Does it matter if I don't checkin until the day?

[Explaintome]

Budget flights. Travelling alone, don't care where I sit. I'll check in electronically, but probably leave it until the morning I fly (to save finding out when check in opens). Does it matter, or should I be ready the minute it opens?

They usually close checkin at the airport at least an hour before the flight ( and presumably online sooner) but so long as you're not cutting it that fine no issue. You will end up with a middle seat though.

I check in asap, which is, ime 28 days to the minute of the flight time.

If you do it a few days early you will be sure it's open. Jet2 and probably others send you an email when check in opens.

Who are you flying with?

I personally check in, so I will be notified by email of any changes/delays as early as possible. Also some flights over sell seats so I’d rather be guaranteed to have a seat on the plane.

I’d do it earlier in case of any technical hitches

If there is overbooking many times those with seats are allowed in and those that don’t have seats because they checked in the airport might get another flight

Generally no it doesn't matter, but occasionally you might discover a glitch. Last time I was flying, I had a valid booking, but they had not actually issued the ticket, so I kept getting error messages. Finally managed to sort it out, but it took several calls over several days - if I had tried to check in at the last minute, probably would not have managed to take the flight.

If it’s oversold and you’re not checked in you’ll be first off.

I’d always check in early if you can. I’ve been on a cancelled flight where the first x number of people who’d checked in were given priority for the seats on the next available flight and the rest of us had to wait longer. Some airlines also overbook so if you’re one of the last you could get bumped. it takes about 2 minutes so why wouldn’t you do it in advance?