Recommended time of arrival at the airport. How long does it take to check in for a plane and when does it start? How long before you arrive at the airport for an international flight?

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Check-in for airline flights

To take your seat on the plane, you need to check in for the flight.

You can do this in two ways:

  1. Check-in at the airport counter

    Check-in at the airport opens 2 hours before departure, we ask you to plan your time and arrive in advance. In addition, we ask you to carefully read the baggage rules.

    Time:

    Check-in at the counter opens 2 hours (at Vnukovo airport - 4 hours) and ends 40 minutes before departure.

    Airports in individual countries may have special requirements for check-in deadlines. In this case, the registration end time is indicated in the itinerary receipt.

    Check-in and boarding:

    Check-in at the airport begins no later than 2 hours and ends 40 minutes before the flight departure time, with the exception of departures from the airports of Karlovy Vary, Leipzig, Istanbul (Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport), Eindhoven, Berlin (Tegel), Milan ( Bergamo), Cagliari and Genoa. Check-in at the airports of Carlsbad, Leipzig, Istanbul (Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport), Eindhoven, Berlin (Tegel), Milan (Bergamo), Cagliari, Genoa, Dubai and Eilat ends 60 minutes before flight departure time. Registration for flights from Gyumri Airport is carried out at the airport - free of charge. Boarding ends 25 minutes before flight departure time. A passenger who is late for check-in or boarding will not be allowed to fly.

    Registration procedure:

    To check-in, the passenger must be personally present at the airport, present at the counter the document for which the ticket was issued when booking, and check in the luggage.

    Unaccompanied children can only be checked in at the check-in counter at the departure airport (the service is free). Online registration for this category of clients is not available, since accompanying documents for the transportation of an unaccompanied child are issued at the check-in counter at the departure airport.

    Passengers who have purchased the extra comfort service “extra seat” (extra seat) receive a boarding pass for an additional seat at the check-in counter at the departure airport before the end of check-in for the flight (the boarding pass is printed free of charge). Otherwise, the airline may not be able to provide you with the “extra seat” service.

    Additional Information:

      At Vnukovo Airport, check-in can be done in Terminal A at the counters*:

      116-127 - check-in for domestic flights.
      127B-H - check-in for domestic flights without baggage.
      128-130 - Drop Off, baggage check-in for customers who have completed online check-in for domestic flights.
      131-134 - check-in for international flights, with the exception of Armenia, Turkey, Montenegro**. Entrance to the sections is carried out after passing through passport and visa control opposite section 135.
      135-140 - Drop Off, baggage check-in for clients who have completed online check-in for international flights.

      Boarding for the flight ends 25 minutes before the flight departure time (at Vnukovo 20 minutes before departure). A passenger who is late for check-in or boarding will not be allowed to fly

      *the number of working counters depends on the number of flights departing in the same period of time.
      **check-in for flights to Armenia, Turkey and Montenegro is carried out at check-in counters for domestic flights or at additional check-in counters (information must be checked on the general information monitors installed in the check-in hall).

      At other airports, counter numbers are indicated on the departure board.

    • Before leaving for the airport, make sure that your luggage complies with the baggage rules of Pobeda Airlines. Order additional baggage on the website no later than 4 hours before departure, using the “Personal Account” or “Manage Booking” services, as well as through the airline’s call center.
  2. Online registration

    To save time on going through pre-flight formalities at the airport, you can register on the website.

    Time:

    • Online check-in for passengers flying from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Ufa, Astrakhan, Cheboksary, Perm, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Magnitogorsk, Yekaterinburg, Gelendzhik, Vladikavkaz, Omsk, Min. Vod, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Anapa, Sochi, Tyumen opens 24 hours and ends 40 minutes before departure.

      IMPORTANT: at the airports of Astrakhan, Cheboksary, Perm, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Magnitogorsk, Yekaterinburg, Gelendzhik, Vladikavkaz, Omsk, Min. Vod, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Anapa, Sochi do not work with electronic boarding cards. Only paper boarding passes are accepted at these stations.

