Online Check-In FAQs Answered | SmarterTravel (2024)

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The days of paper tickets and standing in line to check-in are (mostly) long gone, but many travelers still have questions about checking in online for their flight.

Here’s everything you need to know about online check-in.

What Is Online Check-In?

Online Check-In FAQs Answered | SmarterTravel (1)

Online check-in allows you to check in for your flight from anywhere in the world. Simply log-on to the airline’s website or app and input your name and booking confirmation number to start the online check-in process.

Note that if you booked your flight through a third-party site, like Expedia, you’ll likely have two numbers: a confirmation number from the booking site as well as a record locator code from the airline. You’ll need the record locator code to check-in on the airline’s website.

During the online check-in process you can choose a seat, add meals, opt for an upgrade, and more. After checking in, you’ll get the option to print your boarding pass, have it emailed to you, or save your ticket to your Apple Wallet. You can also opt to print your boarding pass at the airport at one of the kiosks and still skip waiting in the check-in line.

Should I Check In for My Flight Online?

Checking-in online allows you to check in for your flight earlier than if you waited until you got to the airport, which means there will be more seats available to choose from.

By checking-in early and reserving your seat, you’ll also have less of a chance of being involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight compared to someone checking-in at the last minute.

When Should I Check-In Online for My Flight?

Most airlines allow online check-in beginning 24 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time. Some international airlines open check-in 48 hours before the flight, so always check with your airline.

Set a reminder in your phone to check-in as early as possible, so you can snag the best possible seat if you haven’t been able to reserve one ahead of time.

Online Check-In Windows for Popular Domestic and International Airlines

Below are the check-in windows for 32 popular domestic and international airlines.

*Online check-in windows may vary depending on the departure and arrival city. Always check your carrier’s website for specific rules before checking in.

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Domestic Airlines

AirlineOnline Check-In Opens (Time Before Departure)Online Check-In Closes (Time Before Departure)
Alaska Airlines24 hours1 hour
Allegiant24 hours45 minutes
American Airlines24 hours45 minutes
Delta24 hoursNot Stated
Frontier24 hours1 hour
Hawaiian Airlines24 hours45 minutes (for flights to/from mainland North America)
30 minutes (for flights between islands)
Jetblue24 hours40 minutes (domestic)
1 hours (international)
Southwest Airlines24 hours1 hour
Spirit Airlines24 hours1 hour
United Airlines24 hours1 hour

International Airlines

AirlineOnline Check-In Opens (Time Before Departure)Online Check-In Closes (Time Before Departure)
Aer Lingus48 hours (for flights within Europe)
24 hours (for flights to/from North America)
95 minutes (flights to/from North America)
For flights within Europe, closing times vary.
Aeroflot24 hours45 minutes
Air Canada24 hoursNot Stated
Air China8:00pm two days prior to departure (for flights within China)
36 hours (for international flights)
1 hour (domestic)

3 hours (international)

Air France30 hoursNot Stated
Air New Zealand24 hours30 minutes (domestic)
1 hour (international)
British Airways24 hours1 hour
2 hours (for flights to/from United States)
Cathay Pacific48 hours90 minutes
China Eastern48 hours
24 hours (flights to/from Canadian and US Airports)
9pm the day before (flights from Harbin Airport)
45 minutes (domestic)

1 hour (international)

China Southern2:00pm the day before1 hour
easyJet30 days2 hours
Emirate48 hours90 minutes
Ethiopian Airways2 days (domestic)
48 hours (international)
1 hour (domestic)
3 hours (international)
Etihad Airways48 hours1 hour
KLM30 hours
24 hours (flights to/from United States)
Not Stated
Lufthansa30 hoursNot Stated
Norwegian48 hours1 hour
Qantas24 hours30 minutes (domestic)
90 minutes (international)
Ryanair24 hours
60 days (with pre-reserved seat)
2 hours
Singapore Airlines48 hours1.5 hours
Turkish Airlines24 hours90 minutes
WestJet24 hours1 hour

Unsure whether to check a bag or travel carry-on only? Check out our handy guide to the carry-on and personal item size limits for each of the airlines listed above.

Why Can’t I Check-In Online?

Sometimes, you’ll be unable to check-in online. This typically happens on an international flight where the airline needs to verify your passport, visas, and other travel documents in person before allowing you to board. Other reasons for not being allowed to check-in online can include:

  • Being selected for secondary screening by TSA
  • Your ticket was issued by a codeshare partner airline and not the airline you’re traveling with
  • Traveling in a large group
  • Your flight is overbooked
  • There was an issue with your information or documents uploaded to the online check-in platform
  • You are traveling with pets or large and/or specialized luggage
  • You are traveling as an unaccompanied minor

If you are asked to check-in at the airport, remember to factor that into your schedule and arrive at the airport earlier to accommodate any issues that may arise.

What to Do After Online Check-In

Once you receive your electronic boarding pass, you can head straight to security if you’re traveling carry-on only. If you’re checking a bag, you’ll still need to stop by the ticketing area at the airport. Look for special “bag drop” lines that bypass longer check-in lines.

Some airlines offer fares, such as the Basic Fare on Porter Airlines, that allow customers to check-in online but will not issue them a digital boarding pass. Checked-in passengers will still have to visit a kiosk or the check-in desk at the airport to obtain a physical boarding pass. Make sure to read the fine print when traveling on a low fare or budget airline so you’re not in for any surprises at the airport.

Why Can’t I Choose My Seat During Online Check-In?

If you bought a basic economy ticket, you might not even be able to choose your seat at online check-in. You’ll either have to pay extra to choose a seat or ask the gate agent to reassign you to a better seat if possible when you arrive at the airport.

Why Didn’t I Get TSA PreCheck When Checking-In Online?

