Your boarding pass is your “ticket” to board the plane, but technically your ticket is generated as an “e-ticket,” or an electronic ticket, when you book your flight. Your boarding pass will be generated upon check-in, either online or at the check-in counter.

In 2026, the delivery of your boarding pass immediately upon check-in depends on the type of flight and your documentation status. For domestic flights, most airlines will issue a digital boarding pass (PDF or Apple/Google Wallet) the moment you complete the check-in process on their app or website. However, for international flights, you might receive a "Check-in Confirmation" instead of a boarding pass. This happens because the airline's system must verify your passport and visa requirements in person at the airport before allowing you into the secure terminal. Some airlines now use "biometric verification" or digital document uploads (like "VeriFLY") to issue international boarding passes ahead of time. If you have bags to check, you will still need to visit a kiosk or counter, but the digital pass usually suffices for passing through security at most modern airports worldwide.