    • Online check-in for passengers flying from foreign airports opens 24 hours and ends 4 hours before departure.

    Registration procedure:

      To check in for a flight online, a passenger must register on the website in the section, print out the boarding pass and take it with him to the airport. When departing from airports in foreign countries, both printed boarding passes and saved electronic images of the boarding pass on a mobile device are accepted for service.

      For passengers flying from Antalya, Alanya, Bodrum, Dalaman, after completing online check-in, printing of the boarding pass is free and required at the airport check-in counters.

      If a passenger flying to Russia on an international flight is not a Russian citizen, has used the online check-in service, then he needs to check-in no later than 40 minutes before the flight departure (when departing from Karlovy Vary, Leipzig, Istanbul (Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport) ), Eindhoven, Berlin (Tegel), Milan (Bergamo), Cagliari, Genoa and Eilat 60 minutes before departure) go to the check-in counter at the departure airport to check visa compliance.

      If you are traveling with luggage, please contact the baggage check-in counter at the airport no later than 40 minutes before departure (for departures from Karlovy Vary, Leipzig, Istanbul (Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport), Eindhoven, Berlin (Tegel), Milan (Bergamo), Cagliari, Genoa, Dubai and Eilat 60 minutes before departure).

      Registration for flights from Gyumri Airport is carried out at the airport, free of charge.

      Attention! Online check-in is not available for flights to or from Dubai. When departing from Moscow, you need to go to the check-in counter at Vnukovo airport no less than 40 minutes before departure time. When departing from Dubai Airport, you must report to the check-in counter at least 60 minutes before departure time.

Cost of registration service:

From October 29, 2018 at foreign airports on the route network of Pobeda Airlines LLC, a fee for check-in service is charged in the amount of 25 euros per departing passenger.

The check-in fee for international flights does not apply to children under two years of age or to unaccompanied children (the child's boarding pass can be printed free of charge).

At Russian airports on the route network of Pobeda Airlines LLC, no registration fee is charged.

Additional Information:

  • Please note: the client is responsible for the functionality and serviceability of mobile devices until boarding the aircraft.
  • Please note that the online check-in system will independently assign a seat in the aircraft cabin to a passenger flying from an airport in a foreign country, unless the passenger has previously paid for the service of selecting a specific seat in the aircraft cabin in the manner prescribed by the rules for applying tariffs and fees.
  • Before starting the registration procedure on the site, make sure that the baggage you plan to take with you meets the free allowance or has already been paid for. Order additional baggage on the website no later than 4 hours before departure using the “Personal Account” or “Manage Booking” services, or through the airline’s call center: processing excess baggage at the airport costs significantly more and takes longer.

Traveling by air requires responsibility and punctuality of the passenger, because you will have to arrive at the airport in advance. Check-in, baggage handling, boarding - these standard procedures are familiar to tourists who fly frequently. However, people who have a question about how long before departure they need to be at the airport. Let's deal with this problem and clarify some of the nuances of the topic.

It is difficult to indicate the optimal time of arrival at the airport. This factor is determined by the direction of the flight, the specific requirements of the carrier, the availability of checked baggage, and the ability to check in for the flight on the Internet. In addition, the ability to quickly navigate the terminal of the runway complex allows the tourist to linger a little on the way. However, in such situations it is appropriate not to abuse your own time.

Remember, pre-takeoff procedures include clearing customs, security and boarding. When a person has completed self-registration online in advance, the airline allows arrival at the terminal forty minutes before the departure of the aircraft. During this time, it will be possible to undergo pre-flight inspection if the passenger is not carrying oversized items or excess baggage.

Keep in mind that the pet requires additional inspection by airport terminal employees, so it is advisable to have a maximum time reserve here.

