Not usually necessary, no - though never does any harm to have it. May depend on airline, though. Again, depending on airline, you may be expected to check in online and print off a boarding card, or pay at the airport for check-in.

In 2026, the need to print physical documents for the airport has largely vanished for most travelers, though there are a few critical exceptions. Most airlines now favor digital boarding passes stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or the airline's own mobile app. These are accepted at security checkpoints and boarding gates globally. However, you may still need to print certain international visas or entry permits (such as an ETIAS for Europe or specific health declarations for certain Asian countries) if the local immigration authority requires a "hard copy" for their records. Additionally, if you are traveling to a destination with unreliable internet or if your phone battery dies, having a printed backup of your flight itinerary and hotel confirmation is a wise "fail-safe." Some low-cost carriers in Europe still charge a heavy fee for printing a boarding pass at the counter, so if you cannot use a mobile pass, printing it at home is essential. Lastly, for those using biometric systems like "Digi Yatra" in India or "Global Entry" in the US, your face or passport is often your only required "document" at the gate.