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How early can I check in at the gate to Singapore Airlines

NMTraveller

By NMTraveller,
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Globaliser

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Where? And why? Why can't you simply check in at the check-in counter?

 

I find it hard to think why there would be any SQ staff at the gate 4 hours before the flight departs. In fact, that long before the flight, the airline may not even know which gate it will be using.

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NMTraveller

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5 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

Where? And why? Why can't you simply check in at the check-in counter?

 

I find it hard to think why there would be any SQ staff at the gate 4 hours before the flight departs. In fact, that long before the flight, the airline may not even know which gate it will be using.

LAX.  When I have checked into international flights in the past I believe they had a 4 hour limit. 

 

Why?

I do not want to get to the airport early and have to burn time.

I would like to check in at the counter 4.5 hours to 5 hours early and then go to the lounge.  It is LAX on a holiday.  Shuttles, traffic and other amentities can be a mess.

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Globaliser

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2 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

LAX.  When I have checked into international flights in the past I believe they had a 4 hour limit.

 

...

 

I would like to check in at the counter 4.5 hours to 5 hours early and then go to the lounge.

 

Four hours before departure sounds more like the time that check-in opens at the counter, not at the gate. But this will vary by airline, so your best bet is probably to ask yours. At an outstation (as LAX is for Singapore Airlines), it's less common to be able to check in very early, as check-in staffing is specifically organised around departure times.

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Zach1213

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1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

It is LAX on a holiday.  Shuttles, traffic and other amentities can be a mess.

 

Often times, holidays themselves are quiet days. It's the days before and after that are crazy busy. Of course, depends what holiday it is...

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NMTraveller

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18 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

How dare someone actually look at the SQ website to find the answer!!!

 

😀

 

 

Even with the web page I don't think that all of the answers are there.  It tells you that you can check in at an automated kiosk 24 hours before and to do an automated bag drop.  But when you look at the automated bag drops for LAX none are to be found on their website.  I think that I will go with the 4 hours to drop off the bags as posted by @6rugrats.

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NMTraveller

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1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Did you even go to the SQ website linked above?

 

Here's a screenshot of what it says for LAX:

 

 

Screenshot 2023-12-16 210347.png

 

 

Yes I did.  I thought that I would try the kiosk check in since it opens earlier.

image.png

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FlyerTalker Excellent Advice! Rare

FlyerTalker

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59 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

 

 

Yes I did.  I thought that I would try the kiosk check in since it opens earlier.

image.png

 

But...if you had looked at the link for the automated bag drop, you would have seen that there isn't one at LAX.  Only at Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, London, Perth and Singapore.

 

So even if you checked in with a kiosk, you would not be able to do anything with your luggage until the actual check-in counter opens three hours before your flight.

 

 

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Globaliser

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12 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

I think that I will go with the 4 hours to drop off the bags as posted by @6rugrats.

 

Look, if you set two inconsistent aims, and then you're determined to simply hear that which you want to hear, then just go to the airport whenever you want to go and see what happens when you get there.

 

Your downside risk is missing one of your aims by having to wait around in the check-in area until the check-in staff turn up for your flight. But we've all done that sometimes.

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NMTraveller

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5 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

Look, if you set two inconsistent aims, and then you're determined to simply hear that which you want to hear, then just go to the airport whenever you want to go and see what happens when you get there.

 

Your downside risk is missing one of your aims by having to wait around in the check-in area until the check-in staff turn up for your flight. But we've all done that sometimes.

Well I know that I can check in and get my boarding pass and bag tags early.  The only piece of the puzzle missing is the bag drop.  If they have a spot at the counter for bag drop or if they don't.  At least I will have missed the big lines at the counter.  I would hope that they would have a shorter line for bag drops?

 

I did call to ask about bag drops,  navigated through the clunky phone interface,  gave the agent my booking info,  and the agent put me on hold and the call dropped 😁 

 

So my plan is to get there early,  check in at the kiosk,  see if there is a place to drop a bag,  if not go get a glass of wine,  and then come back.

 

I may just stop by the counter the evening before and ask.

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Globaliser

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7 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

At least I will have missed the big lines at the counter.  I would hope that they would have a shorter line for bag drops?

...

I may just stop by the counter the evening before and ask.

 

Maybe, but don't count on it.

 

Wouldn't you spend more time going to the airport a second time to ask the question than you could possibly waste by getting to the airport a bit earlier than you would ideally need to be?

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NMTraveller Holiday Sharing Rare

NMTraveller

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2 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

Maybe, but don't count on it.

 

Wouldn't you spend more time going to the airport a second time to ask the question than you could possibly waste by getting to the airport a bit earlier than you would ideally need to be?

I fly in the night before.  But the hike/shuttle to Tom Bradley terminal is probably not worth it. 

 

So at best all of my efforts to make it in early may not pan out.  But at least I will make my flight.  LAX can be a hot mess...

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Philob

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No experience with LAX, but at SFO, you still need to go to the SQ counter for passport check and  baggage drop. They'll weigh your luggage AND carry-on, tag it and you're off to TSA and to the gate. 

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NMTraveller

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Singapore Airlines did have a kiosk and an early bag drop that was not at the counter.

 

LAX had horrendous times to get into the terminal and out of the terminal.  No one should have to overnight at LAX.  SFO would have been easier…

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PilgrimsProgress

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On 12/30/2023 at 11:18 PM, NMTraveller said:

Singapore Airlines did have a kiosk and an early bag drop that was not at the counter.

 

LAX had horrendous times to get into the terminal and out of the terminal.  No one should have to overnight at LAX.  SFO would have been easier…

 

Where is the bag drop and what was the process?  I have the same situation coming up in a week.  Thanks.

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NMTraveller

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On 4/20/2024 at 11:50 AM, PilgrimsProgress said:

 

Where is the bag drop and what was the process?  I have the same situation coming up in a week.  Thanks.

I went to the Singapore Air gate and they were escorting people over to the early bag drop.  I do not recall it being marked with a sign.

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