To minimize potential problems, prepare the necessary paperwork for your flight. Travelers are advised to keep their passport and itinerary receipt with their boarding pass ready. However, this package of documents is appropriate when traveling around Russia. When planning an international flight, additionally prepare your passport and visa if the conditions of entry into a particular country require the tourist to receive this document in advance. Although the conditions for crossing the borders of individual states allow a permit stamp, which is placed directly by the airport terminal employee.

Checking in on board the aircraft at the boarding complex building

Since the first step for a traveler before a flight is registration, let us clarify how many hours in advance check-in for a plane at the airport begins. This procedure directly depends on the type of flight. Usually, in order to get approved for flights within the country, a passenger only needs to arrive two hours before the stated departure time of the plane. Moreover, airlines finish processing passengers on average 40 minutes before departure.

It is appropriate to check specific information on this issue on the airline website or from an employee by contacting a company representative by phone. However, today a reasonable alternative is available that reduces temporary losses of passengers - electronic check-in. Moreover, the service is available to the carrier’s clients a day before the scheduled take-off of the aircraft. For this reason, most citizens prefer to use modern technological advances.

Keep in mind that such a service also involves choosing a suitable chair in a relaxed home environment. Here, the passenger arrives at the terminal already having a boarding pass in hand, and this fact saves the person from having to stand in line at the counter or self-service terminal of the airport terminal.

True, such a service today is not available to all categories of citizens. The exceptions here are people who accompany sedentary people or children, airline customers transporting valuable art objects or pets. Considering that we have considered the main aspects of the question of how long it takes to arrive at the airport for domestic flights to arrange departure, let’s deal with the problem of international routes.

Here the task for the passenger is complicated by additional customs clearance and checks of entry documents. For these reasons, airlines recommend that tourists arrive at the airport for an international flight three hours before departure. This time interval allows you to slowly go through the necessary procedures and catch the boarding announcement. Of course, online registration simplifies the task somewhat and allows the traveler to arrive at the terminal an hour and a half before the officially announced departure.

Passing security check

An important and mandatory step for tourists on all types of flights is the inspection of passenger luggage. Airline customers go through this procedure before boarding, so when planning a trip it is appropriate to take into account the time spent on security checks. Control involves identifying items in the belongings of airline clients that are prohibited for transportation by the airliner, and becomes a component of flight safety.

If a passenger plans to check-in at the airport terminal, travel bags for the luggage compartment are inspected by employees without the presence of the client. In such situations, tourists take part only in verification. Once the traveler has registered online, the airport terminals here offer screening at a specially designated counter.

This process takes 10–20 minutes. It will be possible to reduce the verification procedure to a minimum if you clarify in advance the list of things that are prohibited for transportation in the aircraft cabin and luggage compartment.

Airlines form according to approved tariff schedules, so it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the rules for carrying luggage on a particular carrier’s aircraft when booking seats. Although the general prohibition on transportation applies to flammable and flammable liquids and substances, explosives, toxic compounds, and weapons. Airlines limit the transportation of liquids in the cabin to one liter and have strict requirements for the packaging conditions of such cargo. Therefore, familiarization with the airline conditions is a mandatory step for the passenger, which reduces the time spent on checking travel bags.

Nuances for beginners

Experienced travelers always try to have some free time before boarding a flight. After all, registration stops 40 minutes before the plane departs, and boarding stops twenty minutes before. Passengers who have not completed the necessary formalities on time are not allowed on board by the carrier. Considering that it will not always be possible to get your money back for a failed trip, it is appropriate to adhere to the time frame allotted by the airline and arrive at the departure point on time.

Do not forget that on the way to the air terminal there may be traffic jams and other unforeseen situations, so it is advisable to properly plan the time for travel to the runway complex. In addition, you can save time when using online services for booking and registering air tickets. Such actions will add an “extra” half hour to an hour to the tourist, which they will be able to plan for force majeure on the road.

