✅ Why checking in early matters

July 25, 2025 | View Online

I'm off to Portland this weekend, and I do plan to keep things weird, as the city's slogan would suggest. One thing is for sure: PDX is the only airport with a carpet that is so iconic that it can distract me from how many germs and nasty particles are being tracked across it.

In today's edition:

Your weekend to-do list
Why checking in early matters
All the travel news you may have missed

Don’t think about it too long,

Arijana

In my mind, every weekend is a chance to either take a trip, book a trip, or plan the next one. Here's your weekend to-do list:

🎉 Plan your next trip like a professional. Use a top travel advisor’s advice to create the perfect itinerary.

😕 American Airlines is cancelling hundreds of flights this summer. Here’s where to double-check if your departure will be affected.

😡 Delta loyalists have another reason to be up in arms and even more reasons to reconsider booking their next trip with the carrier. The airline is facing scrutiny from lawmakers, travelers, and industry experts for its plans to implement AI to set flight prices.

🏩 I hope you’re not out there booking hotels for no rewards. Here are the best hotel credit cards out there that help you stack up rewards and free nights.

Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web

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Don’t get bumped: Why checking in early matters

If you’ve ever been bumped from a flight or constantly get assigned the middle seat on flights, you’ll want to pay close attention to my travel tip of the week. You may think that when you check in doesn’t matter, but that doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get bumped from a flight. And, with the advent of online check-in, it’s even more important to check in online in advance.

✅ What is the benefit of checking in early?

The benefits of checking in early include being less likely to get bumped from an oversold flight and being less likely to be lodged in the middle seat of an aircraft. This is especially important during busy travel seasons and international flights, many of which do not let you choose a seat or charge an exorbitant amount to hand-pick one.

Don’t forget that airlines are allowed to oversell flights, so even if you’ve bought a ticket, an airline may still bump you if there isn’t enough room. If you’re the last to check in, you’re the first to be bumped. For most domestic flights, if you’re flying without a bag, most airlines require you to check in at least 30 minutes before departure. If you have a bag, 45 minutes is the cut-off. Still, I recommend checking in as early as possible.

🤳 What’s the best way to check in?

Download the carrier’s app and keep an eye on your email to get alerts for when check-in is open. Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before the flight departs, so sometimes I’ll set an alarm 24 hours before to ensure I check in early. For example, for my flight to Portland, I kept getting emails offering money to people who could take a later flight, so I knew it was very oversold and I’d want to check in the moment I was eligible to, so I set an alarm on my phone for it.

Lastly, remember that even if you complete your check-in early online, that doesn’t mean you should arrive after the airport cutoff. This is especially important for people flying with checked bags. Though you’ll likely still be there on time to board, your bags may not be.

Moral of the story: The early bird gets the best seat (and maybe an upgrade, too)!

Travel gear can make or break a trip, especially during a sweltering summer getaway. Here are some of our recent favorite travel essentials:

While people are debating whether the Yeti Camino or the Baby Bogg bag is the better beach bag, I’d rather go for this dry bag tote that keeps sand and water out and all your stuff dry. And all the color waves are so good that they can be used year-round.

But, if you’re looking for something more compact that you can wear crossbody, the Yeti Sidekick has the best reviews for good reason. It’s great for short hikes or rainy escapes.

If you’re still looking for a stylish yet comfy travel shoe, this TikToker did all the important work and found the ultimate city summer shoe with full reviews.

With summer heat reaching unbearable levels, stay cool with this compact, rechargeable fan that also comes with a flashlight and doubles as a power bank. And you can get up to 19 hours of cooling off a single charge!

Having trouble keeping up with all the travel news? Don't worry, we have you covered with our travel news highlights. Here's what you need to know in case you missed it.

Pan Am is back and you can take a ride for a cool $60k
Plane crashes in Russia with 49 passengers onboard
Here’s what Europeans really think of American tourists
And 23 telltale signs someone is an American
Dolly Parton’s travel must-haves
Mexico City is pushing back on digital nomads and mass tourism

📍 Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland

Lucas sent us this stunning photo taken from behind the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It was taken close to midnight since the sun barely sets there and there’s no filter on the photo—just Earth’s natural beauty. Want to send in your own travel pic? Click here to share with us.