Check-in time for the plane. How many hours before departure do you need to be at the airport? Check-in for Rossiya Airlines flights

We will describe how to do online check-in for a plane via the Internet. This procedure today is more in demand and used than the traditional one at the airport counter. Its advantages include convenience for passengers, the absence of huge queues and significant relief for staff.

Increasingly, major airlines are resorting to just such an independent check-in system, which greatly simplifies the entire process for both parties. After all, the passenger can do this at a time convenient for him, sitting at home or in the office, and airport workers do not have to work at an accelerated pace before each aircraft departure. And increasingly, such a service is moving from the category of additional to a mandatory category.

How to register online?

For an inexperienced traveler it can be difficult. But modern ticketing and ticketing systems are created with convenient and intuitive navigation. All fields are labeled in detail what needs to be entered and where, just follow the simple instructions.

The process goes through the following stages:

1. To begin with, it is important to check on the airline’s website whether it is technically possible to carry out online check-in via the Internet. Today they are trying to introduce such a service for all major airports and flights, although there are still many restrictions. Therefore, do not leave such a procedure until the last minute. After all, if it turns out that check-in for a plane in this mode is available for some reason, you should have enough time left to go through it directly at the airport.
2. It is better to first find out all the features and rules for the selected flight and city. There are a number of exceptions relating not only to the flight, but also to special situations for passengers. Still, the convenience of online check-in makes it possible to choose a suitable seat in the cabin and provide all the required information, which frees up time immediately before departure.
3. Check the hours during which this procedure takes place. Even within the same airline, they are often adjusted and changed. The duration of remote check-in via the Internet can begin a day or even several days before, and end an hour before departure. But you must fall within the limits set for your flight, and they may differ from the company’s standard rules.
4. Carefully review the information indicated on the ticket and accurately enter the first and last name, document number, flight number, departure time, etc. Everything must correspond to the purchased document. Each column on the site is highlighted separately and it is written there what should be entered and where, it is difficult to make a mistake.
5. Another advantage of online check-in for a plane is the ability to choose your seat in the cabin. However, sometimes some airlines do this automatically. And individual seats, for example those located near the cockpit, are made available only for an additional fee.
6. At the very end, just indicate your email address, to which your boarding pass will be sent. You can activate it at the airport using various gadgets or print it on a printer.

If it happens that you cannot complete check-in because there is no flight information, a specific ticket is not entered into the system, or other difficulties arise, you can contact the company employees by phone and determine the cause of the error. Most often, the carrier changes and you just need to enter the new information in the appropriate box.

Rawipad C.KKU / flickr.com

Remember that on Russian airlines only a printed version of a registered ticket is still valid. Therefore, it should be converted from electronic to paper form at home, in the office or right at the airport in a special window.

When you arrive with a already registered ticket, you need to go to the baggage counter to issue it. It is always allocated separately for those who have undergone an independent procedure via the Internet. But in this case, you should personally check the dimensions and weight of the cargo so that it exactly meets the company’s requirements.

other methods

You can register in the same way on your own phone or tablet. Almost all actions are similar to those performed using a computer. Only the system sends you an electronic version of the ticket directly to your device, which only needs to be processed at the airport. In this case, a special matrix two-dimensional barcode is read by a special device.

Large modern airports install terminals in the check-in hall, where the entire procedure also takes place independently. The steps are similar to those described above, and at the end the machine issues a printed or electronic version of the ticket.

When is traditional registration needed?

Even with technical support for online registration, there are cases when you still need to go to the airport in advance and go through the procedure manually with the help of a specialist. And although such exceptions vary in each company, there are still general patterns.

These include:

• technical impossibility of performing such a procedure;
• if necessary, transport a child under two years of age free of charge;
• when a minor passenger travels unaccompanied by adults;
• transportation of a disabled person;
• if you need additional clearance of special baggage (works of art, animals, dangerous cargo);
• when purchasing a plane ticket through a travel agency along with a whole tour and other services;
• when booking a group flight (more than 9 people);
• when making transfers, transit, etc.

In all such cases, you will have to stand in line at the traditional check-in counter and do it with the help of an airport employee.

