The Hilarious Hotel Truth About Early Check-In (and Why Kindness Is the Real Key)
Picture this: you’ve just stepped off the plane, jet-lagged and daydreaming about the fluffy pillows waiting in your hotel room. You roll up to the front desk, wheeling your suitcase with a hopeful glint in your eye, and—wait a minute—your room isn’t ready? Cue the collective sigh of every front desk agent across the globe.
Why do early check-ins inspire such drama? Is there an unspoken gladiator match at hotel lobbies every afternoon? As one Redditor on r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk lamented, “My goodness… I just can never get over how people get so upset or hell bent about early check in… Early check in is NOT guaranteed, it’s always a request…” Let’s dive into the comedic chaos that is the early check-in debate, and discover the secret weapon that opens doors faster than a $100 bill: basic human decency.
The Great Early Check-In Expectation
First, let’s address the elephant in the lobby: Early check-in is never a guarantee—it’s a request, not a right. Yet, as u/idkabtallatgurl (the original poster) described, some guests act like they’ve been personally wronged by the universe when their room isn’t ready at 10AM. “Some people will have an attitude ‘I been waiting 3 hours’…” they wrote, sharing the daily struggle of facing guests who think staring at the front desk will magically speed up housekeeping.
The situation, as the OP hilariously recounts, can escalate quickly: “Even if I give you $100 I can’t check in early.” The truth? You can offer a million bucks, but if your room type is still being cleaned, all the money in the world won’t materialize it any faster. “What do I gain by lying?” the OP wonders. “Why would I lie?”
Kindness: The Ultimate Room Key
Here’s where the human element comes in, and the Reddit comments are a goldmine of insight. As u/LutschiPutschi admits, sometimes the fate of your early check-in rests on your attitude: “If a guest comes in, politely asks if they can check into their room, and would like to store their luggage if there’s a room available, I’m happy to check them in.” But for the guest who rolls in at 8:00 AM, skips a greeting, and shouts their name—“No. Absolutely not. Even if there are already 50 rooms available, someone like that can wait.”
This sentiment is echoed by u/kageyamaheart8: “When someone comes in and politely says, ‘hi, I know we’re early, but is there possibility we can check in early?’ Yes! I’d be happy to! But when I see people pull up before noon, unloading allll their luggage without saying a word… loudly declaring, ‘CHECKING IN!’ Ah, no you’re not.”
The lesson? Politeness isn’t just good manners—it’s your secret weapon for snagging favors. Or as u/LutschiPutschi sums up: “Mean behavior doesn’t get rewarded.”
Dirty Rooms, Wedding Woes, and Juggling Balls
If you think early check-in drama stops at rudeness, think again. The comment section is filled with war stories and dark humor. One commenter, u/citymousecountyhouse, deadpans: “Would you like a dirty room sir, because that’s what I have available. I have 20 dirty rooms; you can rent them all now if that’s what you want.” u/biolochick takes it a step further, joking: “The man that’s currently occupying the room may be a snuggler, so are you okay with being the little spoon?”
Special events crank up the chaos. “OMG DO NOTTTTT GET ME STARTED ON WEDDING GROUPS,” OP groans. “Sorry Jane, idk why you thought it would be smart to check into a hotel the DAY of knowing the wedding is at 5pm & our standard check in is at 4pm & now you’re bitching at me…” As u/harrywwc mockingly translates: “But that’s so expensiiiiiivvvvvvvvve… {sook} {whinge} {whine} {pout}.”
And for those truly insistent guests, u/Langager90 suggests keeping juggling balls under the desk. “When they ask, you pull out the balls and offer to let them borrow them to practice their juggling.” Now that’s customer service!
The Guest’s Perspective: It’s All About Flexibility
Not all guests are monsters, of course. Many chime in with empathy for the staff and wisdom for fellow travelers. u/Effective_News_7048 shares, “I arrive early all the time… my opening speech is always ‘Is it too early to check in? I can wait if I need to’ and more often than not I can check in.” u/genxer agrees: “As long as I’m able to store my bags—it’s a win.”
And when you do get that early check-in, appreciation goes a long way. u/StudioDroid recounts how a calm voice and a friendly smile not only secured an early check-in but landed them a free room upgrade. “A calm voice and friendly smile seems to go a long way.”
Setting Realistic Expectations
It’s clear from both guests and staff: the early check-in experience is a two-way street. As u/TravelerMSY, a frequent traveler with shiny loyalty status, puts it, “It’s crazy to extrapolate this kindness into some sort of guaranteed benefit. Being nice and undemanding is free—even if it’s insincere.”
But for those who book the day of an event, show up at dawn, or expect the penthouse suite at 7AM, there’s a simple solution: book the night before, or, as some staffers suggest, enjoy exploring the city, grab a coffee, maybe even learn to juggle.
The Final Word: Don’t Be That Guest
If there’s one universal law in hospitality, it’s this: kindness opens more doors than entitlement ever will. Whether you’re hoping for an early check-in or just storing your bags, a smile and a little patience can work wonders.
So, next time you’re tempted to throw a tantrum at the front desk, remember: your room will be ready when it’s ready—and the staff are working as fast as they can (likely while dodging wedding guests, juggling balls, and fending off snuggle requests). Want to increase your odds of an early check-in? Be the guest they’ll remember for the right reasons.
Have your own tales from the front desk—or from the other side of the counter? Share your stories below! Let’s keep the hospitality horror stories (and the laughter) rolling.
Original Reddit Post: Early check in…