Visiting the airport for the first time forces the traveler to waste time searching for the necessary counters and offices. Therefore, allow another 5–10 minutes for such actions. Don’t forget about the queues for specific categories of airport terminal employees. Passengers spend up to 20 minutes on this.

Regarding visits to duty-free shops, it is advisable to take this point into account. After all, such zones offer for sale goods that airlines allow for free transportation in hand luggage. The main thing is to keep the receipt and original packaging in order to present these items at control. It is appropriate to calculate the time for visiting Duty Free based on personal needs and capabilities. Although it takes some people up to 25 minutes to get acquainted with the presented assortment.

Save time

Some travelers are interested in how to speed up the process of completing formalities at the airport. Here, airline employees recommend using several available tips. Online check-in requires documentary confirmation. Therefore, print out the receipt and coupon in advance to arrive at the checkpoint with the necessary papers. It is also appropriate to duplicate this information on electronic media.

You can save personal time by studying the rules and operating procedures of airlines in order to pack your suitcases correctly and in accordance with the carrier’s requirements

When packing suitcases, try to ensure that the weight and dimensions of the bags comply with the carrier's standards. Please remember that booking seats for an additional fee will take more time. Try to resolve such issues in advance. And if you are traveling lightly, it is advisable to first have your luggage checked. These simple tricks save travelers time, which beginners spend on registration.

How to brighten up the wait

Situations where travelers fail to time things correctly happen every day. Newcomers arrive long before departure, but go through the necessary procedures quite quickly. That is, people have at least half an hour left before boarding the plane is announced. In addition, a delay in the departure of the aircraft due to technical reasons cannot be completely ruled out. Carriers understand the complexity of this problem and have created comfortable conditions so that customers can spend their free time without losing comfort.

For the convenience of customers, comfortable conditions for waiting for a flight have been created on the territory of the takeoff and landing complexes: halls, areas for children, cafeterias and shops.

At the airport, passengers have the right to wait for their flight for free in the general lounge or special VIP rooms, if the purchased air tickets provide for such services. On the territory of the complex, parents with children have access to a separate children's area. Clients hand over their luggage to a storage room without additional fees. If flight delays are up to two hours, tourists are offered drinks.

When a flight is delayed by 4 hours, travelers have the right to count on hot meals, and flight delays that last more than eight hours allow passengers to qualify for a bed in a hotel at the expense of the airline.

Study the flight rules, baggage transportation standards and air ticket tariff plans - this information will help you navigate the packing of travel bags and reduce the time of going through control. However, do not forget that any cargo that does not fit into standard standards requires additional clearance and payment. Accordingly, such a situation requires the person to arrive at the airport in advance.

Completing pre-flight formalities requires passengers to arrive at the airport in advance
Check-in for domestic flights begins two hours before and ends 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Considering that traveling abroad requires verification of passenger documents and customs control, airline employees recommend that clients arrive at the airport 3 hours before the plane takes off.
Inspection of the passenger's luggage takes place after check-in, but takes up to half an hour
If you are flying for the first time, keep in mind that there are queues at the airport checkpoints, and there may be congestion on the way to the airport

Many tourists, when planning their trip, are interested in the question, how far in advance should they arrive at the airport? First of all, it depends on many factors, such as the place where you are planning to fly, whether you have luggage, whether it is the holiday season or not, etc. One thing you need to remember is that you need to get to the airport with enough time.

How many hours before the flight departure should I arrive at the airport?

You must arrive at the airport before check-in begins. This should usually be done a few hours before departure. If you have a ticket for an international flight, then it is better to arrive 2.5-3 hours before the plane departs. To board a domestic flight, you can arrive 2 hours before departure. You cannot be late for your flight. Registration for the flight ends 40 minutes before the departure of the aircraft. Travelers who are making a flight not for the first time know the amount of time that will have to be spent on going through all the formalities. If you are boarding an airliner for the first time, you should arrive at the airport as early as possible, because you will also have to get your bearings in the operation of the terminal areas, understand where you need to go for check-in and where to check in your luggage. This may take a long time.

