United Airlines Extends Domestic Check-In Time to 45 Minutes Amid REAL ID Push

United Airlines is giving travelers a bit more breathing room at the airport, but don’t start dawdling just yet. Starting June 3, the Chicago-based carrier is extending its domestic flight check-in cutoff to 45 minutes before departure, up from the current 30-minute rule. This aligns United with its checked baggage deadline and matches the policies of most other major airlines, according to a company spokesperson. International flights, however, keep their one-hour check-in requirement.

The change aims to streamline the pre-flight hustle, ensuring consistency for passengers juggling bags and boarding passes. But here’s the kicker: the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) still recommends arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three for international ones. So, while United’s giving you an extra 15 minutes to check in, don’t expect a leisurely coffee run.

Meanwhile, the REAL ID requirement, effective since May 7, is shaking things up at security checkpoints. Flyers need that star-spangled ID or alternatives like a U.S. passport, Global Entry card, or other approved credentials. Without one, you’re in for extra screening—think of it as the TSA’s version of a pop quiz. A TSA spokesperson stressed that with summer travel heating up, now’s the time to get compliant or face the consequences of a pat-down.