Online check-in is the step that officially confirms your presence on a flight and assigns you your seat. It is also often the most confusing part of the trip for anyone who is not used to it. Here is how it works, step by step.
When can you check in?
Most airlines open online check-in between 24 and 48 hours before take-off, and generally close it between 1 and 3 hours before departure, depending on the airline and the destination. These times vary noticeably from one airline to another: the safest thing is to check the exact time shown on your booking confirmation.
What you need to have to hand
- Your booking reference (PNR), a code of 5 to 6 characters
- Your full name, exactly as it appears on your passport
- Your passport number and its expiry date, for international flights
- Your visa details if your destination requires one
The usual steps
On the airline’s website or app, you enter your booking reference and your name, confirm your passport details, choose (or confirm) your seat, then receive your boarding pass, by email, as a PDF or directly in the app.
The most common pitfalls
A name spelled differently from the passport, a passport that expires before the return date, or a check-in attempted too early or too late for the permitted window: these are the three mistakes that most often block travellers. Taking a few minutes to check each piece of information before confirming avoids most problems.