United Airlines to change its check-in policy. What you need to know
Lexington passengers boarding United Airlines flights will need to get to Blue Grass Airport even earlier.
Starting June 3, regardless of if you’re checking a bag, United travelers must check in at least 45 minutes before a flight’s departure.
Previously, passengers could check in just 30 minutes before departure if they weren’t checking a bag.
In a statement to media outlets, airline officials said: “The change brings greater consistency for our customers by aligning with our current checked baggage deadline and the check-in policies followed by most other airlines.”
Most major airlines recommend arriving at the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight to allow for enough time to check in, get through security and then arrive at the gate.
United joins American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, two of the other airlines the go through the Lexington airport, in operating with a 45 minutes-to-departure check in deadline.
The check-in rules for international fliers on United remain unchanged: Passengers must check-in 60 minutes before departure.
Has United’s bag policy changed?
United still allows passengers to have one free carry-on and one free personal item. The same standard size restrictions still apply.
Like other airlines, United’s website has a feature for passengers to calculate how much they might spend to check their bags.
Flying to Chicago next week? The fee calculator says customers with bags up to 50 pounds would be charged $35 if they pay before arriving to the airport.
Other airport news
United flights from the Blue Grass Airport take passengers to the airline’s hubs at Chicago O’Hare and Denver.
The airline also flies through Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport, and a few others nearby.
Last year, the Lexington airport served a record-breaking 1.57 million passengers.
In January, Blue Grass Airport President and CEO Eric Frankl said the previous year’s seasonal flights and increased frequency to popular destinations contributed to the more than 16% increase in passengers from 2023.
Delta Air Lines resumed its non-stop, daily flight to New York City earlier in May.
Seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and to Destin, Florida, has also returned via Allegiant Air.
That airline is also running a seasonal service to Sarasota, Florida, this summer.