# Why do hotels want me to check in early? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675 "2019-12-11T00:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/21 "2019-12-11T22:10:10Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > When my wife flew to Europe last month (Turkish Airlines), we checked in in online the night before. The process was fairly minimal, but it took a few minutes, and when we got to the end it said we could not print out the boarding pass. My wife was already stressed about the upcoming trip, so when that last step couldn’t be completed, she was upset and felt it was a waste of time. However, I did get a confirmation email that she was checked in. For international trips most airlines want to physically verify that you have your passport and a visa for your destination country (if applicable) before they’ll give you a boarding pass. Some want you to show your documents to an actual employee, others let you scan your passport at the kiosk to receive your boarding pass. American Airlines let me print my boarding pass at home but wanted to see my passport at the gate, and I assume they wouldn’t have let me board if I didn’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/22 "2019-12-12T00:29:05Z")
I’ve been to a few hotels with online check in , although I haven’t used it. There were two versions- in one, there was a separate, much shorter line (possibly at the bell desk) to just pick up your key and in the other version, there were kiosks to print your keys. Whether the online check-in is worth it or not depends very much on circumstances. I’m pretty sure that the only places I’ve seen it are huge casino hotels - checking in at those can involve lines of the sort I’ve never seen at a Holiday Inn or Best Western. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/23 "2019-12-12T01:52:00Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > There were two versions- in one, there was a separate, much shorter line (possibly at the bell desk) to just pick up your key and in the other version, there were kiosks to print your keys. The former was that which I encountered most often when I first began having the e-check-in option a while back. Haven’t had a chance to use the latter. However more recently it’s either do the virtual check-in by which my smartphone becomes my key, or … > [@steronz](#): > > I still had to “check in” physically at the front desk to get my key. The only difference is that **I don’t have to show ID or swipe a card**. (emphasis added by me) Which still is a streamlining of procedure. Remember, the prime motivator is they want to do this to save \*themselves \*expenditure of time and resources. Your payment and identifying info are already on the record so they don’t have to run it on the spot. One thing I have found from e-check-in at the hotel is that when I do show up in person it helps expedite getting me a room if the preassigned one is not yet ready, but that could be a function of my points status as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/24 "2019-12-12T06:41:39Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Exactly my point! Why check in early if they still make you wait in the same line!? That’s 100% what’s happening with my hotel today. > > (Granted, I doubt there will be a “line”, but still… I’m checked in but I still need to stop at the desk and get my key. Just trying to figure out why they want me to do this.) I don’t think it’s for your convenience, it’s for theirs. Yes, you had to wait in line. But they didn’t have to take down all of your information, scan your passport, swipe your credit card, etc. When you check-in early, all of that is done online. It saves the receptionist time. But if everyone does it, then everyone will wait in a shorter, faster line. So it _could_ benefit guests, if they all did it. But if you’re waiting behind a half dozen guests who need to do the entire check-in process, then you’re not going to see the benefit. They probably push guests to check-in early so that they can get a higher percentage of guests doing that, thereby shortening the lines for everyone. So, you’re still waiting in a line, but you’re getting serviced quicker. Also, check your cancellation policy. Maybe you can cancel prior to check-in by only paying a fraction of the rate as a cancellation fee. Once you’re checked in, you can’t cancel. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/25 "2019-12-12T13:01:33Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Some hotels charge a modest “early check in” fee, so they might be trying to pad the bill a bit. > > Another possibility I’ve encountered is there may be a large group coming in at a scheduled time and inviting you to check in early is actually a benefit to you as you won’t be in line behind 45 people on a bus tour. The early check in fee only applies if you actually get the room, not if you are just digitally checked in. Or at least, I have never had a fee in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/26 "2019-12-12T13:11:58Z")