There are several reasons why you should arrive at the airport at a predetermined time. In addition to registration, additional time may be needed to go through security, pack luggage, visit duty-free shops, and so on. It is also worth considering the fact that at the airport you will have to go through several stages of inspection.

Upon arrival at the airport, first of all, you need to go through a security check. Airport employees check whether passengers are carrying prohibited products and substances in their hand luggage or checked luggage. In order not to waste time during inspection, we recommend that you study the list of prohibited and permitted items for transportation on an airplane. At the entrance to the airport you need to go through metal detectors. This usually takes just minutes, but during peak times there may be a line out front.

To make an international flight, a passenger must first go through customs control, then registration and passport and visa control. It is clear that it takes some time to complete all these procedures. Therefore, you can never rely on the fact that the queues will be small and everything will go quickly.

Passenger registration

We also recommend that those tourists who booked tours with a travel agency take care of arriving at the airport on time. Tickets are often issued directly at the airport before check-in for the flight, and in order to receive a boarding document for your flight, you will first have to find your tour operator's counter.

Those who want to get good adjacent seats on board the aircraft also need to arrive at the airport in advance. If you arrive after check-in has begun, even a married couple can get seats in different rows of the plane. The same applies to companies that prefer to fly together. To be seated next to each other, it is recommended that you arrive several hours before check-in begins. Please check with the airport administration for more exact times. You can check in a day before the flight departs, rather than arriving just before departure. However, this option is not always available and is not offered on all flights. Therefore, most often you should arrive at the airport several hours before departure. If there are any complicating factors, for example, unusual luggage, transportation of animals, it is better to have even more time to process everything on time.

Before you travel by plane, you should be prepared to stand in more than one line. Going through the necessary pre-flight formalities at the airport takes a lot of time. That is why it is very important to arrive at the airport terminal on time. Experienced travelers who are familiar with all the nuances know perfectly well how long before departure they need to be at the airport. What to do if you are not yet very experienced in this matter? Then this article is for you. Let's figure out what conditions passengers should know, how long all the necessary procedures take, and whether this process can be accelerated.

Airline conditions

How long before departure is it optimal to arrive at the airport? It is not always possible to give a number accurate to the minute. The fact is that the time of arrival at the airport depends on many factors. Let's list some of them:

Flight direction (domestic or international transportation);

Specific requirements of the carrier;

Availability of luggage (and especially oversized luggage, including objects of art, animals, etc.);

Possibility of electronic check-in for a flight.

It is also important to take into account the seasonal factor. During the peak tourist season, on weekends and holidays, and during morning or evening rush hours, traffic on the road to the airport may be difficult. So the travel time should be calculated taking into account possible delays along the way.

Experienced travelers are well versed in familiar airports, know where the check-in and security checkpoints are and where to go next, so they can afford to linger a little on the way. But you shouldn’t overuse it here either.

In addition, when entering an airport you often have to go through a small security screening area. Usually this formality takes no more than a couple of minutes, but sometimes a queue can form here. So it’s worth setting aside a small amount of time, at least five minutes, for this.

To avoid unpleasant moments and unnecessary delays, prepare in advance and place in a separate compartment of your bag all the documents necessary for the flight. So, if you are, keep your passport and itinerary receipt with your boarding pass ready. If you are flying abroad, your package of documents must include a foreign passport (with a visa stamped, if required by the laws of the country). In some countries, you may be asked to show proof of insurance and proof of financial security at your arrival airport.

Flights with animals also require additional time. Please note that your pet will have to undergo a veterinary inspection at the airport, after which you will be issued permission to fly and a boarding pass. This also takes time, especially not only you, but also other passengers with four-legged friends undergo veterinary control.

Pre-flight formalities include several procedures: check-in for the flight and baggage handling, customs clearance, pre-flight inspection, passport control and boarding the plane. Let's look at these procedures in more detail.

