What does it mean do check in online for an airplane flight ticket?

Question

Im going on a trip tommorow and im taking united airlines, and i bought the tickets online like a while ago and they just emailed me that i can check in online. Im not really sure what that means, if i check in online does it like print out a ticket or something? and it also gave me a conformation number, but im not sure if i should check in online because im new at this and i don't want to forget something at home. >.< and can you guys tell me how many minutes i should arrive before my flight? and when i get their will they help me with where to go and stuff, because i know that im gonna havta do alot of security checks, and don't really want to miss my flight. thankss !!

Answer 1

It means you may check in for your flight up to 24 hours prior to your departure, this allows you to print your boarding pass prior to going to the airport. If your worried about doing that you can go to an easy check in unit (if your airport has them) and check in there and they will take care of any checked luggage you may have.  For Domestic travel you should check in a minimum  of 1 hr prior to departure and 2 hrs for International travel.  If your unsure where to go any agent should be able to assist you.  United Airlines policy is if you are not checked in and at the gate 20 minutes prior to departure they will give your seat away if someone is needing the seat.  If you are leaving from a large airport like Chicago O&#039;Hare for example it wouldn&#039;t hurt to arrive a little earlier.  

I&#039;m sure you will be just fine. I usually make a list of things I need to have and check them off before I head out. (I&#039;m always forgetting something) lol

Take care and enjoy your flight!!

Answer 2

First off you want to arrive around 2 hours early for your flight. When you do check in on-line then you dont have to wait in the big lines to check in your baggage. But you need to make sure to go to the airline website and look it up yourself it might be different for different airlines. They should have directions for your flight and what to do, they can answer all you questions.

Answer 3

As far as I know you can check in on line up to 24 hrs prior to your flight. When you do you enter your confirmation number and follow the prompts such as number of passengers, baggage to be checked, you may even be able to go through a seat selection process. you then can print out your boarding pass which you  present to the ticket agent if you are checking baggage. There will be someone at the airlines desk to assist you. If you are flying out of a larger airport, get out there at least 11/2 hrs. prior to your flight time. Gates usually close about 10 min. before flight time.

Answer 4

If you check in online, it means you won&#039;t have to check in at the desk.

If you check in online, you probably will be able to print out your tickets.

If not, then you will only have to retrieve them at the desk, give them your bags, and off to your gate.

Check in online cancels all of that registration with your information since they already have it.