For savvy travellers keen to speed through check-in ahead of their trip this summer, we have compared the various check-in options of 10 airlines.
Click to Check-In
Travellers can speed through to security at the airport by checking-in online and all 10 airlines researched, including British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet, allow passengers to do this. The online check-in window ranges from 24 hours prior to departure with four airlines to 60 days before the departure date for Flexi Plus passengers with Ryanair. The cut-off time for checking in online varies from six hours before departure with TUI Airways to just 70 minutes for those travelling with Virgin Atlantic. Although those with hand luggage can head straight to security on arrival at the airport after checking-in online, travellers with luggage for the aircraft’s hold should note that they will still be required to register their details and print their baggage tag at the terminal via a check-in machine or desk, and this could take some time.
‘Appy Travels
Passengers can check-in on the go by downloading the free apps offered by all airlines researched, including Jet2 and Emirates. The British Airways and American Airlines apps also allow passengers to track their flights, stream inflight entertainment and choose their seats. Passengers who don’t want to carry extra paper can download their boarding pass onto the app and present it at security checkpoints. However, Aer Lingus, Jet2 and EasyJet passengers should not that the option of mobile boarding passes is not available at certain airports, including some in Turkey, Portugal and Bulgaria. For fast track luggage collection on arrival, the Air France and American Airlines apps not only allow passengers to track their baggage but will even tell them which delivery carousel they can collect it at.
Talk’s Not Cheap
Checking-in at the airport for free is possible with nine of the airlines researched and passengers can either use a self-service kiosk or go to the check-in desk for further assistance. However, Ryanair passengers who want to check-in at the airport should note that a £55 fee per person is charged, and a reissue fee of £20 per person if the boarding pass was not printed beforehand.
Take Advantage of Twilight Drop-Off
Those who have booked an overnight airport hotel stay the night before their flight can further reduce the stress of their early morning by dropping off their baggage the evening before, thanks to a service known as twilight drop-off. The service is provided by five of the airlines researched, including Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic, for flights that are departing early in the morning the next day. Twilight drop-off times vary for each airline, for example TUI Airways flights allows passengers to drop-off their baggage from 12pm up until 10 pm the day before if they are flying from Gatwick, Manchester or Birmingham.
Savvy Seat Selection
Seat selection is provided by all airlines researched as soon as passengers confirm their booking, except for those travelling with TUI Airways, where seats on short-haul flights are available to select from 30 days before departure, while seats on long-haul flights are available to select from three days before departure. Aer Lingus offers free seat selection for all passengers until 30 hours before departure, with half price seats offered for children.
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Available from 30 hours before flight departure
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – available from the Apple Store and Google Play
• Mobile boarding pass available
• App will tell customers at which delivery carousel their baggage is
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – boarding pass and baggage tag can be printed at an Air France kiosk
STIPULATIONS
• Booking reference or Flying Blue card number is required
SEAT RESERVATION
• Standard seat selection available when booking and up to 30 hours before departure for a fee
• Standard seat selection free for Flying Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum members, passengers with reduced mobility and children travelling alone
• Standard seat selection fee for all customers when checking in online 30 hours before departure
• Travelling families with a child (up to 4 years) get a free reserved seat 2 days before departure
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• N/A
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Available 24 hours to 90 minutes before departure
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – available from the Apple Store and Google Play
• Customers can stream in-flight entertainment from the app
• Customers can check status of baggage
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – self-service kiosk available to print boarding passes
STIPULATIONS
• Credit card and/or passport, boarding pass are required for check-inn
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seat selection available when booking directly
• Seat selection available at check-in
• Family seat selection is done by the airline 1 day before departure
• Infants (up to 2 years) are not assigned individual seats
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• N/A
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Check-in available from 24 hours before flight
• Print, download or email boarding pass at home or print at the check-in kiosk at the airport
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – free app available from the Apple Store and Google Play
• Boarding passes for up to eight people in the same booking App
• App can be used for tracking flight’s status, viewing in-flight entertainment and choosing seats
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – airport kiosks can be used to check-in and print boarding passes
• Check – in desks can also be used if help is required
• Those travelling from London Gatwick before 3:15 pm can check in the day before
• Those travelling from Edinburgh before 9 am can check in the day before
STIPULATIONS
• Booking reference or form of identification (e.g. credit / debit card, Executive Club card or passport) is required for check-in at the airport
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seats are allocated if not reserved
• At check-in seats can be changed for a fee