Checking in on board the aircraft at the boarding complex building

What's the first thing you need to do when you arrive at the terminal building? Of course, register. By the way, it is the time frame associated with passenger check-in and baggage check-in that both experienced travelers and the airlines themselves advise to focus on.

Check-in times vary depending on where you're traveling to. For domestic flights, check-in of passengers and baggage by airport terminal staff begins two hours before the plane departs. It is at this time that the airlines themselves recommend that clients arrive at the terminal building.

Check-in for international flights opens earlier. This is due to the large number of required procedures: in addition to inspection before departure, you will face customs and border inspections. In this regard, when flying abroad, airlines recommend that tourists arrive at the airport at least three hours before flight departure. During this time, you will have time to calmly go through all the required formalities and arrive on time at the desired gate to board the plane.

Please remember that the airline may refuse to transport a passenger who is late for check-in or boarding. This provision is fixed in Art. 91 of the Federal Aviation Rules “General rules for air transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and requirements for servicing passengers, shippers, consignees.” Thus, check-in for domestic flights usually ends 30-40 minutes before departure, for international flights a little earlier - 40-60 minutes. Boarding ends 20-25 minutes before flight departure.

Electronic check-in

Today, many airlines offer passengers an alternative to checking in directly at the airport. For convenience and to save time, you can register electronically on the airline’s website. These actions allow the passenger to reduce the time spent in the “airport” - you can calmly finish all your work and arrive an hour and a half before departure.

Usually, Online check-in for a flight opens one day before the plane departs.

There are several advantages of electronic check-in. If the ticket fare requires the passenger to choose a seat, then you will be able to study the layout of your aircraft’s cabin in advance and calmly and choose the most convenient seats for you. Accordingly, if you are flying with a companion or family, you are guaranteed to know that you are sitting next to each other.

When you check in online, you will receive a boarding pass by email. All that remains is to print it out (you can do this at home or at self-service counters at the airport). So you no longer have to stand in line at the check-in counter.

But there is one nuance that should be taken into account. If you are traveling with a suitcase, you will have to check it in. Some airports do not have separate counters for passengers to drop off their luggage; you will be asked to do this at the same counters where other passengers check in. You can clarify these points by contacting a representative of the airline you have chosen by calling the hotline.

In addition, this service is not available on all flights and not to all categories of passengers. Thus, electronic check-in is not available if you are accompanying people with disabilities or traveling with a small child who does not occupy a separate seat. You will have to go through check-in at the airport if you are bringing valuable works of art or pets.

You can also find out the airline's recommendations on the carrier's website. For example, one of the largest Russian airlines, Aeroflot, clarifies that if you are traveling with luggage, even in the case of online check-in, you must arrive at the check-in counter no later than 45 minutes before the flight departure. If you only have hand luggage with you, you must be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before departure. At this point you must go through security control.

Passing security check

Upon arrival at the airport, passengers go through several stages of inspection. The first is at the entrance to the terminal building. You need to go through metal detectors, and here employees inspect the contents of bags and suitcases. In Russia, there are frames at the entrance at all airports; in other countries, it happens that there is no such area or the inspection is carried out selectively.

After checking in and checking in luggage, passengers proceed to special security screening areas. Security officers here carefully check whether the passenger is carrying prohibited items on himself or in his hand luggage. It is worth taking into account the queues at the inspection points and the time it takes to remove outer clothing, belts, and in some cases shoes. In general, this procedure takes about 10-20 minutes, sometimes taking up to half an hour.

Please note that in the inspection area only those things that the tourist takes with him into the aircraft cabin are checked. Baggage checked at the check-in counter is checked without the presence of the passenger.

