check-in question about airports

January 7, 2016 1:11 AM

I need to fly out of Portland, Oregon on a 6 am Delta flight. Can I check-in the night before around 10 pm and get my luggage checked too?

I'm trying to figure out some logistics for a trip, and it's been a while since I've flown in the U.S.

For various reasons, I think it will be easier for me to get to PDX the night before my flight leaves and sleep in the airport. I'd like to get checked-in (with my luggage checked-in too) that night for a 6 am flight the next day. Will that be possible?

I imagine it will be, but I'm feeling anxious about this trip for various reasons, so I'd just like to double check.

posted by colfax to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Best answer: You can definitely check yourself in, but luggage could be an issue. My reading of Delta Checked Bags Conditions is six hours in advance for drop-off. Anecdotally, Flyertalk folk report a range of exceptions - ask three agents and it seems likely you could get three different answers. I hope someone else might share what answer they've got at PDX!
posted by AnnaRat at 2:59 AM on January 7, 2016

Best answer: Sorry, maybe that limit only applies to curbside, now I re-read it? But that would surprise me as most airlines have a 4-6 hour limit.
posted by AnnaRat at 3:08 AM on January 7, 2016

Response by poster: If it's allowed to be 6 hours in advance at PDX, then I might be able to check them a little after midnight for a 6 am flight. Thanks for the answer!
posted by colfax at 3:37 AM on January 7, 2016

Best answer: That would only work if the check-in desk is open and staffed at that hour.
posted by shiny blue object at 4:33 AM on January 7, 2016 [8 favorites]

Best answer: You might not be able to get past TSA once you've checked your luggage. For example at FLL they only let you go through if you're within 2 hours of your flight. My flight got cancelled and they actually cleared everyone at a gate back through security to the ticketing area. I snagged a sofa, but it was the worst night. They didn't turn off the recordings overhead, and the lights were blinding. Horrible!

Here's what Sleeping in Airports says about Portland.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:20 AM on January 7, 2016

Response by poster: Because of your answers, I decided to look around at some more flights. I found a red-eye flight out of Portland that will work just as well. So I will be sleeping/semi-sleeping on the airplane instead of trying to sleep in the airport. Thanks for your answers and helping me think through this problem!
posted by colfax at 7:12 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]