Alaska News

Alaska Airlines changes minimum check-in time

SEATTLE —Alaska Airlines is changing its minimum check-in time for customers

traveling on most domestic flights from 30 to 40 minutes prior to departure,

regardless if a bag is checked or not. The minimum check-in time for

international flights remains at 60 minutes.

The policy change is being made so that travelers on Alaska Airlines can expect

the same minimum check-in time at almost all airports the carrier serves. The

exceptions will be at airports where the check-in cutoff is already 45 minutes,

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such as Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, Newark and Philadelphia. Passengers

traveling from Guadalajara have a 90-minute check-in cutoff time.

Alaska Airlines' longstanding boarding policy remains the same — passengers

must be available to board at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure

time for all flights.

"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 cut-off time

should make things easier for customers and employees alike."

The vast majority of Alaska Airlines' passengers already comply with the new

check-in time. Starting tomorrow, passengers who miss the cutoff will be

treated the same way as customers today — they will be offered a $25 same-day

confirmed seat on the next available flight, depending on availability.

As with the previous cut-off time, the 40-minute requirement does not ensure

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travelers will make it to their departure gate in time for boarding. Busy

security lines and heavy passenger traffic may require additional time. The

Transportation Security Administration recommends that passengers allow at

least one hour for domestic flights and two hours or more for international

flights.

Alaska Airlines' customers can check in using the carrier's app for iPhone or

Android, on the Web or at an airport kiosk.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with

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its partner regional airlines, serves 95 cities through an expansive network in

Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked

"Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the

J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM for six

consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit

www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines

Newsroom at [ http://www.alaskaair.com/newsroom ] www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Alaska Airlines press release

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