What does check-in for a flight via the Internet provide? How does check-in for a plane take place: when does it end and when does it start?

01.11.2023

Airplanes, as the fastest and most convenient form of transport, make our lives much easier. However, air transport has one drawback that sometimes causes discomfort for travelers - the check-in process for a flight at the airport. Firstly, this puts you in front of the need to be at the airport much earlier than the plane's departure time (check-in at the airport usually begins 3 hours before departure), and secondly, you will most likely have to stand in a tedious line if you did not arrive at the very beginning of registration. If at the same time you are loaded with a decent amount of luggage or even heavy carry-on luggage, the waiting time is unlikely to be pleasant.

Online check-in for your flight will help solve all these and some other problems. To check in for a flight online, all you need is Internet access and preferably a printer to print out your boarding pass. This is a fairly simple process that will not only reduce your required time at the airport, but will also provide a number of other benefits:

Allows you to select seats on the plane in advance. This is especially true if you are traveling not alone, but with a partner or a large company. After all, you have probably encountered a situation where, having found yourself at the check-in counter at the airport, you were given seats at different ends of the cabin, or you could not enjoy the beauty of the clouds from the window, since all the seats by the window were already occupied. Checking in online in advance guarantees your desired seats
Online check-in also saves you from the possible consequences of overbooking. As a rule, many airlines sell more tickets than the number of seats on the flight, since there is always a chance that some passengers will cancel their bookings, cancel their tickets, or be late. If all the passengers who bought a ticket arrive for the flight, the last ones to register increase the chance of not being on board the plane, even with a ticket in hand. Online check-in begins long before check-in at the airport, which means you are guaranteed to fly on the flight you need.
You won't have to wait in long lines at check-in counters or baggage drop-off counters. With an electronic boarding pass in hand, you can check in your luggage at special drop-off luggage counters, or go to the check-in counter for your flight without queuing.

How to register online

Online check-in for a flight most often begins 24 hours before departure and ends simultaneously with the end of check-in at the airport (40 minutes before the flight) - as Aeroflot does - however, this time may vary depending on the airline, departure airport and etc. For example, the airline opens online check-in 30 hours before and closes 50 minutes before departure, Emirates allows you to do this 24 hours before and stops check-in 90 minutes before departure, Qatar Airways is open for online check-in from 36 hours to 90 minutes before the plane takes off.

So, how to check in for a plane online? Below you will find detailed information.

You can check in online for your flight on the website of the airline operating your flight. To check in for a flight online, you may need the following information:

Last name (and possibly first name) of the passenger
Departure airport
Booking code (PNR - 6-digit code) or e-ticket number (13 digits)
The email you provided when purchasing the ticket
Departure details (flight number, departure date and time)
Passport details (if the information provided when booking the ticket was incomplete)

As soon as you enter the required data, you will be taken to a page with information about your flight. Make sure all the details are correct and start choosing your seats on the plane. Pay special attention to the choice of seats if you are traveling with a child under 2 years old and have not issued a separate ticket for him. As a rule, the seats you need are indicated by a special indicator, which means that there is an additional oxygen mask for the baby in this row.

Once you complete the online check-in process, you will be able to receive your boarding pass. It’s great if you have the opportunity to print it out immediately, then you will arrive at the airport with this document. You can also send your boarding pass to your email or receive it via SMS. However, since you will still need a paper boarding pass at the airport, you will need to obtain one either from the electronic check-in terminals at the airport or, if they are not available, from the check-in counter.

Sometimes online registration can save not only your time, but also money. For example, Ryanair charges a fine of 70 euros if you do not check in online or forget to print your boarding pass.

However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that online check-in is not possible for all flights. It is not possible to check in online for unaccompanied children (5-12 years old), as well as persons in need of special services (transportation of animals, medical escort, etc.)

We hope this article has helped you understand more about how to complete online check-in and make your flight experience even more comfortable!

