Check In for my flight

 

Do I have to wait in that huge line at the airport to check my bags?

 

One of the things I noticed on my last couple trips is that people are really unaware of what they need to do to get from the drop off point to the gate where they board the plane. The airlines are not staffed well enough to guide you so it’s a great idea to have a general understanding of what you need to do from street to gate.

Every airline today has its own ap for your smartphone, so if you have made it this far and purchased a low-cost ticket congratulations! Now get on your phone and download the ap for your chosen airline. Sign up for the frequent flyer program of the airline. There is no reason not to take advantage of any credits, miles or benefits they may give you. A common thought process is that “I don’t fly them enough to earn a flight.” That may be true but just a couple thousand frequent flyer miles can earn you an upgraded seat or a free bag or drink on a low-cost carrier.

Now that you have the Ap, you will be able to check in for your flight and monitor delays or cancellations before ever leaving your home. Once you check in, 24 hours before flight, you will be able to completely skip the line for most major carriers. Your boarding passes will be on your phone and can be added to your Apple Wallet for quick access. I also recommend screenshotting them in case you lose internet connectivity at any point. For the major carriers, Delta, American, United etc…..there will be a kiosk when you enter the airport. Go to the kiosk and scan your boarding pass to print the tags for your luggage. Attach the tags to your luggage following the directions (make sure to keep the receipt portion) and then head to the short line that says “Bag Drop” for a super quick experience. The exception to this for me has been my international flights returning to the US when the airline wants to verify my passport. Last week I waited over an hour in line in Dublin flying Aer Lingus because they would not allow me to check in from my Ap for the return flight. I did however notice that half of the line I was waiting in did not need to be in line and could have gone to the Kiosk……Knowledge is power!

If you are flying a low-cost carrier like Allegiant, Frontier, Spirit, Jet Blue, depending on the airport they may or may not have check in kiosks and waiting in that line is part of the cost of doing business with these airlines.

I frequently fly Allegiant to Punta Gorda Florida and you can’t beat the cost. Did you know Allegiant gives free bags to military veterans? When booking your ticket online or in the ap you just put 0 bags. However, you then have to wait in that check in line with your bags and when you finally get to the agent you tell them you have two military or veteran bags. They will thank you for your service and check up to two bags at no cost. Thank You Allegiant! You will have to show proof of service, either a veteran marked drivers license, a military ID or for me I use my VA medical care ID card.

If you have to wait in one of these lines, make sure you arrive 2 hours before flight unless you have one of the security hacks listed below!

 

Stay Tuned, Next we will tackle TSA Precheck, Global Entry and Clear Entry!

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