In order not to get stuck at this stage, you need to study in advance the list of permitted and prohibited items. In particular, there is a general ban on the carriage of flammable and flammable substances, toxic compounds and weapons, both in checked luggage and in hand luggage. There are also strict rules regarding the carriage of liquids in the cabin of an airliner (they must be packed in containers with a volume of less than 100 ml, the total volume of liquid cannot exceed one liter). All this information can be found on the airline’s website, and, if necessary, clarified by calling the hotline. This way you will save time and nerves.

Save time in an Aeroport

How to quickly complete all the necessary formalities at the airport? There are several ways to save time.

If you are checking in online, please print and take with you all receipts and boarding passes for all passengers in advance. If you are traveling light, then with these documents you can safely bypass the check-in counters and go to the security check area.

Take a responsible approach to airline rules, especially when it comes to carrying things in the cabin and in luggage. Suitcases must not contain prohibited items, and their dimensions and weight must comply with the standards established by your carrier. Seizing prohibited substances and items and processing excess baggage requires additional time.

How to brighten up the wait at the airport

To ensure that passengers have something to brighten up the wait for their flight, the airports have everything they need: shops, restaurants, cafes, playgrounds for children, rooms for mothers and children. Passengers await their flight in the general lounge or business lounges (depending on the ticket purchased or the availability of individual privileges).

If your flight is delayed, you are entitled to additional free services. When your flight is delayed by more than two hours, you are entitled to a free soft drink or two phone calls. If your flight is delayed by more than four hours, you will be fed free of charge. When your plane's departure is delayed by more than eight hours, passengers must also be accommodated in a hotel at the airline's expense, with a free transfer to and from the hotel.

Nuances for beginners

Think in advance about how you will get to the airport. Take into account the possibility of unforeseen situations: the taxi may be delayed, and there may be traffic jams on the way to the airport. If you travel by public transport, check its schedule. In Moscow, it is convenient to use Aeroexpress, a high-speed train that runs to the airport and back.

Always adhere to the time limits set by the airline. If you are late, it is not a fact that you will be able to get your money back for the ticket. In addition, a comfortable amount of time will save you from unnecessary fuss before the flight.

If you get confused at the airport or need help, contact your airline. They will always tell you where the counters you need are located and what to do in case of force majeure (if you are late, your flight is delayed or rescheduled).

It would be a good idea to study the airport map in advance so that you can get your bearings at home in the terminal areas and decide where you need to go to check in and where to drop off your bags. Some airports consist of several remote terminals, sometimes it can take up to half an hour to get from the entrance to the check-in area. Even if the airport is not very large, spend 5-10 minutes searching for the necessary check-in counters or other necessary areas. Please also take into account the queues for individual employees (for registration, inspections), this may take another 20-30 minutes.

Tourists who receive tickets and documents purchased from a travel agency at the airport before registration begin are advised to arrive half an hour before registration begins. Here you will first have to find the counter of your tour operator and, possibly, stand in line with other tourists.

Additional time will be required for baggage packing procedures at the airport and tax-free refund processing.

Allow an extra half hour if you want to purchase goods from duty free shops. When purchasing, do not forget that you should not open the package from the store until the end of the flight - some goods (alcohol, liquids with a volume of more than 100 ml) are not allowed in regular hand luggage, an exception is made only for packaged goods from Duty Free.

go straight to registration

If you purchased air tickets through the website, don’t forget to register online! This procedure has made life easier for hundreds of thousands of passengers who travel frequently by air. Its advantage is not limited to one point.

Pros of online registration

Any person who has flown by air at least once in his life knows that he needs to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before departure and stand for a long time, waiting for his turn to check in. After checking in, you receive a boarding pass indicating your seat on the plane, and it is unlikely that you will be given the opportunity to choose this seat yourself. Online check-in will save you from these problems, namely:

  • You don’t need to stand in line, you check in for your flight at home, via the Internet, sitting at your favorite computer (or from a tablet, mobile phone, etc.);
  • You no longer need to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before departure, but only an hour to check in your luggage, because you are already on the list of passengers on board. If you are flying without luggage or carry-on luggage, you can arrive even later, at the time of boarding, and go straight to the boarding gate;
  • You have the opportunity to choose your own seat on the plane and do it in advance before other passengers take good seats. The fact is that a bad seat on a plane can significantly ruin your flight experience, so you should approach this issue responsibly. Especially for you, we have created a section on the website where you can familiarize yourself with seating diagrams for various aircraft.