26.04.2016, 20:42 112638

Checking in for a flight at the airport

Check-in for the flight begins a few hours before departure, but in order not to get stuck in traffic, it is better to leave for the airport in advance, especially if you are going to the airport on a weekend, during rush hour. Also keep in mind that during busy seasonal airports, a large queue may form at the entrance to the airport during the initial screening of passengers.

As soon as you enter the airport building, look for the electronic signage and, if necessary, baggage carts.

The electronic board is usually located not far from the entrance to the airport. You need to find your flight on the board - usually the flights on the board are arranged in order of departure. If your flight is not yet displayed on the board, this means that check-in has not yet begun and you should just wait a little. If check-in for a flight has already begun, you will see a corresponding mark on the board. The check-in counter numbers for your flight will also be indicated there. Prepare your passport, tickets and go to the check-in counters.

Check-in for domestic flights

carried out at the domestic air terminal
Check-in begins 1.5-2 hours and ends 30 minutes before departure.

Check-in for international flights

carried out at the international air terminal
starts 2.5-3 hours and also ends 40 minutes before departure time.

Business and First Class passengers always check in at separate counters or out of line. You will be given a boarding pass at the check-in counters. It will contain your seat number on the plane and your gate number. Your luggage will be weighed, a special tag will be attached to it and sent to the conveyor belt, and you will receive a baggage receipt.

On your way to the exit you will need to go through customs and passport control.

Electronic check-in for a plane

How to check in for a flight automatically online

You can check in for a flight online on the websites of airlines, major airports and air ticket sales services. Air passengers flying from almost all major airports now already have this opportunity.

Ticket Aero also provides its customers with the service of online check-in for flights and selection of seats in the aircraft cabin. The service becomes available immediately after the plane ticket is booked.

We will automatically check you in for your flight as soon as online check-in begins. After successful registration, we will send boarding passes by e-mail (you will need this document to board the plane). At the airport you will only need to check in your luggage and board the plane. We will try to seat you by the window or by the aisle if there are free seats.

How to check in for a flight online yourself

Before using the Internet check-in for a flight on the airline or airport website, check the start and end times of check-in. You can find out the exact opening time of online check-in on the airline’s website or by phone. As a rule, online check-in begins one day before and ends 90 minutes before flight departure.

Go to the website of the airport from which your flight departs.
Open the section on the website called “online registration”, “web registration”, etc.
Find your airline in the list of airlines that allow their passengers to check in online.
In the registration window that opens, fill in the appropriate fields of the form: indicate your flight number, air ticket number, departure date, your passport details, luggage availability, etc.
Check the details entered in the form and select the seat you want to occupy on the plane.
Check in and receive your boarding pass in the form of a barcode on the electronic device (smartphone, tablet, other devices) specified when booking your ticket. During pre-flight security, airport security will scan your boarding pass from the device screen. If desired, you can print out your electronic boarding pass and present it at security.
Attention! Not all airports in Russia have the necessary equipment installed to work with electronic boarding passes. In this case, you must present a printed boarding pass.

If you are traveling with luggage, you can drop it off at the baggage counter designated for self-check-in passengers.

How to check in for a flight using a mobile phone or tablet

If your phone or tablet has internet browser capability, you can also check in for your flight online. Filling out personal data is carried out in the same way as registering using a computer. But in this case, instead of sending the boarding pass for printing, the system will send an SMS to your mobile device, which will contain a matrix (two-dimensional) barcode.

After arriving at the airport, you must present your electronic boarding pass on electronic media or in printed form during security screening.

Electronic check-in at the airport through the terminal

You can also complete electronic check-in directly at the airport, in a terminal specially designed for this purpose. Registration is carried out in the same way as the previous options. You simply enter the required data and receive a ready-made electronic or printed boarding pass.

You can read more about how electronic online check-in for a plane takes place.

To take your seat on the plane, you need to check in for the flight.