Special airline requirements

It is better to study in advance all the rules for booking and registering air tickets on the website of the selected carrier. And although most of them meet standard standards, there are differences depending on the city, direction of travel and other details.

Thus, the largest company in Russia, Aeroflot, begins online check-in 24 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes before departure. Special restrictions are imposed on those traveling with children, animals, or non-standard cargo. It is also impossible to undergo a similar procedure when flying to cities in America and India.

S7 Airlines limits certain flights and destinations. In each case, you will have to check the list on the carrier’s website. The registration itself lasts from 30 hours and ends 50 minutes before boarding. In this case, you must have time to check in your luggage, and its acceptance is blocked 40 minutes before takeoff.

Within 24 hours, you can check in via the Internet for Rossiya flights. But in this case you need to carefully monitor the changes made. So, at the last moment there may be a different gate number, terminal number, etc. Therefore, upon arrival at the airport, check all the data with the electronic display.

When using the services of the UTair airline, check-in occurs at standard times - it starts one day before and is blocked an hour before departure. And when traveling from cities such as Tambov, Baku, Arkhangelsk or Astrakhan, you will need to additionally confirm electronic registration at the counter.

Video: how to check in for a flight online?

Ural Airlines established stricter rules. For most destinations, the online procedure lasts just under 20 hours in total. And for passengers from Yekaterinburg, the time limit becomes even more significant - they have only 8 hours to carry out an independent procedure.

Transport Pixels / flickr.com

Orenburg Airlines is gradually introducing a similar check-in service, but so far only certain destinations and flights are available for online registration. The list is constantly expanding, so follow the rules on the company's website.

Anyone who periodically uses airline services needs to know how long before departure check-in for an airplane flight begins and ends. This period of time may vary depending on the specific company, route, airport and other factors. Therefore, each time it is worth clarifying what time frame you need to meet.

airlines-inform.ru

If a newcomer thinks that they can arrive at the airport exactly at the time of departure, then this is a gross misconception. The fact is that with a paid ticket you will not be put on the plane right away; you will have to go through many registration and registration points before you are allowed on board. And for all procedures you need to allocate enough time.

What to do at the airport?

As soon as you arrive at the place, it is advisable to immediately find an electronic scoreboard. It contains all the information about upcoming flights:

• departure time;
• How long does it take to check in for a plane?
• when does it start;
• output number (gate);
• counters where the main procedure takes place, etc.

All this data is subject to change and does not always correspond to the information indicated on the purchased ticket. Therefore, it is worth checking the current version on the scoreboard. The first step is to decide whether registration has begun and at which counter it is taking place.

It is important to have on hand all the documents necessary for the flight: passport, visa, ticket, insurance, other documents confirming benefits, birth certificate, appropriate permits when traveling with animals or children. When you are traveling with a whole family or group, you need to present a package of documents from everyone at once, then there is a greater chance that you will be seated next to each other.

Stages of registration

This procedure takes some time and involves the following points:

1. Check-in - the purchased ticket is exchanged for a boarding pass. At the same time, you choose a seat in the cabin and check in your luggage. You must always monitor the available period for this process, since if you are late for it, you may not get on the plane.
2. Passport control - check that all documents are in order.
3. Security service - here you need to go through a metal detector and have your bag scanned with a scanner or x-ray. In some cases, the inspection is more thorough.
4. Customs control is carried out only when crossing the state border. In this case, they determine whether there are any items prohibited for export or import, and also require filling out a declaration. It is better to find out the list of permitted items carried in luggage in advance so that you do not have to leave valuables at the airport.
5. Boarding also has a time frame and is carried out at a specific exit. Therefore, immediately pay attention to where and when you need to go to get on the plane.
6. Waiting – sometimes there is little time left to enjoy duty free shops, cafeterias or simply relax before your flight.

Registration deadlines

This procedure assumes that you are exchanging your ticket for a boarding pass. You can do this in several ways:

• at a special counter;
• via the Internet;
• at self-service kiosks.

It is always important to clarify in advance how early registration begins in each specific case. The usual period for domestic flights is 2-2.5 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes. This time should be enough to complete all stages of registration and verification. It is important to arrive at the airport in time and go to a special counter to get on board the plane, otherwise the check-in procedure will be blocked.

