An early morning flight means arriving at the airport even earlier to check your luggage, but a new program from United Airlines may help you get some extra sleep.
United began testing its initiative called Twilight Bag Drop at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in late March, giving passengers the option to check their bags the night before on select flights before 10 a.m.
This service is to streamline the check-in process on the day of departure. “Fly from the airport in the morning without worrying about missing bags, head straight to security,” the airline said in an email to eligible customers.
United said the trial has been successful so far and plans to continue it in ORD. Nearly 1,600 bags have gone through the program since its launch, the airline said, with “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from passengers.
Currently only two airports offer Twilight Bag Drop: ORD and Guam International Airport. However, United said there is potential for expansion into other hubs in the future.
How does United’s new bag drop offer work?
ORD passengers who are eligible for the program are notified via an email one day before their departure. They add their checked bags to their flight details and pay online, then drop off their bags at ORD’s Terminal 1 from 6pm to 9pm. This service is available every day of the week.
According to United’s website, passengers flying from Guam can participate if their departure is before 9:30 a.m. They can check their bags the night before between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.