You can do this in two ways:

Check-in at the airport counter

Check-in at the airport opens 2 hours before departure, we ask you to plan your time and arrive in advance. In addition, we ask you to carefully read the baggage rules.

Time:

Check-in at the counter opens 2 hours (at Vnukovo airport - 4 hours) and ends 40 minutes before departure.

Airports in individual countries may have special requirements for check-in deadlines. In this case, the registration end time is indicated in the itinerary receipt.

Check-in and boarding:

Check-in at the airport begins no later than 2 hours and ends 40 minutes before the flight departure time, with the exception of departures from the airports of Karlovy Vary, Leipzig, Istanbul (Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport), Eindhoven, Berlin (Tegel), Milan ( Bergamo), Cagliari and Genoa. Check-in at the airports of Carlsbad, Leipzig, Istanbul (Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport), Eindhoven, Berlin (Tegel), Milan (Bergamo), Cagliari, Genoa, Dubai, Eilat and Riga ends 60 minutes before the flight departure time. Boarding ends 25 minutes before flight departure time. A passenger who is late for check-in or boarding will not be allowed to fly.

Registration procedure:

To check-in, the passenger must be personally present at the airport, present at the counter the document for which the ticket was issued when booking, and check in the luggage.

Unaccompanied children can only be checked in at the check-in counter at the departure airport (the service is free). Online registration for this category of clients is not available, since accompanying documents for the transportation of an unaccompanied child are issued at the check-in counter at the departure airport.

Passengers who have purchased the extra comfort service “extra seat” (extra seat) receive a boarding pass for an additional seat at the check-in counter at the departure airport before the end of check-in for the flight (the boarding pass is printed free of charge). Otherwise, the airline may not be able to provide you with the “extra seat” service.

For passengers flying from Antalya, Alanya, Bodrum, Dalaman, after completing online check-in, a printout of the boarding pass is required at the airport check-in counters.

Additional Information:
- Before leaving for the airport, make sure that your luggage complies with the baggage rules of Pobeda Airlines. Order additional baggage on the website no later than 4 hours before departure, using the “Personal Account” or “Manage Booking” services, as well as through the airline’s call center.
Online registration

To save time on going through pre-flight formalities at the airport, you can register on the website.

Time:
- Online check-in for passengers flying from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Ufa, Astrakhan, Cheboksary, Perm, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Magnitogorsk, Yekaterinburg, Gelendzhik, Vladikavkaz, Omsk, Min. Vod, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Anapa, Sochi, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Surgut, Volgograd, Kirov, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Ulyanovsk, Makhachkala, Petrozavodsk, Magas, Rostov, Samara, Krasnodar, Saratov, Nalchik, Murmansk opens 24 hours in advance and ends 40 minutes before departure.
- For flights from Moscow (Vnukovo) a printout of your boarding pass is required!
  IMPORTANT: at the airports of St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Cheboksary, Perm, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Magnitogorsk, Yekaterinburg, Gelendzhik, Vladikavkaz, Min. Vod, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Anapa, Sochi, Chelyabinsk, Volgograd, Kirov, Novosibirsk, Makhachkala, Petrozavodsk, Magas, Nalchik, Murmansk do not work with electronic boarding passes - printing of paper boarding passes is required.
- Online check-in for passengers flying from foreign airports opens 24 hours and ends 4 hours before departure.
Registration procedure:

Additional Information:

Please note: the client is responsible for the functionality and serviceability of mobile devices until boarding the aircraft.
Please note that the online check-in system will independently assign a seat in the aircraft cabin to a passenger flying from an airport in a foreign country, unless the passenger has previously paid for the service of selecting a specific seat in the aircraft cabin in the manner prescribed by the rules for applying tariffs and fees.
Before starting the registration procedure on the site, make sure that the baggage you plan to take with you meets the free allowance or has already been paid for. Order additional baggage on the website no later than 4 hours before departure using the “Personal Account” or “Manage Booking” services, or through the airline’s call center: processing excess baggage at the airport costs significantly more and takes longer.