If we are talking about an international flight, then the time is set differently. Usually the registration process begins 3 hours and ends 45-60 minutes before departure. This is due to the fact that you need to go through more different checkpoints before you are allowed to board the plane.

For online registration, the time frames are different. But even if you are planning to complete the entire procedure as standard at the airport, you need to clarify the period of available processing.

Sometimes, depending on various factors, it can be shifted in one direction or another. For example, when traveling from small airports in the provinces, check-in may end 20 minutes before departure. This is explained by the fact that there is a smaller queue and all stages are faster and easier.

When traveling via charter, the time frame may also differ, as may the overall flight conditions. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor all information related to this issue, for example, on the website of the selected airline.

Standard procedure

Check-in at a regular airport counter usually occurs 2-3 hours before departure. But you need to remember that the boarding pass process ends approximately 40 minutes before the plane departs. Upon arrival at the airport, you need to find your flight number indicated on your ticket on the electronic board and go to the appropriate check-in counter.

Please note that most often passengers in economy class, first class and business class occupy different queues and are checked in separately from each other. At the same time, luggage is checked into the cargo compartment and hand luggage is checked.

The tourist must show the airport employee his domestic or international passport, the purchased ticket, or state the reservation code when making a purchase online. If you are traveling abroad, then you will also have to have insurance and a visa. In some cases, you have to show the itinerary receipt in the opposite direction at once.

Through the Internet

Modern technological progress makes it possible to register while sitting at home. To do this, it is enough to have a computer, tablet or phone connected to the World Wide Web. The advantages of this method are obvious:

1. You won't have to stand in line.
2. You can save time.
3. You can choose a comfortable seat in the cabin and order additional services.
4. There is no risk of losing a paper copy of the document.

The registration procedure is similar to purchasing an itinerary receipt for the selected flight. To do this, you need to go to the airline’s website or a special resource intended for these purposes, open the required tab and enter all the information. You will have to provide your passport details, flight number, booking code or credit card number used to make the purchase.

After confirmation, a virtual copy of the boarding pass will be sent to your email or phone. It can be presented at the airport in electronic form, printed in a special machine or on a printer at home. Sometimes such a document must have a special magnetic strip, in which case it can be obtained through self-check-in kiosks at the airport.

The convenience of this design is that when traveling with only hand luggage, you significantly save time spent at the airport. And if you need to check in your luggage, then for people who have checked in online there are separate counters with the inscription Baggage Drop Off. You just have to make sure that its weight and contents meet all airline requirements.

Online registration begins long before the standard procedure at the airport, usually 24 hours before departure. In some cases, this process can last 2-3 days, so a person will definitely find time to fill out all the necessary documents. But even so, it is advisable to arrive at the place a little earlier, so that in case of any technical problems there is still a chance to go through the standard procedure.

Please note that online check-in is not available when traveling:

• with small children;
• when accompanied by disabled people;
• in case of transportation of animals;
• for group flights with more than nine participants;
• charter flights.

In such situations, you will still have to go through the standard registration procedure, since additional documents or checks are required.

Most modern airports have already installed special machines that can register passengers. Here you can make various changes, choose a seat in the cabin, check in luggage, etc. They look like a regular bank terminal, have a touch screen, and navigation is simple and accessible even for beginners.

In order to use this kiosk you need:

1. Have a paid itinerary receipt.
2. Passport, the data of which is entered in the appropriate fields.
3. A free seat in the cabin is selected.
4. Registration is confirmed.
5. The boarding pass is printed.

airport-samara.ru

Please note that Russian airports do not always have such devices, so you need to inquire about the possibility of self-check-in in advance. Air terminals such as Pulkovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo are provided with all the technical equipment for self-service and electronic check-in, but others may not have them.

Boarding time

After going through all the stages of registration for your flight, you find yourself in the waiting room. But even here you need to constantly monitor the time. Usually, the boarding pass indicates the number of the gate, that is, the exit to your plane. It’s better to find out where it is in advance so you can accurately calculate the time to approach it.

