NWA tightens check-in rule to aid on-time efforts

Northwest Airlines has implemented new minimum check-in time requirements for its domestic customers that will help the airline achieve on-time flight departures.

Domestic customers, with the exception of those traveling to or from Hawaii, are now required to be checked-in and at the departure gate at least 15 minutes prior to the departure time of their flights.

Previously, customers were required to be at the gate and checked in 10 minutes prior to departure. Customers traveling to or from Hawaii will be required to be checked-in and at the departure gate at least 30 minutes before departure, a change from the previous policy of 60 minutes.

By having their boarding pass and being at the gate at least 15 minutes prior to departure, customers will avoid the possible cancellation of their seat assignment and their reservation as Northwest staff accommodate the needs of customers in the critical minutes leading up to a flight's departure.

Northwest's domestic customers enjoy the convenience and choice of being able to obtain their boarding pass over the Internet at the airline's Web site, nwa.com, at any one of Northwest or Continental Airlines' 900 E-Service Center self-service check-in kiosks, at Northwest's WorldClub airport lounges, or at a Northwest Airlines ticket counter.

Northwest has not changed its check-in requirements for customers traveling internationally. The airline's policy regarding check-in and being at the gate prior to departure remains at 30 minutes for travel to and from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, and 60 minutes for travel to and from all other international destinations.

Northwest also now requires that all domestic customers wishing to check luggage must do so at least 30 minutes prior to flight departure. This replaces Northwest's existing policy of having luggage check-in requirements specific to each of the airports it serves.

Customers flying domestically may check their luggage at Northwest ticket counters, special self-service E-Service Center luggage check-in lines, where available, or at curbside.

Luggage check-in requirements for customers traveling internationally have not changed. Customers traveling to and from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean may check their baggage up to 30 minutes prior to departure, and may check luggage up to 60 minutes prior to departure for travel to and from all other international destinations.

To ensure that customers have adequate time to check-in, clear the federal security checkpoint and get to their departure gate, Northwest continues to ask its customers to arrive at the airport 75 minutes prior to departure for domestic travel, and two hours prior to departure for international travel.

For more information pertaining to Northwest, visit the airline's Web site at www.nwa.com.

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