When planning a long journey by air, we often worry about unplanned situations, loss of luggage and other possible troubles. But all doubts come only to an ignorant tourist who is new to such trips. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in advance with the rules and conditions of registration, boarding the aircraft and other issues related to the flight.

Before your flight, there are several important points to consider regarding your trip. To avoid troubles, first of all, you should check with the air carrier about the procedure for checking in for a flight, the list of things allowed and prohibited for carriage, as well as information about how to behave on board the aircraft. Many passengers are especially interested in baggage rules, in particular, where and how to leave suitcases before the gate. We'll talk about this in more detail in the article.

In order to get on board the plane on time, you need to know how the baggage check-in procedure works. It is better to arrive at the airport in advance - this way you will spend less time in queues. Baggage is accepted at special check-in counters, which open approximately 2-3 hours before departure, but no later than 40 minutes. Suitcases are marked with special tags, and after passing the inspection procedure they are sent to the luggage compartment - a special compartment on board the aircraft.

Many modern airports are equipped with special units for automatic baggage accounting.

To use this service, passengers need to:

place the bag on the mobile strip and direct the stroke of the boarding pass to a special reader;
carefully read the information that appears on the screen, make sure that all data is correct;
attach a tag to the suitcase if the data on the screen is correct;
If the weight of suitcases exceeds the established norms, you will have to pay for the extra kilos.

In addition, for baggage check-in there are special kiosks marked “Self-tag”, which function similarly to regular reception points, only instead of a coupon a special tag is issued. It is easy to print it yourself using a machine.

When you check-in for a flight yourself online via the Internet, you can check in your luggage at the counters marked “Drop-off”. But this will work if such electronic devices are available at the airport. If they are not available, you should clarify the procedure for checking in your luggage with the airport staff at the check-in counter. Most often, passengers who have completed electronic check-in independently check in their luggage out of turn. The employee only checks for a boarding pass and a printed barcode tag on the bag.

Many novice tourists wonder whether it is possible to check in luggage not during electronic check-in at the airport, but in advance. The rules of air transportation establish that the check-in of items in the luggage compartment begins at any time on the day of departure, but no later than 40 minutes before boarding the plane.

When packing your bags for a trip, remember that there are mandatory standards for all passengers regarding the weight and size of airline baggage, and if you exceed them you will have to pay extra. These standards are generally accepted and differ little among different airlines. On average, passengers are allowed to carry free baggage weighing no more than:

20 kg in economy class;
30 kg in business class;
10 kg for a child under 2 years old.

If a passenger took part in some promotions, or bought a ticket under a special bonus program, then the free baggage allowance may be increased by 10 kg. The weight system used by many airlines places a limit on weight rather than the number of seats. This means that you can take one suitcase weighing 20 kg or two suitcases weighing 10 kg each. This system provides that the total weight of luggage of passengers sitting next to each other can be summed up.

Some airlines are tolerant of minor excess weight and do not require additional payment; in others, every extra kilogram counts. Basically, low-cost carriers tighten the requirements for transporting things, since the distribution of volumetric weight on the plane is calculated as accurately as possible. It is better to check in advance at the airline’s office or on the official website for information on exactly how much excess baggage will cost. On average, this amount is about 1.5% of the ticket price, but not more than 15 euros per 1 kilogram.

There are also restrictions regarding the dimensions (geometric dimensions) of luggage: the length, width and height of the cargo must not exceed 158 cm in total. Otherwise, you will have to pay for an additional separate piece of luggage.

Few people know, but some things, even those exceeding the established size standards, can be transported by plane for free. Such conditions allow you to travel comfortably and economically on sports tours, competitions and various public cultural events. After all, groups of musicians, teams of athletes and other organized figures often use air travel.

If you plan to take baggage of unusual dimensions with you, be sure to coordinate this with your airline in advance. When registering electronically, you must also provide this information.

