What documents do I need to check-in for a flight?

In-person at a staffed check-in counter at airport
  1. Passport (when traveling internationally)
  2. Flight information. Paper ticket (less and less common), OR. E-ticket with a confirmation number—usually sent via email if ticket is purchased online or through a travel agency, OR. Printed itinerary with a confirmation number.




People Also Ask

A passport is required for all international travel. Remember, the name on your boarding pass must match the name on your government-issued passport. In general, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in a foreign country.

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Depending on the requirements of airport authorities, you will need to present a mobile boarding pass, a paper boarding pass printed out by you or a paper boarding pass picked up from the check-in desk.

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For a short-haul flight where you are only taking hand luggage, checking in online saves a lot of time and is therefore much better than checking in at the airport. If, on the other hand, you have to check in bulky luggage, it is better to use the classic check-in at the airport for security reasons.

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If you check in before receiving a negative test result, it could be tricky to get a refund if you are then unlucky enough to test positive. There have been instances where airlines and third parties have refused to refund a seat for COVID positive passengers after they have already checked in online.

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It's typically better to check in online, since you can do so much sooner than you would be able to in person at the airport. As mentioned above, it's especially important to check in early for a Southwest flight, since boarding order is determined by check-in order.

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There are several ways to get a boarding pass. You can get it on the airline's website and print it on paper. Or pull it up on your phone in the airline's app. You can also print it at the airport.

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Not technically. 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.

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Check-in times You can check in online or from the app starting 24 hours before and up to 45 minutes before your flight (90 for international). To check bags or check in at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure: Within the U.S. – 45 minutes.

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Airlines typically require passport information during the online check-in process, especially for international flights. In such cases, you will need your passport number or PRN. The PNR number contains all your essential information and is required for online check-in.

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A mobile boarding pass is an electronic document on a personal mobile device that allows you to go through security and board your flight. It's generated and provided using our mobile channels on iOS, Android, and our mobile website.

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