For international flights in 2026, you almost always need to provide your passport information during the online check-in process. Airlines are required by international law to collect Advance Passenger Information (APIS), which includes your passport number, expiration date, nationality, and place of birth. If you do not have your passport handy, most airline apps will not allow you to complete check-in or generate a digital boarding pass. Some sophisticated 2026 airline apps now allow you to "scan" your passport chip via NFC on your phone to automatically upload this data. If you are flying domestically (within your own country), you typically do not need a passport; a standard government-issued photo ID is sufficient, and you won't be asked for passport details during check-in. However, if your domestic flight is actually the first leg of an international itinerary, the system will still require your passport details upfront to ensure you are documented for the entire journey.