If traveling to/from the U.S., check in between 24 hours to 1 hour prior to your departure time. If traveling to Mumbai or from Ethiopia, Kenya, or Sudan, check-in 1.5-30 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. If traveling from any other location, check-in 1-30 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart.

Yes, you must check in for a KLM flight to receive your boarding pass and confirm your presence on the aircraft. Online check-in is the most efficient method and typically opens 30 hours before departure (24 hours for flights to or from the United States). During this process, you can select your seat, add extra baggage, and ensure your travel documents are in order. In 2026, KLM has introduced advanced digital tools that allow you to scan and upload your passport or ID via their mobile app in advance, which can help you skip manual document checks at the airport. If you prefer, you can also check in at the airport using self-service kiosks or at the check-in desk, but doing it online is highly recommended to save time. For certain destinations, even if you check in online, you may still need to visit a document verification desk at the airport if the country requires specific visas or health declarations that cannot be verified digitally by the airline's automated systems.