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Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
August 14, 2022 • 8 min read
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Quick summary
Early hotel check-in can be valuable for travelers arriving before standard check-in times, though availability is not guaranteed.
Elite status with major hotel loyalty programs may provide enhanced early check-in or late checkout benefits, but options exist for all guests.
Using a hotel's mobile app to check in and indicate your arrival time can increase your chances of getting a room early, especially at less busy properties.
Other methods include making early check-in requests during booking, using app chat features or speaking directly with the front desk.
What to consider
Early check-in is always subject to availability, with higher success rates at less in-demand hotels.
Some loyalty programs offer early check-in as a formal benefit for top-tier members, while others may charge a fee for lower-tier guests.
Making requests in advance and communicating your needs clearly can improve your chances but does not guarantee early access.
What you'll miss from the article
Specific step-by-step strategies and real-world examples for maximizing your chances of early hotel check-in.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
There are lots of ways to get a late checkout at a hotel and plenty of reasons to want one. The ability to sleep in and milk the final hours of a stay or just pass time comfortably before your flight home can really simplify logistics on the final day of your vacation.
Seasoned travelers know all sorts of tricks to help them score extra time in the room before leaving, including the fact that Marriott Bonvoy,Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt and other major hotel loyalty programs include late checkouts as a benefit you earn with elite status.
But what about checking in early?
This can be equally important for some travelers, particularly those who arrive at their destination early in the morning. I found myself looking for early check-in just last week when I arrived in London in the morning from an overnight flight.
Some hotel loyalty programs give travelers check-in flexibility as they reach high-level status tiers. For instance, IHG One Rewards makes it an explicit benefit for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite guests (subject to availability). Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite members can take advantage of the “Your24” benefit, which allows you to pick your check-in and checkout time.
World of Hyatt has a fairly robust system for reserving an early check-in or late checkout at Hyatt Place hotels. Depending on your status, it may cost you, but it's a pretty good bargain. Members without elite status or with Discoverist status can reserve a 9:00 a.m. check-in for $10. It's a free benefit for Explorist and Globalist members.
Regardless of the hotel brand, there are tricks that might get you into your room early. In some cases at no cost. Will each tactic work every time? No. But it's worth a shot.
Try this: Check in on your hotel's app
I've had quite a bit of luck getting into my room early simply by using the mobile check-in feature on a hotel app.
I had a reservation at the Marriott Tysons Corner — not a top-tier Marriott Bonvoy property by any stretch, but not a budget brand either. Fortunately, I had checked in on the app the day before.
I was in my room at Tysons Corner at about 9:00 a.m. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)
A second later, my phone buzzed. My room was ready. It was about 8:00 a.m. and my room for that night was ready for me. It felt like a lucky draw, but I’ve had similar scenarios play out several times since then, including twice in the last month.
I recently got this notification my room was ready — and was able to access my mobile key — before I'd even arrived in town. (Screenshot from marriott.com)
None of this cost me anything extra, and for many of these stays, I had either no status or just Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. (I’m now Gold Elite thanks to recently adding The Platinum Card® from American Express to my wallet).
On each of these occasions, I used the mobile check-in feature on the app to alert the hotel I'd be arriving early, the hotel had a room ready at the time I noted I would arrive.
A room at the Ritz-Carlton Turks and Caicos. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)
Many hotel chains will give you the option of a mobile check-in 24 to 48 hours ahead of your arrival. The app will generally ask you what time you plan to get to the hotel.
With some apps — including the Marriott Bonvoy app — you have quite a bit of latitude to put the earliest time you might arrive. This doesn’t mean the hotel will honor your request, but you have nothing to lose by putting the time you actually plan to get there.
Again just this past week, while driving to Iowa for the Field of Dreams game I marked "noon" for my arrival time, hoping to get some early afternoon rest in my room after a morning flight. It worked.
(Screenshot from marriott.com)
Now, this obviously isn’t a foolproof tactic. I’ve generally had greater success getting into my room early at less in-demand hotels. Are you as likely to be successful getting into your room hours early at the Ritz Carlton Turks and Caicos or the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa? as I was at a hotel in rural Illinois?
Probably not. It's worth a try though.
Sunrise on the patio at the Westin Verasa Napa. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)
Set yourself up for a smooth trip: make the request elsewhere, too
If getting into your room early is important to you, there are some other steps you can take to try and maximize your chances of getting an early check-in.
For one, some hotel chains give you the option to make the request when you actually book the stay. At Marriott, if you know when booking your room that you'll want to get into your room early, you can click "early check-in."
(Screenshot from Marriott Bonvoy)
Then, note your anticipated arrival time. Again, this isn't guaranteeing anything, but it can certainly help give the hotel an early heads-up that you'll be wanting to get into your room early. It's all based on availability, Marriott says. The company also has a chat feature in its app where you can go in and make requests after booking the stay.
(Screenshot from Marriott Bonvoy)
Using Hilton as another example, there isn't a specific "early check-in" box when you're booking a room, but there is a place where you can write in a "special request."
(Screenshot from Hilton)
If all else fails, you can try using the app to chat with the hotel to request an early check-in, call the front desk or visit the front desk in-person to see if they have a room ready for you ... or if they can accelerate the process of getting one ready. At the very least, the front desk can generally secure your belongings so you're not lugging your bags around while waiting for a room.
A suite at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)
Bottom line
Some hotels have protocols for getting an early check-in. At many properties, your options grow as you earn elite status.
But regardless of status, we all find ourselves with a need to get into a hotel room early from time to time. From checking in on your mobile app and marking your arrival time, to making use of live chat and special request features to the timeless strategy of asking nicely, there are any number of tactics you can try.
Ultimately, it's a question of availability and letting the property know — as early as possible — what you want.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
