As airports and airlines try to innovate, one feature is widely available to travelers: the ability to check bags remotely before stepping foot inside the airport.
During the bag check process, passengers can check their flights and get boarding passes while dropping off their luggage at a mobile kiosk.
Bags, Inc. provides remote access to travelers at a variety of locations, including airports, hotels, convention centers, parking lots, car rentals and cruise ships.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the latest airport to launch its remote check-in service in partnership with Bags Inc., but the service is available at five other airports as of Dec. 10:
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
You must fly home on one of the eight participating airlines. Carriers include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. Flight availability varies by airport.
This service is free, but airline baggage fees still apply as they would if you purchased bags separately or internally with the airline.
In general, bags must be checked at least 90 minutes before the flight takes off, during business hours.
Here’s everything you need to know about remote logging.
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San Francisco International Airport
The airport offers a remote flight check-in service for those on domestic airlines of Alaska, American, Delta and JetBlue.
At SFO, travelers can remotely check their bags on Level 5 of the airport’s long-term parking garage or Level 1 of the rental car center. From each location, travelers can connect to the airports via AirTrain.
Long-haul airline check-in is available at SFO from 4 am to 8 pm daily.
Harry Reid International Airport
The Curbside Concierge at LAS is located in the Far end of the airport across from the Car Rental Center and is on the curb from Terminal 3. It is available Thursday through Monday from 4 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Rent-A-Car. Center and 4 am to 12 pm in Terminal 3.
Currently, it is limited to domestic fliers on American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United.
You must check your bag at least 90 minutes before your flight’s departure time.
Charleston International Airport
Charleston’s Check ‘N Go is a free bag check program for domestic flights. It is available in the airport parking garage, rental car center and airport curbside.
Hours are 3:30 am to 7 pm on the sidewalk and 3:30 am to 10 pm in the parking garage.
“80% of passengers standing in the check-in line want to drop bags, and being able to alleviate that with CHS Check N Go makes it even better for the passenger,” said Elliott Summey, CEO of Charleston International Airport, via email.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Airline Baggage Check-in is available at MSY in the Park MSY Express economy parking garage at 800 Airline Dr.
This service is available to American, Delta, United and Spirit passengers from 4 am to 4 pm daily.
William P. Hobby Airport
Check ‘N Fly Baggage Check-In Service is available 24/7 at HOU on US American and Delta flights.
Travelers who use a valet at the Valet parking lot can access this service, as long as they check their bags at least one hour before their flight.
Tampa International Airport
At TPA, you can check in remotely at the Rental Car Center/Multiple Model Location or curbside. Both connect to the airport via the SkyConnect train.
Remote bag check hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Airport valet
In addition to its remote check-in service, Bags, Inc. it also offers valet services to travelers. With the Metropolis valet operator, travelers can park their cars, check in their flights, check their bags and get boarding passes.
Valet is currently available at HOU, San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Appleton International Airport (ATW) and Portland International Airport (PDX).
Port valet
At Orlando International Airport (MCO), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), there is a remote check-in service available for cruise ships at the docks.
For example, JetBlue offers cruise ship check-in for travelers arriving at Port Canaveral and flying out of MCO; offers the same for those stopping at Port Everglades and Port of Miami as well as catching a flight out of FLL.
The same applies to Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, Southwest and United flights departing SEA after 12pm Per the Port of Seattle, passengers who register for this will receive their boarding passes and baggage tags on the last night of travel. .
“Customers leave bags outside the cargo hold the night before disembarkation and do not see the bags again until the home airport where the claim is made,” said a Bags spokesperson via email. “The bags control everything that goes from the ship to the airport.”
Upon arrival in SEA, Bags will check your luggage at your final destination, but you can also track your bags online.
Bottom line
Although reservations are not required to use remote entry, some airport parking lots require advance reservations. Be sure to double-check your airport’s check-in requirements.
Long-haul airline check-in can help you save time at the airport this holiday season and beyond. Even better? It’s free.
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