Remember, if you are late for boarding due to your own fault, you will not receive a refund for your ticket and will have to look for another flight in order to get to the desired city. Typically, boarding time starts 30-40 minutes and ends 10-20 minutes before departure. But it all depends on many factors.

For example, on domestic flights and in small cities where the number of passengers is minimal, boarding can be completed in 5-10 minutes. Large airports set earlier time limits, since all tourists must get on the plane, and the queues are long. In some cases, boarding ends 45 minutes before departure, as this is convenient for the company.

When walking through cafeterias and shops in the duty free zone, constantly monitor the announcements on the electronic board, the change in the gate number to the ramp and the start and end time of boarding. The same information is also repeated over the loudspeaker so that passengers are not late for their flight.

Video: check-in for a flight long before departure.

Features of check-in with different airlines

The time frame and availability of self-registration largely depend on which carrier’s services you are going to use and at which airport the departure takes place:

• The base location for Aeroflot is Sheremetyevo. Check-in counters open 2 or 6 hours before departure and close 40 minutes before departure. The procedure can be carried out using all the described methods.
• Rossiya Airlines operates most flights from Pulkovo or Vnukovo. Check-in begins 2 or 12 hours before the plane departs, but much depends on the specific flight and terminal.
• When using Pobeda services, you can also register at the counter or online. The procedure time is standard.
• Ural Airlines offers shorter processing times, and if you go through the procedure yourself, the available period greatly depends on the city from which the flight will take place. For example, if it is Koltsovo (Ekaterinburg) or Domodedovo (Moscow), then check-in ends 1 hour before departure. In other cities, registration via the Internet will become impossible 4 hours before.

When traveling abroad, you need to carefully study the local rules of the airports where you will be landing in the opposite direction. For example, registration conditions in Turkish and European halls differ significantly from each other. Therefore, be interested in such moments in advance.

Flights within Russia

Check-in begins 2 hours and ends 40 minutes before departure.

When checking in for flights within Russia you must have:

- ticket,
- passport or other identification document,
- if you are traveling with a child, then documents for the child are required,
- if you are transporting an animal, then documents for the animal are required,
- documents for baggage requiring special transportation conditions.

International flights

Registration usually begins 3 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes before departure. This time is set based on the period sufficient to complete pre-flight formalities (entry/exit registration, baggage inspection, etc.) and the check-in procedure. However, individual airlines and states establish special pre-flight control procedures, which can significantly lengthen the time required for check-in. In this regard, we recommend that you check the registration start time when purchasing a ticket.

When checking in for international flights you must have:

- ticket,
- international passport,
- documents for customs clearance (on an international flight),
- if you are accompanying a child - a power of attorney for the child from both (or one) parents, a notarized permission for the child to travel abroad,
- documents for baggage requiring special transportation conditions.

To check in, you must present your ticket and passport, check in your luggage and receive a hand luggage tag. After check-in, the passenger is issued a boarding pass.

Passengers who are late for check-in or boarding the plane will not be allowed to board the flight.
The departure time on the ticket is always local.

Registration online

Registration online usually starts 24 hours before and ends 1 hour 30 minutes before flight departure.

Advantages of online registration:
- you can register your plane ticket at any time from any place where there is Internet;
- you have the opportunity to choose seats in the aircraft cabin that are convenient for you;
- you do not need to arrive at the airport in advance and stand in line at the airline check-in counter.

How to register online?
1. Go to the website of the airline for which your ticket is issued.
2. Follow the link to the online registration page.
3. Enter your identification information.

4. If you are a member of an airline rewards program, enter your frequent flyer card number.
5. Follow the prompts, choose a seat on the plane that is convenient for you and print out your boarding pass.

If you are traveling only with hand luggage, you can go straight to customs or special control. If you have luggage, you must deposit it at the front desk. Registered passengers can drop off their luggage at the airport no later than 45 minutes before departure at special DROP OFF baggage drop-off counters.

You cannot check in for a flight online if:
- belong to a special category of passengers: unaccompanied children, seriously ill people, passengers on stretchers, deaf, blind, disabled, etc.;
- transport the animal.

When planning a trip, you need to know when to arrive at the airport. On average, check-in for a plane begins two hours before. But each air carrier has its own rules.