Make sure your TSA PreCheck number (your known traveler number) is saved in your profile with the airline before checking in. If it is, and you still didn’t get TSA PreCheck on your ticket, read our story here to find out why else you might not have gotten PreCheck and what you can do about it.

How Early Do I Need to Get to the Airport if I’ve Checked-in Online?

You don’t need to get to the airport three hours early if you’ve checked-in online and have your boarding pass, but you should still leave plenty of time to get through security.

If you still need to check-in a bag and you don’t have TSA PreCheck, you might want to get to the airport two hours early so that you have plenty of extra time in case of lengthy lines.

If you are not checking a bag, and you have TSA PreCheck, you could arrive as close to an hour before your boarding time. However, you may want to leave more time as a buffer if you’re traveling through a notoriously slow airport or during busy holiday periods.

Is Checking in Online for Your Flight Worth It?

Online check-in allows passengers to reserve their preferred seats and skip the line at the check-in desk. According to CheapOAir, there are some financial benefits to online check-in as well—passengers checking in online typically pay a lower bag check fee than those checking in at the airport.

In general, checking in online for your flight reduces your risk of being bumped, saves time at the airport, and reduces the number of documents you need to keep track of during your travels.

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Online Check-In FAQs Answered | SmarterTravel (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of online check-in? ›

One disadvantage is certainly that many people have poor time management and arrive too late at the airport if they check in online. For some, this can lead to unwanted time pressure. On the other hand, those who still have to check in at the airport itself usually arrive early enough and are therefore over-punctual.

Is a digital boarding pass enough? ›

There's nothing wrong with a mobile boarding pass, of course, and there are times when it might be more practical to use them. For example, if you're taking just one short flight, you're not checking a bag, and your phone battery is fully charged, a mobile boarding pass shouldn't be an issue.

Why bother with online check-in? ›

Advantages of online check in
  • Less waiting time at the airport. If you have already checked in beforehand, you don't have to queue for check-in. ...
  • Less likelihood of overbooking. ...
  • Boarding pass always at hand. ...
  • Seat selection. ...
  • Paying when checking in at the airport.
Dec 8, 2022

Why does online check-in fail? ›

Reasons might include: if you have more than one passport, if you're a certain nationality, if your flight was booked at the very last minute, if your flight was booked by someone else, or if you have the same name as a person of interest.

Is it better to check-in online for a hotel or in person? ›

Digital check-in options allow hotel guests to automate much of the check-in process, which can speed it up and lead to a more efficient arrival process, which can ultimately lead to a better overall experience for hotel guests.

Do I still need to check in at the airport if I checked in online? ›

I have checked in online and have no hold baggage, do I need to go to check-in? If you have checked in and have a printed or mobile boarding pass and are not checking in any hold luggage you can go straight to security and through to the departure lounge.

Do I need a physical boarding pass anymore? ›

United recently updated its website to show that "Touchless ID" technology, which lets users go through security just by scanning their faces and without having to show physical IDs or boarding passes, is now available at those two major hubs for TSA PreCheck users.

Do I get a physical boarding pass if I check-in online? ›

Mobile Boarding Pass: When you check-in online, you can choose to receive your boarding pass electronically, which can be displayed on your smartphone, eliminating the need to carry a paper boarding pass.

Is a screenshot of a boarding pass good enough? ›

Yes, you can use screenshot of your boarding pass. All airlines offer the option of a mobile boarding pass as an alternative to printing yours or picking up a paper copy at the airport. In case you lost you phone or paper boarding pass it always works in that time.

What is the point in checking in online? ›

Is Online Check-in Mandatory? It is not a mandatory process but it is the best option to save time. Especially passengers without baggage or with hand luggage only can head straight to the aircraft after showing their boarding pass at the control. Online check-in helps passengers to save time.

What do you do at the airport if you checked in online? ›

In most cases, you will only need to go to check-in when you have checked-in online if you need to drop off an item of hold baggage. Please ensure that you are aware of the hand baggage requirements for your specific airline before you travel.

What happens if you don't check-in online before a flight? ›

If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.

What is good about online check in? ›

The Benefits of Online Check-In
  • Saving time on the long airport check-in lines.
  • Allowing you the option to choose your seats before even reaching the airport.
  • The possibility of paying a lower fee checked baggage than you would if you paid in-person at the time of airport check-in.
  • Skipping the line!

What happens if you don't check in 24 hours before your flight? ›

Delays or cancellations: If you fail to check in within the designated time frame, the airline may consider you a no-show. This can result in delays as they try to locate you or even lead to the cancellation of your reservation [1].

What happens in online check in? ›

Online check-in is the process in which passengers confirm their presence on a flight via the Internet and typically print their own boarding passes. Depending on the carrier and the specific flight, passengers may also enter details such as meal options and baggage quantities and select their preferred seating.

Is it better to check in at the airport or online? ›

It's typically better to check in online, since you can do so much sooner than you would be able to in person at the airport. As mentioned above, it's especially important to check in early for a Southwest flight, since boarding order is determined by check-in order.

Can I go straight to security if I have checked in online? ›

Once you receive your electronic boarding pass, you can head straight to security if you're traveling carry-on only.

What is the point of online check-in if you have luggage? ›

If checking luggage, you will need to bring your luggage to a staffed counter or checked luggage station once you arrive at the airport. Benefits of online check-in: Avoid potential check-in lines at airport. Print boarding pass at home (can also wait or reprint at self-service kiosk at the airport)

Is it OK not to do online check-in? ›

What if I forget to check in online or leave my boarding card at home? If you forget to check in online or forget or lose your boarding pass, you will still be allowed to travel. You will just have to check in as normal or have a new boarding card printed for you at the airport.

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