The Check-In Feature: What It Is and Why It Matters
✅ In short 60 minutes before every shift, you receive an automated prompt to confirm you are on your way. Tapping the link takes one second. It tells the practice you’re en route and sends them your ETA. Consistent check-ins improve your engagement score — one of the four factors that determines how early you are notified for new shifts. |
Check-In is one of the simplest actions you can take on Airlocum, and one of the most impactful for your booking opportunities. Practices come to rely on it — it removes the uncertainty that comes with every locum shift start, and locums who check in consistently are the ones practices trust most.
How to Check In
# | Step | What to do |
1 | Receive the prompt | 60 minutes before your shift, Airlocum sends you an automated check-in prompt via SMS or notification. |
2 | Tap the link | One tap confirms you are on your way. No app login required. |
3 | Practice is notified | The practice receives an SMS instantly with your name and estimated arrival time. Nothing else is needed from you. |
Why Check-In Affects Your Booking Opportunities
Check-In is one of four factors in Airlocum’s matching algorithm — the score that determines how early you are notified when a practice posts a new shift. Locums with higher engagement scores appear in earlier notification waves, giving them first access to shifts before lower-scoring locums are contacted.
💡 What consistent check-in does for your score Locums who check in consistently receive a 15% boost in the matching algorithm — meaning they appear earlier in booking wave notifications than locums who don’t. Practices also see your check-in history when reviewing your profile — consistent check-ins signal the kind of professional reliability that leads to repeat bookings and Favourites list placements. See How Airlocum Matches Locums with Practices and How the Booking Wave System Works for the full picture on how your score affects shift notifications. |
What Happens If You Don’t Check In
Missing a check-in doesn't automatically affect your score for that shift — but it does leave the practice without confirmation that you're on your way, which can cause unnecessary concern and reflects poorly on your reliability record.
If you cannot make a shift after checking in, or if you have not checked in and something has changed, contact the support team immediately via live chat. The earlier the practice is informed, the more time there is to arrange alternative cover.
⚠️ Cancelling after check-in Cancelling a confirmed shift within 18 hours of the start time will incur a late cancellation on your reliability score regardless of whether you have checked in. Your reliability score is calculated from your last 10 shifts and is the highest-weighted factor in your matching score. See the cancellation policy article for full details. |
Tips for Making the Most of Check-In
• Check in every time, without exception. The habit takes one second and compounds over every shift into a meaningfully higher engagement score.
• Have Airlocum on your home screen. If you receive the check-in prompt as a browser notification, having Airlocum on your home screen means it opens instantly. See the home screen setup articles if you haven’t done this yet.
• Check in even if you’re running slightly early. The practice gets your ETA — arriving earlier than expected is never a problem when they know you’re on your way.