During check-in, an air carrier employee checks passengers' documents: passport details, tickets. All information about them is in the database, but in some cases clarification is necessary.

Then the passenger is given a boarding pass. It shows the number of the seat on the aircraft.

Check-in for the plane ends 40 minutes before departure. You cannot be late or forget important documents, otherwise you will not get on the plane.

Inside the country

Check-in for domestic flights starts 120-240 minutes before departure. Even if the airport staff is serving a huge flow of passengers, the procedure begins and ends on time.

Check-in for the flight ends in about half an hour. The aircraft will not take off until the last passenger has checked in.

Charters are launched between “official” flights.

Registration for charter flights is controlled by tour operators. You can also check with them about the best time to arrive at the airport.

Sometimes there is a delay of low-cost airlines. But this does not mean that the passenger should not rush to arrive at the airport.

Outside the country

The check-in procedure for an international flight takes longer than for a domestic flight. This is due to the fact that passengers leaving the country are required to undergo customs control, which takes a lot of time. , are described in the article at the link.

The person must arrive 180-240 minutes before departure.

Completion - in 45 minutes. For small air carriers - over 25.

Start and end of check-in for domestic and international flights

Self-registration sequence

1. The passenger chooses the air carrier.
2. Enters passport details.
3. Selects a seat on board the aircraft (read about that on our portal).
4. Registration is confirmed.

Anyone who has completed this procedure can order a printed boarding pass.

In some terminals it is not possible to check in luggage. You can go through the procedure by visiting the Baggage Drop Of counter.

The uniqueness of the system is that it allows you to find out who will be your neighbor. A person receives information regarding the gender and age of the person whose chair will be next to him.

Online registration

Electronic registration is possible in two options: using a computer (laptop) or a mobile device. This way you can check in for flights with Aeroflot and other carriers.

Registration using a PC looks like this:

1. Enter your reservation code.
2. Enter your full name.
3. Check the entered data.
4. Register everyone who is going on the trip.
5. Enter your loyalty card number (relevant for bonus owners).
6. Select seats.
7. Make a printout of the coupon.

Registration using a mobile device:

1. Launch the application.
2. Select "Registration".
3. Enter FFP number.
4. Click "Next".
5. Register your companions.
6. Select seats.
7. Click "Save".
8. Print the coupon.

You can always order cancellation of registration. The actions are:

1. Go to the online registration page.
2. Write the code.
3. Indicate the air ticket number.
4. Indicate the loyalty program number.
5. Enter your full name in Latin letters.
6. Click "Next".
7. Cancel the selected passenger.

The cancellation procedure is only relevant if the passenger did not go through the baggage check-in process. Otherwise, the system will notify you that cancellation is impossible.

How long does it take to check in for flights?

Information on how long it takes to check in for international and domestic flights is presented in the table.

Some passengers encounter problems when the paper gets stuck in the printer when printing their boarding pass. This is not catastrophic, since the service can be ordered again. To do this, click on the “Reprint” button.

Time it takes to check in at airports

Information on how check-in at the airport takes place is presented in the table.

Publication date: 2017-08-07

The information in the article is periodically updated; it is currently current as of August 2017

When the long-awaited vacation is just around the corner, and plane tickets to “that same dream country” have been purchased, there are still many questions and pleasant worries associated with both the flight and the vacation itself. Today we want to cover in detail the topic of check-in for a flight - why it is needed, how to go through it quickly and calmly, what check-in methods are there and which one is better to choose. Let's discuss possible pitfalls and life hacks, give a few examples and put all the dots on how it happens.

Purpose of registration

Many people wonder, what exactly is the purpose of checking in for a plane flight? The ticket has already been purchased, the system has saved your personal data, go to passport control, and that’s it. Let's try to explain. Because the the departure of each flight is a planned and clearly verified event, delays create consequences.

There are time limits for aircraft maintenance at the airport. Violation of them leads to a delay in departure, which can lead to loss of queue on the runway and a long wait for a new free “window”. In conditions where some passengers are about to make a transfer, while others have already planned important matters and meetings at the destination (city), such a wait can result in serious problems.

