Airport check-in is free, usually starting 3 hours before departure and ending 60 minutes before departure. At US airports, counters are usually open all day.
Online check-in starts 24 hours and ends 2 hours before departure. With your printed boarding pass, you go straight to security at the airport. If you have luggage, you use the "Baggage drop-off" desk beforehand.
If you download the mobile app, you don't need to print your boarding pass, but you can do everything via our smartphone. Then you just scan the QR code at the airport.