early departure

Meaning

An early departure occurs when a guest checks out of a hotel or accommodation before their originally scheduled departure date. In professional travel contexts, this term is frequently associated with 'early departure fees,' which hotels charge to compensate for lost revenue. It is a formal term used primarily in reservation policies and customer service correspondence.

Examples

• Please review the hotel policy regarding early departure, as fees may apply if you shorten your stay.

  Please review the hotel policy regarding early departure, as fees may apply if you shorten your stay.

• Due to an unexpected family emergency, we had to notify the front desk of our early departure.

  Due to an unexpected family emergency, we had to notify the front desk of our early departure.

• The reservation system automatically processed an early departure charge equal to one night's room rate.

  The reservation system automatically processed an early departure charge equal to one night's room rate.

• To avoid any penalties, please inform the management of your early departure at least 24 hours in advance.

  To avoid any penalties, please inform the management of your early departure at least 24 hours in advance.

• The airline did not charge us for our early departure because we had premium travel insurance.

  The airline did not charge us for our early departure because we had premium travel insurance.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make an early depart because of a meeting.

  ✓ I need to make an early departure because of a meeting.

  'Depart' is a verb. You must use the noun form 'departure' when modifying it with the adjective 'early.'

• ✗ We did an early check-out, which is called early leave.

  ✓ We did an early check-out, which is formally called an early departure.

  While 'early check-out' is common and neutral, the formal administrative term in travel and hospitality policies is 'early departure.' 'Early leave' is not used in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The hotel policy states that an ___ fee will be charged if you leave before Sunday.

  💡 Leaving the hotel prior to your scheduled check-out date.

  Show answer

  early departure

• We had to arrange an ___ from the conference to catch a flight back home.

  💡 A formal term for leaving earlier than planned.

  Show answer

  early departure