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Check-in Requirements

Knowing which documents to bring with you and when to arrive at the airport will help to ensure a hassle-free trip.

When to Arrive at the Airport

Advisory: New security measures have been implemented which necessitate an earlier arrival. See Security Checkpoints for details.

To get a general idea of when you should arrive at the airport, add the required check-in time below to the current security wait time.

If you are traveling as a Delta customer on one of our codeshare partners, check in with that codeshare carrier.

Check-in from U.S. Cities, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

You must be at the gate at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

If traveling outside the United States, you must be checked in 60 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

If you're traveling within the United States and you're checking bags, your baggage must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time except when traveling from one of the following cities:

Check-in Time Exceptions when traveling within the U.S.
   
City Required Baggage Check-in Time Be at the Gate
Atlanta, GA 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
Denver, CO 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
Las Vegas, NV 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
Los Angeles, CA 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
New York, NY (JFK) 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
Orlando, FL 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
Reno, NV 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
San Antonio, TX (effective Jul 15, 2008) 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
San Juan, PR 45 minutes before departure 15 minutes before departure
St. Croix, VI 60 minutes before departure 45 minutes before departure
St. Thomas, VI 60 minutes before departure 45 minutes before departure
   
Delta Shuttle® Check-in Time Exceptions
   
City Required Baggage Check-in Time Be at the Gate
Boston, MA 30 minutes before departure 5 minutes before departure
New York, NY (LaGuardia) 15 minutes before departure 5 minutes before departure
Washington, D.C. 15 minutes before departure 5 minutes before departure
   

Check-in from Non-U.S. Cities

If you're not checking bags, you must be checked in and at the gate at least 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

If you're checking bags, your baggage must be checked in at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure time except when traveling from one of the following cities:

Check-in Time Exceptions in Non-U.S. Cities
   
City Required Baggage Check-in Time Be at the Gate
Accra, Ghana 2 hours before departure even if you're not checking bags 45 minutes before departure
Bogota, Colombia 2 hours before departure 45 minutes before departure
Bucharest, Romania 90 minutes before departure 45 minutes before departure
Istanbul, Turkey 3 hours and 15 minutes before departure 45 minutes before departure
Lagos, Nigeria 75 minutes before departure even if you're not checking bags 45 minutes before departure
Moscow, Russia 3 hours before departure 45 minutes before departure
Nassau, Bahamas 2 hours before departure 45 minutes before departure
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos 2 hours before departure 45 minutes before departure
St. George, Bermuda (effective Jul 15, 2008) 90 minutes before departure even if you're not checking bags 45 minutes before departure
St. Lucia 2 hours before departure 45 minutes before departure
   

 

Security Wait Times

To be at the gate in time for your flight, you'll need to add additional time to your recommended check-in time in order to clear security. To check current security wait times at airports throughout the United States, visit the Transportation Security Administration.

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What You'll Need

The documentation you'll need will vary depending on your destination.

Within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico

Select from the following:

  • One unexpired form of local or federal government-issued photo id, such as:
    • Passport
    • Driver's License
    • Military ID
  • Or two unexpired forms of non-photo id—one must be issued by a state or federal agency.

For more information about the types of ID accepted at U.S. security checkpoints, see the Transportation Security Administration.

Outside the United States

Visit Visa & Passport Information to determine which documents you'll need to enter your destination country.

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