To ensure that the plane departs from the airport exactly on schedule, the flight is checked in advance passenger check-in(check-in), which ends 40-60 minutes before departure. After that, airline and airport employees have at their disposal enough free time to solve almost all unforeseen situations that, one way or another, always arise when the organizational process is associated with checking documents and baggage, going through customs and security control.

Ways to check in for a flight

There are two main ways to register a passenger:

The fundamental difference between these two methods is that when registering at the airport building, you must be physically present; no one can register for you, but with electronic (online) registration, you can do this remotely, in a place convenient for you. You can even ask someone to check in online for you, providing that person with the necessary details about your flight.

Our goal is to provide you with complete and comprehensive information about the check-in process. Therefore, we will first of all look at the methods, their differences and tell you how you can go through it in the most comfortable way.

Baggage check-in

According to the rules, the passenger has the right to take on board the plane only a small bag, which is called hand luggage. If you also have a suitcase, it must be checked in and placed in the cargo hold. Baggage check-in (unlike passenger check-in) is formal and takes literally a couple of minutes. The term “registration” itself is only nominally applicable to the suitcase, this is necessary in order to identify it in case of problems.

After check-in, the suitcase is classified as checked baggage, they put a luggage tag on it and hand it over to the cargo compartment. The passenger will be able to receive it only upon arrival at their destination. Read more about baggage allowance here, but in this article we will only talk about the options for checking it in and checking it into the baggage compartment of the plane.

Standard begins 24 hours before departure, and ends in 40–60 minutes, so be careful if you plan to arrive at the airport “back to back.” Each airline sets its own exact time frame.

Many people are interested in whether there is a fundamental difference between checking in for a flight through an application and on the official website of the airline. Answer: There are no important differences. Minor ones appear if you collect bonuses/miles/points from a certain company, since they are accumulated only by registered users, and thanks to the application you always have at your fingertips up-to-date information about the status of your bonus account, possible privileges, discounts and promotions. From any gadget, be it a phone or a tablet, you are taken to an intuitive menu where you do not need to search for information through a browser. Otherwise, the procedure is identical, and if you are not interested in bonuses, then there is no difference in how you check in online for your flight (through the application or on the official website).

After the system message has confirmed to you that online check-in for the flight was successful, you receive electronic boarding pass(English: e-boarding pass or mobile boarding pass), which contains all the information about the upcoming flight. It can come in the form of a QR code, a file with the extension .pkpass or in PDF format. From now on, the electronic boarding pass - the only document, which confirms your right to fly as a passenger (an airplane ticket is not such). For this reason, during pre-flight registration (in the airport building), the document will need to be demonstrated at least 2-3 times.

Printing an electronic boarding pass

The rules of most (but not all) airlines state that a passenger must undergo pre-flight clearance at the airport building (baggage drop-off, passport and customs controls, boarding) only on the basis of a printed version of the electronic boarding pass. You can print the pass in advance on a regular printer (on a sheet of A4 paper), or directly in the airport building at the check-in counter or at a self-check-in kiosk (terminal). Even in cases where there is no need to print the coupon, it is safer to always have a paper version on hand.

Who is not entitled to undergo electronic (online) registration:

• Passengers of a special category. These are people with serious illnesses or with medical equipment due to health reasons; children flying unaccompanied by adults, as well as people with disabilities.
• Passengers traveling with animals, since before check-in you need to undergo additional veterinary control and pay for the transportation of the animal.
• Passengers carrying special or dangerous cargo - since additional inspections and verification of permits are carried out.
• Passengers who purchased tickets through travel agencies. Yes, unfortunately, travel agencies do not sell tickets directly from the company, often adding their percentage, and the ticket itself is issued in paper form, so you won’t be able to check in for a plane flight online.
• When ordering air tickets for a group (more than 9 people).

Who should not use online registration?

If you are not a confident user of modern gadgets, and the very concept of “application” makes you mistrustful, the best and easiest way for you to get a boarding pass is to register with an airport employee. All you need to do is provide your passport and ticket, then the work will be done by professionals. It is to them at the reception desk that you should ask all your questions. Don't hesitate to ask for help, it's their responsibility.

