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Opens 24 hours before · closes 1 hour before

United Airlines online check-in

The exact window, the process step by step, and what to have at hand before you confirm.

Check in on United AirlinesGet alerted when it opens

The United Airlines check-in window

  1. Opens

    24 hours

    before departure, on the United Airlines site or app

    Check-in possible

  2. Closes

    1 hour

    before departure — after that, it is the airport desk

    Too late online

  3. Departure

    Take-off

    Be at the gate as instructed by the airline

How to check in with United Airlines

  1. 1

    Wait for it to open, 24 hours before departure

    Before that point United Airlines issues no boarding pass: the booking exists, but check-in is refused.

  2. 2

    Have your booking reference ready

    Six characters, in your confirmation email. The name you enter must match your passport or ID exactly — no nicknames, no abbreviations.

  3. 3

    Settle bag and seat before confirming

    Hold luggage added after check-in often costs more, and the seat can no longer be changed free of charge once the pass is issued.

  4. 4

    Take the boarding pass offline

    Add it to your Wallet or download the PDF: terminal networks saturate at peak hours. Online check-in closes 1 hour before departure.

On the day, at the airport

Online check-in settles the desk. Security is still ahead. See what’s available at the airports United Airlines flies from.

See all airports

Frequently asked questions

When does United Airlines online check-in open?+

It opens 24 hours before scheduled departure. Before that, United Airlines does not yet issue a boarding pass.

How late can you check in with United Airlines?+

Online check-in closes 1 hour before departure. After that you have to use the United Airlines desk at the airport.

What happens if I forget to check in?+

You are not denied boarding, but check-in moves to the airport desk. Depending on the airline it is free or charged, and it means arriving earlier.

Is United Airlines online check-in free?+

Yes. Online check-in is free on United Airlines, as on nearly every airline. What gets charged are the extras — seat, bag, desk check-in.

Does SkyEntry check in for me?+

No: only the airline issues a boarding pass, and no service can guarantee otherwise. SkyEntry alerts you the moment check-in opens for your flight, with the direct link — you confirm in one tap.

Go further

All airlines

Every check-in window, side by side, in one table.

Fast Track

Clear security through a reserved lane.

Airport lounges

Wait in quiet, drinks and wifi included.

Pricing

What the services and the membership cost.

Never miss a check-in opening again

SkyEntry membership alerts you when check-in opens, tracks the flight, and opens fast track and lounges in over 200 airports.

See the membership