is a quick summary of the rules of most major airlines and airports.
Airlines & Airports Within North America
Most airlines and airports in North America will allow you to check your bags 2-6 before your scheduled departure. It’s usually 2-3 hours for flights within North America, and then 3-6 hours for international long-haul flights.
However, this is just the general rule of thumb. If you want to be 100% certain, it’s best to call ahead and inquire directly, either with the airport or the airline. Some people managed to check their bags even 12 hours before departure, while others were scolded for attempting to check them 5 hours prior to the flight.
Airlines & Airports in Europe, Asia & Middle East
Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have similar rules for checking baggage for a flight. Usually, they’ll let you do it some 2-4 hours before your scheduled departure, although it’s worth noting that premium airlines often let you check bags even earlier. Emirates lets you drop off your bags 24 hours before if you’re departing from Dubai, and 12 hours earlier if you’re flying to the United States.
Earliest Time for Baggage Check-in of Most Popular Airlines
Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines allows you to check in your bags up to 24 hours before departure. This entails either checking them in online or at the self-service check-in counter. However, you can’t drop off your bags that early; even if you use their self-service baggage drop area to avoid waiting in line, the earliest you can drop off your bags is four hours before the flight.
That being said, they have been known to make exceptions, so it’s highly recommended you contact them in advance and ask them nicely.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines allows passengers to check their bags as early as four hours before the flight departure time. For flights that are early in the morning, travelers can drop off their bags as soon as the check-in counter opens.
United Airlines
United Airlines allows passengers to check in their bags up to four hours before their scheduled departure. This is the standard practice for both domestic and international flights, although there are some exceptions to this rule. The rules differ depending on the airport and the operating hours of the check-in counter.
American Airlines
American Airlines doesn’t actually say how early you can check bags for your flight. All they say is that you can check in up to 24 hours prior to the departure and that you must check your bags at least 45 minutes before your flight is scheduled to take off. I think it’s safe to assume that they allow baggage drop off 2-4 hours before the flight, but if you want to know for certain, it’s best to call them up and ask.
British Airways
British Airways says you can drop off your bags as soon as you have your boarding pass in hand, which I’m assuming is 2-4 hours before the flight. It definitely doesn’t mean that you can drop off your bags a day earlier, because they offer this service only at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and it’s called overnight baggage drop.
At Heathrow, you can drop off your bags between 4 PM and 10 PM the day before, but only if you’re on a flight that departs before 10 AM. At Gatwick airport, you’re allowed to drop off your (and other people’s) bags from 6 PM to 9 PM a day before your flight, provided it’s scheduled to depart before 1 PM.
RyanAir
RyanAir states that you can check bags when the counter opens, which is usually two hours before the scheduled departure for their flight. That being said, I’ve personally checked in three hours before a flight once without any issues, so if you get to the airport early, just check to see whether the counter for your flight is open.
EasyJet
The baggage drop for EasyJet opens either two, two and a half, or three hours before the flight. It depends on which airport you’re departing from, but for the vast majority of their flights, the earliest you can drop off your bag is two hours prior to the scheduled departure time. The cut-off period for baggage drop-off also varies from airport to airport, so it’s best to inquire with them directly if you want to be entirely certain.
From what I could find, EasyJet doesn’t have a service that lets you drop off your bags the day before your flight.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines lets travelers check their bags as early as four hours before their flight. This is valid for both domestic and international flights, but it’s worth noting that their cut-off times differ depending on your ultimate destination. The cut-off time for flights within the US is 45 minutes, for international flights, it’s 60 minutes, and it’s 90 minutes for passengers who are traveling to Guadalajara.
Air France
For Air France flights out of Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, you can drop off your bags the day before your flight at automated drop-off areas. These are open from 4 PM to 8 PM, and this service is available only for passengers who are traveling internationally, so it’s not offered for flights within Europe.
Passengers who are flying to the United States from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport can drop off their bags up to 24 hours prior to departure.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines allows passengers to drop off their bags up to 24 hours before their flight, but only at select airports and only for flights to international destinations. Also, they have automated check-in counters and baggage drop-off areas, so you can do the entire thing on your own, quite quickly.
This is only for Perth Airport, Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Jewel Changi Airport, and Changi Airport, and only at select terminals.
Emirates
Emirates allows passengers who are flying out of Dubai to drop off their bags as early as 24 hours before their flight departs. But if you are flying to the United States, you will be allowed to drop off your bags 12 hours prior to your departure, which is still pretty good.
Lufthansa
Lufthansa is great about baggage drop-off. They have self-service drop-off points at most larger airports they operate from, plus in most cases they let you drop off the bags a day before your departure. This is called “Late Night Check-In”, and it’s for passengers who have a flight early in the morning and don’t want to deal with checking their bags as soon as they wake up.
That being said, this service is available at a cost, and the rules for baggage drop-off depend on the type of your ticket. In other words, business and first-class passengers are granted liberties that economy passengers are not. You can see a detailed overview of check-in and baggage drop deadlines here.
How Late Can You Check Your Luggage for A Flight?
The absolute latest you can check your bags for a flight is 45 minutes for a domestic flight and an hour for an international flight. This is the general rule for most airlines, and airline agents are pretty strict with baggage cut-off times.
That being said, I don’t recommend testing out this theory or arriving at the airport so late that you have to run around to be able to check your bags on time. Try to check them at least an hour and a half before your flight – that should still give you plenty of time to pass through security and everything, plus you won’t have to run around like a lunatic.
Are Lockers for Luggage Available at Airports?
This really depends on the airport – some airports have luggage lockers that you can use to store bags on long layovers, but others don’t offer this service. It’s usually the large international airports that service most international flights that have this option. But smaller airports that don’t receive as many passengers or that are often used by budget airlines often lack this service.
Tips to Make Your Check-in Hassle Free
Weigh your bags at home to make sure they’re not over the baggage allowance. This helps avoid any uncomfortable surprises and additional fees at the airport, plus it saves you some time. Also, make sure you’re not packing anything illegal – check the list of allowed items in checked baggage for the airline you’re using and the country you’re traveling to!
Take advantage of online check-in and get your boarding pass as soon as you can. This is by far the best thing to do to make your travel as hassle-free as possible. Then get to the airport early – at least 2-3 before the scheduled departure time for your flight.
When you get to the airport, head straight to the bag check-in counter if you have your online boarding pass and you don’t need to check in at the counter. If there is a self-service check-in counter, use it and skip the lines. Also, if there’s a self-service baggage drop-off area, use it, but only after you’ve printed your baggage tags at the check-in area.
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About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
