Where do I check in for an international flight with a domestic layover?

If your journey is two or more flights with the same airline on the same ticket, and the first flight is domestic and the second international, then in general, yes, you can check in for both flights at the first airport even if it is domestic.



This is a common point of confusion! The answer depends on a few key factors, but here’s the general rule and how to figure it out for your specific trip.

The General Rule: Check-in at Your First Departure Airport

You always check in for your entire journey at the first airport you depart from, regardless of layovers. The airline will issue boarding passes for all segments they operate or have agreements with.

However, the critical question is what happens during your domestic layover. This depends on whether your luggage is checked “through” to your final international destination and whether you need to clear customs and immigration during the layover.

Two Main Scenarios for a Domestic Layover Before an International Flight:

Scenario 1: Domestic Layover in Your Home Country (Most Common - e.g., Flying USA to London with a layover in New York)

This is the simplest case. 1. Initial Check-in: At your first domestic airport (e.g., Columbus, OH), you check in for your entire trip. You’ll receive two boarding passes: one for your flight to the layover city (e.g., New York-JFK) and one for your international flight (e.g., JFK to London). 2. Luggage: Your luggage will almost always be checked through to your final international destination. Confirm this with the agent at check-in. You will not see your bags until you clear customs at your final destination (London). 3. During Layover: You will exit your domestic flight and go to your international departure gate. You do NOT need to collect bags or re-enter security from the main terminal, as you are already

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For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

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We recommend you arrive to the airport at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure for international flights. Check if your destination has travel restrictions. If your destination requires specific travel documents, remember to bring a completed copy with you to the airport.

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Arriving in a foreign country might require you to go through immigration and clear customs, even if you're only staying there for a brief layover. If you're flying on two separate itineraries with checked bags, you'll have to retrieve your luggage and recheck it.

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You would normally have to check in at an international terminal. If you have a domestic flight before it, and both flights are on the same ticket, you can check your luggage through to the first international stop and receive boarding passes for both flights.

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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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For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.

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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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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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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 have checked baggage, you must recheck it between flights:
  1. Collect your checked baggage at the transfer airport. ...
  2. Leave the transit zone and take your baggage to the check-in counter (or baggage drop) for your next flight.
  3. Go through security and customs to the gate of your next flight.


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Everyone who boards an aircraft at Heathrow has to be security screened to UK government standards. Even if you've already been through security checks at another airport, we're obliged to screen you again before you fly from Heathrow.

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Yes. You'll probably get all boarding passes at once when you check in for your first flight, whether you check in online, on your smartphone, or at the airport. For some international itineraries though, the airline will direct you to get your second boarding pass on your layover.

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It is always a good idea to check into your flight early, as it can help you avoid any potential delays or issues. Checking in online 24 hours before your flight leaves gives you the opportunity to select your seat and print out boarding passes ahead of time.

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Transit. Another point of confusion is layover vs stopover or transit. Once again, a layover is a stop that lasts less than 24 hours, while a stopover lasts 24 hours or more. On the other hand, Transit is simply the act of returning to the same aircraft after your layover at the airport.

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Here's how the process usually goes: When you arrive at the layover destination, you'll have to pick up your checked bag inside the airport at a designated area. You won't be able to miss it, since the airline staff won't let you wander around the airport without rechecking your luggage first.

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If you have a layover and both flights are part of the same itinerary and booked on a single ticket, you typically do not need to check in again. Your checked baggage is usually tagged through to your final destination, and you would proceed directly to your connecting gate after going through security.

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CONNECTING FLIGHTS If your baggage is checked through to your final destination, that's where you clear customs. If you're collecting your baggage and checking in to your next flight yourself, you need to pass through customs at Heathrow.

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You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening. This may include a physical inspection of your luggage and personal items with a metal detector or a full-body scan.

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Re: Check in for second leg ? If both flights are on the same reservation, getting from point A to B then you will receive boarding positions for the second flight when you check-in for the first flight. If you booked each flight separately then you will need to check in for each on individually.

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