I’m a night auditor and this is new to me. My personal guess is what was mentioned above: they’re expecting a large group (though probably not a tour bus: those are usually prekeyed with the key packets being given to the tour leader to distribute) and so are encouraging non-group members to check in early if possible. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/27 "2019-12-12T13:47:46Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I don’t think it’s for your convenience, it’s for theirs. Yes, you had to wait in line. But they didn’t have to take down all of your information, scan your passport, swipe your credit card, etc. When you check-in early, all of that is done online. It saves the receptionist time. But if everyone does it, then everyone will wait in a shorter, faster line. So it _could_ benefit guests, if they all did it. But if you’re waiting behind a half dozen guests who need to do the entire check-in process, then you’re not going to see the benefit. They probably push guests to check-in early so that they can get a higher percentage of guests doing that, thereby shortening the lines for everyone. So, you’re still waiting in a line, but you’re getting serviced quicker. When I’ve seen it, it’s been for both parties’ convenience\* - you wait on a dedicated line to pick up the key for pre-check in which has both 1) fewer people and 2) a shorter time per person. So maybe you wait (making up numbers) 10 minutes on a line with five people taking two minutes each rather than 40 minutes on a line with 10 windows and 50 people taking ten minutes each. \*Yes, I said I’ve never used it - I don’t use it because I’ve only seen it at large casino hotels and my husband gambles enough that don’t wait on the regular line. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/28 "2019-12-12T14:21:56Z")
It allows the hotel to assign rooms, code keys, manage housekeeping, etc., in advance for those guests which reduces the amount of time the employee has to spend when guests arrive at the hotel property. I use mobile check-in on my hotels all the time (I’m a frequent business traveler). Yes, when the property has the mobile key option I get to go straight to my room without stopping at the front desk. If they do not, the line is now faster at the front desk for me and everyone else because many guests are already checked in and don’t you don’t have as many people going through the full registration/check-in process. I simply walk up, tell them I checked in online, and they pull the keys they already coded for my room and hand them to me. They don’t have to look me up, swipe my credit card, code keys, etc. For anyone behind me in line checking in, I’m done much quicker meaning they get serviced quicker. It’s a win-win for both hotel and guest. MeanJoe ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/29 "2019-12-12T17:52:43Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > It allows the hotel to assign rooms, code keys, manage housekeeping, etc., in advance for those guests which reduces the amount of time the employee has to spend when guests arrive at the hotel property. I don’t understand. Why can’t they do those things in advance for guests who don’t check in early? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/30 "2019-12-12T19:12:21Z")
I kinda thought (and this is a guess) that it’s a way for the hotel to reduce identity theft. If your driver license or passport is already in their system, they may only take a brief glimpse of it upon arrival. No need for a clerk to get access to the number. Also, it’ll help with the credit card. First of all, they can tell you upfront about any additional deposit which often surprises infrequent travelers. Thankfully, minibars are becoming a thing of the past, but there’s often a $50-$100 deposit for incidentals. I’ve even had this in places that don’t have their own room service or allow guests to charge drinks at the bar to your room. It’ll also reduce the possibility of embarrassment at check in at the hotel if the card gets flagged for ‘fraud’ No matter what you tell the bank in advance, these crazy automated anti-fraud algos will still flag the card occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/31 "2019-12-12T19:19:55Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I don’t understand. Why can’t they do those things in advance for guests who don’t check in early? I’d imagine it’s the coding of the room keys that’s the issue. Their computer system will probably want an authorised payment method along with the drivers license or passport number of the guest on file for the number of nights the room key is being coded for. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675/32 "2019-12-15T12:52:31Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I don’t understand. Why can’t they do those things in advance for guests who don’t check in early? They do. I don’t know about the skip the front desk keys, but most keys can easily be made without any info other than room number and check out date. We do it all the time. When you make a reservation at my hotel handicap rooms requested get immediately blocked. Hotels that have special rooms- Jacuzzi suites or Presidential suites or the like - will also block those at the time of the reservation because they only have so many. Beyond that, requests for specific rooms are assigned - but usually not guaranteed. Then the day of or the day before the front desk.staff will start blocking rooms. We do pay attention to requests, but can’t always fulfil them. If there’s time - or even if not when a monsoon storm is coming - we’ll start making keys for guests. It’s very unusual for me as a night auditor to not have the arrivals yet to come in not be prekeyed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-want-me-to-check-in-early/844675.md?page=1)