• Basic ticket customers must pay to reserve seat
• Free selection when travelling with an infant (up to 2 years)
• Carrycots and child seat reservation subject to availability
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• If flying from Gatwick, drop off is available between 4 pm to 10 pm for next-day flights departing before 1pm
• All passengers must be present
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Check-in between 30 days and 2 hours before the flight departure
• Any changes made to booking must be followed by checking-in again
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – available from the Apple store and Google Play, able to manage bookings, and store boarding passes
• Boarding passes on mobile cannot be scanned by airport security team at certain airports
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – between 2 hours and 40 minutes before the flight if help is required
STIPULATIONS
• Passport and identity card are required to confirm identity
• Booking reference is required for online/app check-in
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seats allocated if not reserved
• Customers can choose seat for a small fee; prices vary according to the type of seat
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• If a flight leaves London Gatwick before 8.30 am hold luggage can be dropped off at the ‘EasyJet Bag Drop area’ from 8 pm until midnight the night before
• All passengers must be present
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Available 48 hours to 90 minutes before departure
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – available from the Apple store and Google play
• Mobile boarding pass accepted
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – check-in counters available
STIPULATIONS
• Booking reference is required
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seat selection free for Business Class and First Class
• Economy class can pay a fee for seat selection
• Seats selection is free 48 hours before departure
• Infants (up to 2 years) are not assigned individual seats
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• N/A
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• From 28 days and up to 5 hours before departure
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – available from the Apple Store and Google play
• Some airports do not accept mobile boarding passes
• If travelling to Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, New York, customers are required to go to the check-in desk
• Boarding pass can be scanned through phone
• Up to 8 boarding passes can be saved
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – available for hold baggage customers, closes 40 minutes before departure
STIPULATIONS
• Booking reference is required
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seats allocated if not reserved
• Customers can choose seat and add extra leg room for a fee depending on seat location
• Infant (up to 2 years) friendly seats available
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• If flying from Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted and Manchester drop- off is available at the airport from 3-8pm on the night before your flight
• All passengers must be present
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Can check-in online up to 2 hours before departure
• Flexi Plus tickets and purchased seat customers can check-in 60 days in advance
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – free app available on Apple Store and Google play
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – charges apply at £55 per person
• If check in was completed but the boarding pass was not printed a reissue fee of £20 per person applies
• Flexi Plus customers can check-in free of charge
STIPULATIONS
• To check-in using app, email address used at time of booking and reservation number is required
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seats are allocated if not reserved
• Customers can reserve a seat for a fee from the time of booking and up to 2 hours before departure
• Free reserved seats for up to 4 children between 2 and 12 years old with every adult seat booked
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• N/A
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Available from 24 to 6 hours before departure (if seat is not reserved)
• TUI Extra: online check available 48 hours prior to departure (74 hours for long distance flights)
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – available from the Apple Store and Google play
• Mobile boarding pass available
• App unavailable if customers did not directly book with TUI, booking includes more than 1 hotel or 2 flights, booking includes flights with another carrier and those who booked a Marella cruise
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – customers carrying hold baggage must go to the check-in desk
STIPULATIONS
• Booking reference is required
SEAT RESERVATION
• Seat booking available from 30 days up to 48 hours before departure for short distance flights
• For long distance flights seat booking is available from 3 days to 72 hours before departure
• Services are available 30 minutes after booking
• Infants (up to 2 years) are not assigned individual seats
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• If flying from London Gatwick, Manchester or Birmingham, hold baggage can be dropped off from 12 pm up until 10pm the day before
• All passengers must be present
CHECK-IN ONLINE
• Check-in from 24 hours before flight until 70 minutes before departure
• Able to make changes to seat, add baggage and API, and print and download boarding pass to mobile
APP AVAILABLE?
• Yes – download from the App Store or Google play
• Mobile can be used as boarding pass
• Groups can keep all passes on one device
CHECK-IN AT THE AIRPORT
• Yes – generally close 60 minutes before departure
• Airport guide is available
STIPULATIONS
• Passport information is required for the app
SEAT RESERVATION
• Able to choose seat as soon as booking is confirmed
• Economy Light customers can choose seat for free
• Infants (up to 2 years) individual seats are not available
TWILIGHT DROP-OFF (FREE OF CHARGE)
• For all departures Twilight check in is available from 5 pm to 9 pm
• All passenger must be present