Among passengers, these types of things are popular:

Appliances;
sport equipment;
musical instruments.

The possibility of transporting such things directly depends on the technical equipment of the aircraft: the availability of space and additional loading hatches. Sometimes there is no additional payment for such cargo, but most often you have to pay a certain amount set by the air carrier. The exception is the transportation of sports equipment for skiers: skis and other equipment are always transported on the plane free of charge. A complete list of permitted oversized cargo that can be checked in as luggage after electronic check-in at the airport can be seen on the carrier company’s website in the “Services” section.

Sometimes you need to fly with things that are made of glass or fragile material. Of course, if it is possible not to take such items with you, then it is best to refuse to transport them on the plane. Typically, such cargo is sent by companies specializing in the delivery of parcels and other cargo throughout the country and abroad.

If the baggage that needs to be checked into the aircraft compartment contains expensive dishes, thin-walled crystal, etc., the passenger will have to do the following. Please inform the front desk if you need to transport fragile items. No one bears responsibility for the integrity and safety of your belongings during an air flight, especially airline employees. Therefore, take care to carefully pack your valuable luggage so that its transportation goes smoothly.

What items are prohibited for transportation on an airplane?

Each airline has its own list of permitted and prohibited items. Regarding prohibited items, the requirements are generally accepted for all passengers. It is strictly forbidden to bring on board the aircraft any things or items that are potentially dangerous to the life and health of aircraft passengers.

These things include:

firearms;
toxic, chemical, radioactive, flammable substances;
aerosols, cans with gaseous compositions of any type;
sharp objects, explosive mixtures and materials.

If such things are discovered, the passenger will be detained until all circumstances are clarified. In addition to the bag, hand luggage and clothing on the person will be searched. In special cases, the passenger will be taken to a separate room, where a security officer is obliged to examine him in as much detail as possible. If the client was delayed in vain, then after the investigation, he must write an application to receive monetary compensation for the delay before the plane departs.

Your air travel will be successful and will leave only pleasant impressions if you prepare for it in advance.

Be sure to clarify all the details regarding the check-in procedure at the airport, study the rules for accepting and checking in baggage, the peculiarities of transporting oversized and fragile items and other important flight conditions.

How to check luggage safely on a plane and save money

We will describe how to do online check-in for a plane via the Internet. This procedure today is more in demand and used than the traditional one at the airport counter. Its advantages include convenience for passengers, the absence of huge queues and significant relief for staff.

Increasingly, major airlines are resorting to just such an independent check-in system, which greatly simplifies the entire process for both parties. After all, the passenger can do this at a time convenient for him, sitting at home or in the office, and airport workers do not have to work at an accelerated pace before each aircraft departure. And increasingly, such a service is moving from the category of additional to a mandatory category.

How to register online?

For an inexperienced traveler it can be difficult. But modern ticketing and ticketing systems are created with convenient and intuitive navigation. All fields are labeled in detail what needs to be entered and where, just follow the simple instructions.

The process goes through the following stages:

To begin with, it is important to check on the airline’s website whether it is technically possible to carry out online check-in via the Internet. Today they are trying to introduce such a service for all major airports and flights, although there are still many restrictions. Therefore, do not leave such a procedure until the last minute. After all, if it turns out that check-in for a plane in this mode is available for some reason, you should have enough time left to go through it directly at the airport.
It is better to first find out all the features and rules for the selected flight and city. There are a number of exceptions relating not only to the flight, but also to special situations for passengers. Still, the convenience of online check-in makes it possible to choose a suitable seat in the cabin and provide all the required information, which frees up time immediately before departure.
Check the hours during which this procedure takes place. Even within the same airline, they are often adjusted and changed. The duration of remote check-in via the Internet can begin a day or even several days before, and end an hour before departure. But you must fall within the limits set for your flight, and they may differ from the company’s standard rules.
Carefully review the information indicated on the ticket and accurately enter the first and last name, document number, flight number, departure time, etc. Everything must correspond to the purchased document. Each column on the site is highlighted separately and it is written there what should be entered and where, it is difficult to make a mistake.
Another advantage of online check-in for a plane is the ability to choose your seat in the cabin. However, sometimes some airlines do this automatically. And individual seats, for example those located near the cockpit, are made available only for an additional fee.
At the very end, just indicate your email address, to which your boarding pass will be sent. You can activate it at the airport using various gadgets or print it on a printer.

