Breaking Down The Flight Check-In Process

Everyone at some point has to check in for their flight, no matter which airline you are flying with or which airport you are flying from. This may be a process that you know very well if you travel often, or it may be something you are not quite familiar with or still need a refresher on when you fly. It can be helpful to know before you fly exactly what to expect.

In this post, I will cover the flight check-in process, including both online and in-person elements. I will also include the rules and procedures for some of the most common airlines so that you can gather as much information as possible by reading through this post.

If the airline you are using isn't mentioned in this post, then it is fairly simply to just search the questions you need answers to for your specific airline. Also, I will attempt to update the information provided about any airlines named in this post when I become aware of any changes to their policies as quickly as possible.

Let's start by looking at online check-in...

Checking in online:

Most major and popular airlines provide the online or mobile app check in now. You can either sign in to the appropriate airline's website, find your booking, and follow the buttons to check in, or you can download their free app, log in on there and follow the same process.

To check in online or via the app, you will need some important information, including:

• Passport details, including passport number, date of birth, expiry date

• Gender of the person flying

• Contact information such as email - this is to help the airline communicate any necessary information/changes to your travel plans

Some airlines may require more/different information, but the above information is generally what is required. The age of the passenger is normally requested at the time of booking rather than check-in. You will also be shown a list of prohibited/restricted items and asked to click a button to confirm you are not carrying any of these in the baggage you will be travelling with.

Once you have clicked through the relevant steps, buttons and typed in the details needed to check in, you will now be able to view your boarding passes. These will contain information including:

• The name of the passenger

• Fast track or speedy boarding label if relevant

• Front or rear boarding information

• Seat number

• Barcode / QR code which is scanned upon boarding

When checking in on the app, you normally receive an app which can be easily saved to a certain location on your phone, such as Apple Wallet on iPhones. Websites usually provide a PDF version of the boarding pass which is easier to print off so you have a physical copy.

I usually have both the digital and physical copies of the boarding pass. This means there is always a back up should there be a problem with my phone or the paper copy gets misplaced.

Now, let's take a look at some specific airlines and their policies on when you can check in online for a flight:

Airline:	Online Check In Opens:
British Airways	From 24 hours before departure
EasyJet	From 30 days before departure
Ryanair	From 60 days before departure for passengers who have reserved a seat. Check in opens 24 hours before the flight for passengers without a pre-reserved seat.
Emirates	From 48 hours before departure
Virgin Atlantic	From 24 hours before departure
Jet2	From 28 days before departure
Wizz Air	From 30 days before depature for passengers with a pre-reserved seat. Check in opens 24 hours before departure for those who have not purchased a pre-reserved seat.
Vueling	From 7 days before departure

Please note that checking in online is usually the preferred way to check in. Some airlines may charge a fee for checking you in and printing your boarding pass in-person at the airport. Always check specific rules and policies for the airline you are flying with to avoid these extra (and probably unwanted!) fees.

If you check in online, you do not need to do so again at the airport. However, if you have luggage that is going in the hold beneath the plane, then this needs to be checked in so you will still have to head over to the check in desk. For those travelling with hand luggage, you do not usually need to go to the check in desk if you have checked in online and can head straight to security upon arrival to the airport.

Checking in at the airport:

As I mentioned before, there can sometimes be a fee for this service, so it is usually best to take advantage of online and mobile app check ins. However, there may be some circumstances where you need to or would prefer to check in at the airport.

Make yourself aware of any specific airline policies and costs relating to in-person check in and boarding pass printing. Then, when you arrive at the airport, head over to the check in desks for your airline. Most major airlines have their desks clearly visible with their colours and logos displayed around them. However, if you are ever lost, simply locate a member of airport staff and ask to be pointed in the right direction for your airline.

A lot of airports also have screens displayed with the flight and which desks are open for that flight's check in. Then there is also usually plenty of signs directing passengers to certain desk numbers which are easy to follow.

Once you are at the desk, simply wait your turn and the staff at the check in desk will do everything for you. You will need to provide them with documentation including passports and visas (if necessary). However, the rest will be done by them! Read below for some of the airlines specific fees regarding checking in at the airport:

Airline:	Airport Check In Charge
British Airways	No fee
EasyJet	No fee
Ryanair	£55 (£30 from Spain) per passenger unless you are a Flexi Plus Passenger. Ryanair do also have a boarding pass re-issue fee of £20.
Emirates	No fee
Virgin Atlantic	No fee
Jet2	No fee
Wizz Air	10 Euros when purchased in advance from the WizzAir website and 20 Euros when purchased at the airport. An exception to this is when online check in is not available for a specific flight/airport.
Vueling	No fee

It is always so important to check the fees associated with airport check in so you don't get caught out. Also, some airlines (like Wizz Air) have different fees depending on how far in advance you book the airport check in so knowing ahead of time is key to avoiding extra costs.

Check-in closing times:

Check in DOES NOT remain open up until the last second before a flight departs. There are check in closing times to be aware of. If you are checking in at the airport, you need to especially be aware of these closing times so that you can get the airport with plenty of time to go through this process. However, you also need to be aware of these closing times if you use online / app check in too!

In line with the airlines I have covered regarding their online check in opening times and airport check in fees, I have also included below their check in closure times. Checking in as soon as you can is usually the best course of action for a number of reasons, including:

• More chance of being sat together if you are a couple/group/family booking

• One less thing to think about

• Get boarding passes downloaded and/or printed in plenty of time

• More time to contact the airline if there are any issues relating to your check in process

Airline	Online Check In Closes	Airport Check In Closes
British Airways	One hour before departure Two hours before departure for flights to and from the United States	60 minutes before long-haul flights 45 minutes before short-haul flights
EasyJet	2 hours before departure	40 minutes before departure, but bag drop closing times vary
Ryanair	2 hours before departure	40 minutes before departure
Emirates	90 minutes before departure	N/A
Virgin Atlantic	70 minutes before departure	60 minutes before departure
Jet2	6 hours before departure	40 minutes before departure
Wizz Air	3 hours before departure	40 minutes before departure
Vueling	4 hours before departure	40-75 minutes before departure

The airport check-in desk closing times can vary by airport, destination, and flight duration (long/short haul) so always check your airline and booking details for the most up to date and accurate information for your flight.

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I hope that has helped clear up some questions about the check-in process and provided some useful information for specific airlines. Checking in online is the most common way to check in now, and can help to make the airport experience more hassle-free if you have already checked in ahead of time.

However, the airport check in desks are always there for you to use as a back-up option should you need to or prefer to. Remember to be aware of any extra fees for doing this, however.

Always check your specific airline and booking details to make sure the information you are relying on for your travel is correct and relevant to you!

As an independent travel agent, not only do I want to help you book your perfect holiday, but I also want to make the holiday experience as easy and enjoyable for you as possible. This means that if you book a holiday, trip, or holiday element through me, I will always be happy to research the most up-to-date and relevant information for your booking to save you both time and hassle in doing this yourself. For more information, check out the rest of my website, or contact me directly at ellie.burnett@outlook.com!