We are traveling in a few weeks via SeaTac airport to London on British Airways Business Class (130pm flight) -then a connecting flight to Copenhagen. I am trying to find out if we could check our bags in 4 hours early. I called British Airways and they said the standard is 3 hours - and could not really get an answer if we could check in earlier. Has anyone checked in bags with British Airways at SeaTac earlier than 3 hours before a flight?
Posted by
Chicago
1025 posts
If you are close enough to SeaTac to actually go to the airport before your flight and
ask an agent, that is probably the best way to get a worthwhile answer.
The other thing to do is check the BA schedule for the day you are traveling. Airlines
that don't have very many flights will not staff their check-in desks all day long, and
that is probably the limiting factor. In addition, there is a good chance that the staff
handling check-in are probably handling the arrival of the inbound flight(s) and if there
is a turnaround in 4-5 hours, you can see how the check-in desk wouldn't be staffed
until after the inbound flight is all taken care of.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for the suggestions.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9667 posts
I have tried to do so at SeaTac and been turned away. This is particularly frustrating at SeaTac as there are no good places to wait landside, and even fewer now the new security checkpoint is in place.
Posted by
near San Francisco
6055 posts
Recently, when I checked my bag really early (not British Airways and not SeaTac) the airline put it on an earlier flight. (Thanks?)
The good news is that I didn't have to wait for it. I was concerned that it might go missing before I arrived. It didn't, but I did have to search around for it, since it wasn't at the carousel for my own flight.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8027 posts
Three hours early is pretty much the standard. I know that where I fly from the British Airways counter isn’t manned more than three hours in advance of the flight.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you all for your replies - it is greatly appreciated.
Posted by
1363 posts
All that said, I would not count on being able to get it done 4 hrs ahead. I would maybe try, but I would otherwise be prepared to wait until the three hour mark. Depends if you are already at airport or not. I would not arrive at 4 hours if I had another choice.