Please select the preferred airline to get the online Check-in information for specific airline.

• Q. What are your options to check-in for a flight? What is the difference between online check-in and checking in at the airport?

  Travel is full of options and checking in for a flight comes with two main options: checking in at the airport or checking in online. Online check-in is pretty much a given with travel these days, but there are some instances when you'll need to check-in at the airport. Here's a quick summary of when you'll want to check-in online versus at the airport:

  Online Check-in Online

  • When you want to secure your seat as early as possible, choose the online check-in option! Not only will you be able to select your seat from those that are available, but you'll also be able to skip the check-in counter and head to security - as long as you download or print a copy of your boarding pass before heading to the airport. If you're checking bags, you will have to drop off your bags at the baggage counter, but online check-in will most certainly save you time!

  Airport Check-in

  • With a counter agent: When you have a special situation that requires speaking with an agent, such as a minor flying alone, wheelchair assistance, special baggage considerations, confirming visas & passports, etc., you'll need to check-in for your flight at the airport. If you just feel better speaking to a counter agent to check you in, you can certainly do that as well, but you'll need to wait in line with any other passengers that have special situations.
  • At an airport kiosk: Most airlines have check-in kiosks at the airport that offer you the same options as online check-in but will print a boarding pass for you. Lines may form at some of the kiosks, but if you want a hard copy of your boarding pass, this option will almost certainly be faster than checking in at the counter.

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• Q. Why do you need to check-in for a flight?

  Checking in for a flight is necessary for all passengers as it's key to securing your seat on the flight. We know, you booked a seat, so you should be covered, right? Unfortunately, flights sometimes get "oversold" and the only way an airline knows who plans to be traveling on any given flight is to require people to check-in. This is why you should check-in as soon as you can, so the airline knows you plan to be on that plane!

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• Q. What are the benefits of online check-in?
  • Online check-in helps you save time and gives you peace of mind! Skip the long check-in lines at the airport and head straight to security (as long as you don’t have any bags to check!)
  • Choose your preferred seat(s) from those that are available at the time of check-in. Many seats are blocked by airlines up until 24 hours before departure, but when you check-in online, you can select your seat from those that are available.
  • More often than not, you can purchase checked-bags for less than if you checked your bags at the airport. Why? This helps the airline plan out how many people will be checking bags, and that can have an impact on the airline’s cargo capacity as well. If you plan to check a bag, purchase baggage before getting to the airport and save some cash in the meantime!

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• Q. What to be careful about when checking-in?
  • Timing: Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before the flight departs. Keep that in mind and try to remember to check-in as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you may not be able to check-in online and you'll have no choice but to check-in at the airport. If you miss the online check-in window and get to the airport counter or kiosk after check-in closes (usually at least 40 minutes before departure), you may be denied boarding and considered a "no show". What does this mean? It means you may lose the full value of your ticket because you didn't check-in.
    The other timing consideration is seat selection. If you wait too long to check-in, your only seat options may be...a middle seat! If you love middle seats, you'll be fine, but most people prefer an aisle or a window seat. Do yourself a favor and check-in as early as possible.
  • Extra Fees: There are a couple of fees to be aware of when it comes to checking in. First, some low-cost carriers in the US (and in other parts of the world) will now charge you to print out a boarding pass at the airport (even from a kiosk!) Most airlines will allow you to scan your boarding pass from your mobile phone so at a minimum download the boarding pass before you get to the airport. If you have access to a printer, that's always a good backup to have at the ready.

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• Q. When you should check-in online? What are the Opening and Closing Times of online check-in?

  A majority of airlines let passengers check-in at least 24 hours before departures, and some airlines allow you to check-in up to 48 hours ahead of the departure. As mentioned above, the flip side of this check-in window is when check-in closes. Most airlines will close check-in around 40 minutes before departure for domestic US flights and 60-90 minutes for international flights. (Psst, flights between the US and Canada/Mexico are International so keep that in mind!) Don't gamble with your flight by waiting until the last minute to check-in! There's plenty to gain by checking in as early as you can, especially when it comes to selecting your seat.

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• Q. How do you check-in online?

  In order to be able to check-in online, you'll need to enter your airline confirmation code / Passenger Name Record (PNR) Locator and First/Last name into the online check-in section of the airline you're flying. You'll be asked a series of questions depending on the type of ticket you purchased (Economy, Business, etc.) and you'll have to acknowledge and accept some travel advisories. Once you finish the online check-in process, you'll have the option to print-out out your boarding pass, send it to your email, save it to your mobile device, or access it on the airline app. We recommend you take a screenshot of your boarding pass if you download it on your mobile. In the event your mobile connection is poor at the airport, you don't want to be left scrambling for your boarding pass, do you?

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• Q. Who are not eligible to check-in online?

  We know we've been talking about the benefits of checking in online but there are some situations where online check-in won't be available for you. Here are some of the situations that will require you to check-in at the airport and with a counter agent:

  • Passengers who are flying with their pets
  • Passengers flying on a group reservation with 10 or more people
  • Unattended minors
  • Passengers that require special assistance or a wheelchair
  • Passengers flying with an infant on their lap
  • Passengers flying with a Miltary ID in place of a passport
  • Passengers flying to and/or from specific international destinations
  • Non-U.S. citizens making a departure from international places
  • Passengers who bought special items or an extra seat.

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• Q. Don't want to think about online check-in?

  We get it! You have enough to think about before heading out on your trip! That’s why we now offer an automatic Web Check-in option when you book your flight with CheapFlightsFares. This isn’t available on every airline and itinerary, but it can be an extra time-saver! Give us a call at +1-216-302-2732 and see if our team can add this to your booking?
  
  We hope this information will help you decide if you should check in online or at the airport. Keep in mind, all airlines have their own policies so you may want to check your airline well before 24 hours of departure just to be on the safe side!
  
  If your flight leaves in the next 24 hours, visit this link to access your airline’s online check-in page:

  https://www.aa.com/reservation/flightCheckInViewReservationsAccess.do?anchorLocation

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