Frequently Asked Questions
United Express FAQs
Purdue University has partnered with SkyWest for commercial air service to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport through United Express, a regional network operated by United Airlines.
The following Frequently Asked Questions may be helpful for passengers who book through United Express to travel to Chicago or to connect to other destinations.
Purdue is contracted with SkyWest, and all flights are branded under United Airlines and United Express. United Express is a regional flight service network that supports United Airlines’ operations, primarily by serving smaller cities and connecting traffic to United’s main hubs where passengers can connect to an extensive network of routes. Chicago O’Hare is United’s hub for the Midwest. Please visit United’s website for further information.
SkyWest uses United Express CRJ-200 twin-engine jets with 50 seat passenger capacity. Additional information on the aircraft is available here.
SkyWest maintains at least one daily nonstop United Express round-trip flight between West Lafayette’s Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The new terminal is located directly west of the existing terminal and offers a modern design, passenger information displays, public address system, improved building navigation and ADA compliance. It provides a large waiting room past security, restrooms on both sides of security, self-serve food and beverages post-security and parking adjacent to the building.
The airport continues to serve business travel needs for Purdue faculty and staff and personal travel for the Greater Lafayette community.
The opening of the new Amelia Earhart Terminal provides capacity and accommodations for larger aircraft and flight operations. New opportunities for an enhanced customer experience and streamlined booking process are additional reasons.
Passengers will have a traditional flight experience on United Express aircrafts, including traveling on larger twin-engine jets with more passenger capacity per flight.
Those traveling on official Purdue business should book through Concur or AAA Corporate Travel, and more information is available in this Quick Reference Guide.
Personal travel tickets can be purchased through United.com or online travel agencies.
MileagePlus® is United’s loyalty program and is free to join, plus the miles earned will never expire. Join Mileage Plus here.
For help during your trip, or with future travel plans, please visit the United Help Center.
Download the United mobile app before your flight to get mobile boarding passes and real-time updates.
Travelers can select a seat during the reservation process.
United provides several areas of information on accessible travel depending on what your needs are. This includes if you are traveling with a mobility device, traveling as a senior, have a cognitive disability and more.
Information about carry-on bags is available on the United website. Related information about checked bags, special items, pre-paying for baggage, and other topics is available by visiting the webpage above and then selecting the appropriate option from the side navigation.
Surface lot parking is available at Purdue University Airport through the ParkMobile app for $5/day. Before leaving your vehicle to board your flight, download the ParkMobile app and create an account. More information is available on the Purdue Airport Parking webpage.
You can check in 24 hours before your flight. The following check in methods are available:
Online
- If you are eligible for online check-in, go to United’s website.
- Enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name, or log in using your MileagePlus® account information.
- Use a printed boarding pass or electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
On the United app
- Open the United app.
- Select check-in and enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name.
- Use your electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
- For international travel, you can also scan your passport using the app.
At the airport
- Visit a ticket counter or kiosk to print your bag tags, or for a quicker experience prepay for your bag online and use bag drop shortcut.
Check-in time limits
United may require that passenger check in and baggage check occur at least a certain amount of time prior to departure.
For U.S. flights, it is recommended to be at the gate 15 minutes before boarding starts.
For international flights, be at the gate 30 minutes before boarding starts.
Flights begin boarding 40-50 minutes before takeoff.
You must be on board your flight 15 minutes before departure time.
All passengers will go through a standard security check at Purdue/LAF.
Notifications will be sent to the passenger’s email, phone and via text message by United Express.
United’s ticket counter is at Terminal 1 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Terminal 2 is used for most United Express flight , some United flights, and all Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue flights. It has 41 gates on two concourses, lettered E–F.
For domestic and international flights leaving the Purdue University Airport in West Lafayette that are booked through United, passengers do not have to go through security when arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and can proceed to the connecting flight’s gate.
If a connecting flight is on a separate itinerary or booked through a separate airline, the traveler may need to go through security in ORD.
For domestic travel booked through United, your checked bags will be transferred automatically to your connecting flight.
For international itineraries that are booked on a single ticket and with United, baggage will be transferred directly to the final destination. On the return trip, travelers must recheck their bags at the first point of entry into the U.S. where they clear customs.