Just wondering what the actual check in time required at the BON airport is for the 6am continental flight to Newark.

Is the counter actually open at 4 am ?

Do I have to have my family with me to check them in, or just their passports ?

We get to the airport a little after 0400 and there is usually a line. The counter does open at 4 but island time prevails. I think that TSA rules require the person to accompany the passport. Sometimes you can buy the departure tax before you get your boarding passes, sometimes you can't.

We returned via Newark two weeks ago. We took a taxi from the Habitat to the airport arriving at 4AM. The counter was open and we were the second ones through. The departure tax window opened at 4:15 and security shortly thereafter.

I've arrived at the airport around 4:30 and there is a line by that time, but it's not that long; plenty of time to get checked in, pay your departure tax, go through security and get a snack before boarding.