It Does Matter When You Check in to Your Flight—Here's What You Need to Know

Traveling by plane can sometimes be stressful and difficult—as anyone faced with frequent flight cancellations can attest. Some people love flying, but others are stressed out by (or even fearful of) the process. Running through a pre-flight checklist and studying up on carry-on luggage rules can help smooth the bumps of flying (both on and off the plane), but some smart flying tricks aren't that straightforward.

If you're the type of person who likes to check-in as soon as possible, you can download the airline app and subscribe to push notifications, so that you're ready when the option becomes available. T

However, some people question this method. While it typically makes sense to check in as soon as the app or website allows it, there are times when it's smarter to check in later.

We wanted to know if the timing of check-in could make traveling easier, so we reached out to Zach Honig, editor-at-large at The Points Guy, to find out if it really matters when you check in to your flight.

Checking In Early

Remote check-in typically opens 24 hours before a scheduled flight's departure."There are a few occasions where it does make sense to check in as early as possible," Honig says. "One is if you're flying Southwest, because they have open seating, and you have a better chance of getting the seat you want when it's time to board the aircraft."

If you're not a Southwest loyalist, it can still make sense to check in early, especially if you typically fly in regular economy class. Lately, more airlines have been charging customers who want to choose their seats extra fees when they book flights. Luckily, according to Honig, many airlines waive that fee if you choose your seat during check-in—just make sure you check in as early as possible to snatch a good seat, especially if it's a long flight.

"If you've got a long flight, you don't want to leave it up to the airline to assign a seat," Honig says. "If you don't have a seat assignment and the flight is overbooked, there's a bigger chance you may be bumped."

Honig also suggests that you consider checking in early if you have elite status with an airline. "Sometimes they require you to be checked in in order to be eligible for upgrades," he says.\

Checking In Late

While checking in early typically makes sense, Honig shared one instance during which it might make more sense to wait.

"My strategy is, if you're traveling in basic economy—those deeply discounted, restricted tickets—it could make sense to wait to check in," Honig says. "If you wait until all of the seats are assigned, the airline could end up assigning you an extra leg room seat." And while Honig admits that he hasn't seen it happen very often, it's even possible that waiting could result in an upgrade to a first-class seat.

Don't Wait Too Long

While waiting a few hours to check in to your flight is certainly an option, waiting until the very last minute to check in is a huge no-no. First, check-in closes an hour or two before flight departure; if you're not checked in by then, either through the app, online, or in person at the airport, you may not be able to get a boarding pass to get through security and will likely miss your flight. If you're strategically waiting to check in for your flight, do it at least a few hours before your flight leaves to save your flight reservation.

Overall, if you're the type of person who wants to save money by refraining from paying for a seat assignment, early check-in is your best bet for a not-awful seat. Otherwise, certain airlines (namely, Southwest) reward early birds. With other airlines, however, it may not matter too much either way.