The possibility of online check-in is especially relevant when you are late for the plane and do not have time for the “real” check-in. You can check in online using mobile internet on your way to the airport. As a rule, the closing time is 45-60 minutes before departure, that is, before the end of general check-in.

Online check-in is encouraged by all airlines, some even requiring passengers to check-in online, making traditional airport check-in a fee. Online check-in reduces airline costs.

Many people do not even know that such registration is possible. With its help you can make your flight much more comfortable.

How to register online yourself?

Nothing could be simpler. Online check-in usually begins 24 hours before departure, but varies from airline to airline. For some airlines, check-in opens 15 days before departure; sometimes, check-in opens immediately after purchasing a ticket. This is usually done by airlines with the same type of fleet. The name of the air carrier is indicated on your ticket. Below, under this article, there are links to online check-in for different airlines. Select the appropriate airline and follow the link.

Next, prepare your passport or other document with which you intend to fly. We also suggest that you read the article Required documents for flying on an airplane. Carefully fill out the required fields and select a seat on the plane. Sometimes some luxury seats are available for an additional fee. You may also be offered additional options, such as choosing meals or upgrading your ticket to business class.

Done: After completing all the steps, you will see a successful online registration message. A confirmation and boarding pass will be sent to your email address. You will need to print it out and have it with you in paper form, because without it you will not be allowed to board.

One option for online registration is mobile registration. Some airlines have a special mobile application for passenger check-in. If you often fly with this airline, then this option is very convenient. You only need to download and install the application on your mobile device once. It will be very easy to register later.

So, you have checked in and received your boarding pass. It must be printed. There are several ways. The most convenient thing is to print it at home (at work or anywhere) on a regular printer. If this is not possible, then this can be done at regular check-in kiosks located at the airport. At these kiosks, passengers check in on their own, but since you have already checked in, you can go up, enter your details into the terminal and print out your boarding pass. Of course, not every airline supports this option. Eventually you can go to the regular check-in counter and get your boarding pass. Some airports have terminals for printing your boarding pass. If you have the airline's mobile application installed, then after checking in you will be given a QR code. You need to go to such a terminal, touch your phone with this code, and the terminal will issue a boarding pass.

The boarding pass contains boarding time, gate and other information.

Don't forget: even after checking in yourself, you still need to check in your luggage (if you have any). For this purpose, as a rule, there are Drop Off counters, near which an airport employee stands. These are separate counters for checking in the luggage of those passengers who have independently checked in for the flight. As you might have guessed, the line there will be much shorter than at the regular check-in counter. Some airports have more modern and automated baggage acceptance systems that allow you to check in your baggage yourself: you put your baggage in, present your boarding pass to a special sensor, it identifies you and your flight, if everything is correct, the machine issues a baggage tag that you need to stick to your suitcase . If you have excess baggage, you can pay for the excess using a bank card.

You may think that all this is complicated and unreliable. Nothing like this. All these innovations are specially created to simplify pre-flight procedures as much as possible. If for some reason you cannot or do not want to check in your luggage using the above methods, then there is always the “old and good” way: go to the regular check-in counter and check in your luggage there. Tell the employee that you checked in yourself and you only need to check in your luggage; most likely, your luggage will be accepted without a queue.

You can check in your luggage no later than before the end of general check-in for the flight (that is, usually no later than 40 minutes before departure). If you are flying without luggage or carry-on luggage, then all you have to do is go through the gate.

We wish you pleasant flights and easy purchase of tickets with the site!