When should I check-in for international flights?

When you're traveling outside of the United States, we suggest arriving at least 3 hours prior to your departure. You must be checked in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Additionally, we recommend being at the gate and ready to board 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.



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Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight. That said, there are many factors to consider that will help you decide how much time you should budget for at the airport.

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If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.

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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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Check-In Times at U.S. Airports For most airports, you must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time (airports requiring additional time are listed below, Go to footer note). Additionally, you're required to be at the gate and ready to board 15 minutes before scheduled departure.

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What is the recommended layover time for international flights? International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

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As a rule, for flights within the EU, you should be at the airport at least one hour before departure. For long-haul flights, two hours. Most importantly, always follow your airline's rules. You can shorten the waiting time if you check in online and travel without checked baggage.

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As with so many things in travel, there's a simple answer — and a complicated one. The simple answer is: Two hours for domestic flights, three hours for international flights. More or less.

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The TSA advises arriving at the airport two hours before your flight for domestic travel and three hours before for international travel. If you're traveling during peak times like early morning or evening, or during holidays and other events, please plan accordingly and allow for extra time.

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Another reason to leave three (or more) hours before your international flight: Just because you're running late, doesn't mean you can skip to the front of the security line. You might be at risk of missing your flight, but that “does not give you automatic right to move up the line,” says Duncan.

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Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.

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We recommend all passengers arrive at the check-in or bag drop desk at least 2 hours before they are due to fly. If you have booked through an Online Travel Agent, have been required to verify your booking, and wish to do so at the airport, please make sure you arrive at the airport 2 hours before your flight.

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The rule of thumb is that you leave AT LEAST 3 hours from arrival to departure for international flights and 1.5 hours for domestic. You still have to get your bags, clear customs, re-check your bags and then go through security for your next flight. All of this can take a couple of hours.

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Yes, you can check in online at AirFrance.com up to 30 hours before your scheduled flight time. You have the option of printing your boarding pass immediately, receiving it by e-mail, by SMS/MMS, or by using a Self-Service Kiosk at the airport.

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Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport serves thousands of travelers daily. Thus, the lines for security and passport control can be really long. Luckily, they tend to move fast. In any case, especially if your flight is international, you should be early at the airport, as the total procedures may last 1-2 hours.

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If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

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The current longest flight in the world
Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes. The carrier has been flying the route since 2021.

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When you're traveling outside of the United States, we suggest arriving at least 3 hours prior to your departure. You must be checked in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Additionally, we recommend being at the gate and ready to board 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

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Three Ways to Check In
  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.


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Online Check-in for International Flights. Online check-in allows those who have reserved seats and completed the required information to check into their flight from 24 hours prior to departure. During this process, you can confirm or change seats and get a boarding pass.

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Depending on your destination your check in time may vary. Are you travelling with hand luggage only? If you are, you may be able to check in online for free and print off your boarding pass, so all you need to do when you arrive at the airport is go straight through security.

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You do not need to print your boarding pass once you have access to the Ryanair App unless you are departing from a Moroccan airport. If you do not have access to a printer, we can print it for you at the check-in desk, but you will be charged a boarding card reissue fee for each passenger. See our Table of Fees.

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