Airport Check-In

What is Check-In?

Airport Check In is the process where passengers booked on an airline are accepted by the airline at the airport. This allows passengers to confirm their flight, obtain their boarding pass, and check luggage onto the plane (if desired).

Ways to Check In

1. Online before arriving to the airport

   Most airlines allow passengers to check in online 24 hours before departure and receive digital boarding passes

2. In person at a staffed desk

   Checking in at the airport with an airline staff member allows you to check in, receive your boarding passes, and check luggage all at the same time.

3. In person at the airport at a kiosk 

   Checking in at an airport kiosk allows you to skip the in-person check-in line. If you have luggage to check, you will submit luggage to the counter near the kiosk.

Preparing for Check-In

Luggage:

• What is "Checked Luggage"?
• If you are bringing luggage besides a carry-on you will need to go to the airline front desk when you arrive at the airport and "check" your luggage. Review all luggage allowances online before you arrive to the airport. You should receive a luggage receipt that you must keep in case your luggage does not arrive with you in-country. 
• Ask your airline when you need to pick up your luggage if you have any checked luggage.
• For guidelines on what you are allowed to pack in your luggage, please find more information at the Transportation Security Agency website. (TSA)
• For more information and tips, please see the packing list we have prepared.

Boarding Passes:

You can oftentimes print these out online, receive boarding passes digitally 24 hours in advance, or have them printed at the airline desk when you arrive to the airport. You must have a boarding pass when you enter the security line. Your gate number will be printed on your boarding pass and told by the check in agent. You can continue to monitor your flight by checking the display monitors regularly to make sure your flight has not been delayed or changed gates.

Transportation Security Agency Pre-Check

TSA has pre-check is an advance security pass. People who have applied for TSA pre-check can go through security without removing your shows, liquids, or electronics from your carry-on luggage. TSA pre-check lines are normally shorter in length and allow the security screening to be faster.

For more information on TSA Pre-Check, please visit their website.

Arriving at the Airport:

For international flights it is recommended that you arrive 3 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. You will need to check and see which terminal your flight will be departing from, after you check in you will want to confirm your gate on the departures screen.

You will need to provide your passport and boarding pass when you arrive at the security line.

You can find out what to expect at security here.

Airlines typically have check in and boarding deadlines. This gives the airline enough time to load the luggage and passengers onto the plane. Check in deadlines vary by airline and you should confirm with your airline what the deadline is. Boarding times are usually 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled departure. Your boarding pass or airline app will list the time boarding is scheduled to begin. When you arrive at the gate, you will need to board with your boarding number listed on your ticket. If you have questions you can ask the gate agent.

You can check with your airline to specific information for arrival times to the airport and guidelines to follow.

When going through security at the airport, you must listen to the agents. They will repeat instructions loudly every couple of minutes. Typical instructions include:

• Take out laptops/tablets
• Take off shoes and belt
• Take out your bag of liquids
• All liquids or gels must be less that 3 oz and packed in a quart sized zip-lock bag.