If it happens that you cannot complete check-in because there is no flight information, a specific ticket is not entered into the system, or other difficulties arise, you can contact the company employees by phone and determine the cause of the error. Most often, the carrier changes and you just need to enter the new information in the appropriate box.

Rawipad C.KKU / flickr.com

Remember that on Russian airlines only a printed version of a registered ticket is still valid. Therefore, it should be converted from electronic to paper form at home, in the office or right at the airport in a special window.

When you arrive with a already registered ticket, you need to go to the baggage counter to issue it. It is always allocated separately for those who have undergone an independent procedure via the Internet. But in this case, you should personally check the dimensions and weight of the cargo so that it exactly meets the company’s requirements.

other methods

You can register in the same way on your own phone or tablet. Almost all actions are similar to those performed using a computer. Only the system sends you an electronic version of the ticket directly to your device, which only needs to be processed at the airport. In this case, a special matrix two-dimensional barcode is read by a special device.

Large modern airports install terminals in the check-in hall, where the entire procedure also takes place independently. The steps are similar to those described above, and at the end the machine issues a printed or electronic version of the ticket.

When is traditional registration needed?

Even with technical support for online registration, there are cases when you still need to go to the airport in advance and go through the procedure manually with the help of a specialist. And although such exceptions vary in each company, there are still general patterns.

These include:

technical impossibility of performing such a procedure;
if necessary, transport a child under two years of age free of charge;
when a minor passenger travels unaccompanied by adults;
transportation of a disabled person;
if you need additional clearance of special baggage (works of art, animals, dangerous cargo);
when purchasing a plane ticket through a travel agency along with a whole tour and other services;
when booking a group flight (more than 9 people);
when making transfers, transit, etc.

In all such cases, you will have to stand in line at the traditional check-in counter and do it with the help of an airport employee.

Special airline requirements

It is better to study in advance all the rules for booking and registering air tickets on the website of the selected carrier. And although most of them meet standard standards, there are differences depending on the city, direction of travel and other details.

Thus, the largest company in Russia, Aeroflot, begins online check-in 24 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes before departure. Special restrictions are imposed on those traveling with children, animals, or non-standard cargo. It is also impossible to undergo a similar procedure when flying to cities in America and India.

S7 Airlines limits certain flights and destinations. In each case, you will have to check the list on the carrier’s website. The registration itself lasts from 30 hours and ends 50 minutes before boarding. In this case, you must have time to check in your luggage, and its acceptance is blocked 40 minutes before takeoff.

Within 24 hours, you can check in via the Internet for Rossiya flights. But in this case you need to carefully monitor the changes made. So, at the last moment there may be a different gate number, terminal number, etc. Therefore, upon arrival at the airport, check all the data with the electronic display.

When using the services of the UTair airline, check-in occurs at standard times - it starts one day before and is blocked an hour before departure. And when traveling from cities such as Tambov, Baku, Arkhangelsk or Astrakhan, you will need to additionally confirm electronic registration at the counter.

Video: how to check in for a flight online?

More stringent rules were established by Ural Airlines. For most destinations, the online procedure lasts just under 20 hours in total. And for passengers from Yekaterinburg, the time limit becomes even more significant - they have only 8 hours to carry out an independent procedure.

Transport Pixels / flickr.com

Orenburg Airlines is gradually introducing a similar check-in service, but so far only certain destinations and flights are available for online registration. The list is constantly expanding, so follow the rules on the company's website.