SEATTLE — Starting Wednesday, Alaska Airlines will increase its minimum check-in time for travelers from 30 to 40 minutes before departing, regardless if a bag is checked or not, said officials with the airlines.
For international travelers, the minimum check-in time remains at 60 minutes.
The change is being made so that customers can expect the same minimum check-in times at all the airports served by the carrier.
"Our previous policy sent a mixed message by having different cutoff times, depending on the airport and whether a customer is checking bags," said Jeff Butler, Alaska Airlines' vice president of customer service - airports and cargo. "The new policy will make check-in times the same for everyone, making it easier for passengers to remember the cutoff, regardless of how they are checking in and whether they're checking a bag. A consistent cutoff time should make things easier for customers and employees alike."
According to officials, a majority of Alaska Airlines' customers have complied with the new check-in time.