United Airlines doubles required check-in times without immediate enforcement

Matthew Klint suggests that updating the Contract of Carriage now is necessary because tickets sold today may be for travel as late as May 2025, and the terms in place at purchase apply to those tickets. He speculates that United could implement this change as soon as June 2025.

Basic economy customers face additional challenges since they are not allowed to check in online or via the airline’s mobile app. This necessitates arriving early enough at the airport to ensure reaching the front of the line an hour before departure—a process dependent on various factors including staff availability and kiosk numbers.

Online check-in can sometimes fail for certain itineraries or due to long lines for checking bags. United aims to position itself as a premium carrier catering to customers with high opportunity costs for their time—those who tend to arrive later at airports due to busy schedules.

"This is a move that certainly works for the convenience of the airline but is customer-unfriendly," one observer noted.