How to check in checked baggage during electronic (online) check-in

When checking in electronically for a flight, a question often arises regarding the check-in of checked baggage into the cargo compartment of the aircraft. There are several options:

Check-in for a flight at the airport building

When checking in for a flight directly at the airport, you need to choose the optimal and appropriate method. This can be registration with the help of or directly with airport representatives.

What is the most convenient way to check in for a flight?

The question is not easy, since there is a group of people who are simply more accustomed and/or more convenient to check in the old traditional way on , as they have done for many years, but there are several undeniable advantages to the flight:

• You save time, which you can spend on coffee, shopping, or just check out a little later, without fear of losing an extra half hour or even hours in the check-in line.
• You can choose your favorite one yourself place on board, and not ask the airport employee to “give me a seat at the window.”
• You automatically become a passenger, despite possible overbooking, which is especially important for tourist destinations during the season.
• You save your nerves and those of those around you, because few people enjoy pushing in line and waiting agonizingly in a crowd.

What is the difference between check-in on international flights and domestic flights?

It would seem that there is no difference here, because in both cases there is a departure from a certain airport, there is a destination, you also need to check in, choosing a convenient method, check in your luggage and go through the security check area. So what are the differences? First of all, some countries have introduced bans and/or restrictions on the carriage of large portable equipment, which is not the case on domestic flights. As a rule, domestic flights depart from another terminal or wing of the airport. When flying domestically, you will not have to go through passport control, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the registration procedure, but please note that in the Duty Free zone only national currency and cards are accepted for payment; you will not be able to pay in euros/dollars, as for international flights!

Check-in at the airport for domestic flights usually begins 1.5 hours before departure and ends 30–40 minutes, depending on the airline’s internal rules. Online check-in, as on international flights, opens one day before departure (sometimes earlier).

Low-cost airlines. The difference and subtleties of registration

Low-cost airlines are low-cost airlines that offer tickets to popular destinations at fairly low prices. Reducing the cost of a flight is achieved by saving on costs and reducing the level of service. The business model of low-cost airlines is based on additional services, which are always provided for a fee. Therefore, electronic (online) check-in at low-cost airlines is free, but at the airport it becomes a paid service. You will also have to pay for printing your boarding pass (at the check-in counter) and for choosing a seat on board the plane (during check-in), and for the right to take checked baggage.

Additional airline services

As we have already said, when checking in for a flight (regardless of the method), you can order additional services that will be provided on board or after arrival. Most of them are paid, only some are free. Here is an approximate list of additional services (you can see the full list, as well as the cost of a particular service on the airline’s official website):

• choosing and booking your favorite seat on board the aircraft;
• menu to choose from: meat, fish, vegetarian, halal, dietary;
• a seat with a baby cot if you are traveling with a small child;
• wheelchair for people with disabilities;
• meeting at the airport, transfer, hotel reservation;
• accompanying a child if he is flying alone;
• service upgrade;
• additional drinks;
• extra luggage;
• fresh press;
• WI-FI;

There are also a number of non-standard additional services, for example, airBaltic offers the “accurate arrival guarantee” service (10 euros).

Cancellation of registration

Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that registration has to be canceled urgently. You can cancel your check-in until it is closed (that is, on average, no later than 30–40 minutes before boarding). You can do this through the application or on the website by going to your reservation and canceling it (if it supports this function), or directly from an airport employee.

If you wish to receive any portion of your ticket purchase as cash compensation, you will be required to fill out an application detailing the situation that caused you to cancel your registration. Many airlines, in the event of force majeure (injury, hospital, accident), compensate up to 70 percent of the ticket price, but you must have all the statements and certificates in your hands, which you will then provide as a basis for compensation. If you are simply late for your flight, then even if you cancel (remotely) check-in, you will not have to count on a refund. If you fly with a low-cost airline, then such airlines, in principle, do not provide any compensation, and tickets are non-refundable.

Useful resources for tourists

roomguru.ru and hotellook.ru are hotel search engines that search through different booking systems and compare the results, helping to find the best deal

aviasales.ru and skyscanner.ru are airline ticket search engines that free you from the need to view the website of each airline separately

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