– Why do airlines let passengers check-in online 24 hours beforehand? By checking in, shouldn’t they confirm a passenger is actually at the airport?
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Checking in before you arrive at the airport is a convenience. The benefit though, is all for the airlines. If you check in, the airline knows that you intend to board the flight. That’s helpful for them to know, as they manage overbooked flights or customers changing flights, or standby status. You used to signal that intention by waiting in line and checking in at the airline counter at the airport, but as that has become not necessary with technology, you can check in from anywhere 24 hrs ahead.
I always wait to check in until I’m at the airport. Checking in is committing to taking that flight and if you don’t get on that plane…it’s over, if you still want to go to the that destination…you need to buy a ticket for a flight to get there. If you don’t check in and miss it, you can standby for the next flight, or pay a change fee for a guaranteed seat. (Or if the gate agent really feels bad for you because you were so late you had to go standby for the flight you were ticketed on, like one Northwest agent did one time, they might just print you a first class boarding pass for the next flight)
I learned these rules of the game from flying a lot at one time and also having bad time management(ADHD). I’ve missed a flight in every way possible.
I have yet to figure out what benefit I get from checking in ahead of time. (I don’t fly southwest if at all possible!)
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