After checking in online, how do I know whether I need to go show my passport at airport check-in?
Most airlines these days offer online checkin, complete with digital boarding passes downloaded to your phone. However, on international flights, you're often -- but not always -- required to go to airport check-in anyway, so they can scan/sight/confirm your passport and any necessary visas. This is separate from the final ticket vs ID check at the gate, and if you try to skip it, frantic paging before boarding starts will ensue.
So simple question: How do I know whether I need to detour to get my passport checked?
passports paperwork airports check-in
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
|
show 2 more comments
Most airlines these days offer online checkin, complete with digital boarding passes downloaded to your phone. However, on international flights, you're often -- but not always -- required to go to airport check-in anyway, so they can scan/sight/confirm your passport and any necessary visas. This is separate from the final ticket vs ID check at the gate, and if you try to skip it, frantic paging before boarding starts will ensue.
So simple question: How do I know whether I need to detour to get my passport checked?
passports paperwork airports check-in
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
When I check in online, if I need documents checked, I don't get a boarding pass— I get a notice that my documents need to be checked. Is your experience different?
– choster
2 hours ago
I suspect this will vary by airport and airline and possibly by departure terminal.
– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago
@choster Yes, on several occasions, most recently Singapore Airlines yesterday, I've received a boarding pass but still needed to go to the counter.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@MichaelHampton I suspect so too, but it'd be nice to have some guidelines if they exist.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
1
If you've received a boarding pass then why do you believe you need to go to the check-in counter?
– Doc
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
Most airlines these days offer online checkin, complete with digital boarding passes downloaded to your phone. However, on international flights, you're often -- but not always -- required to go to airport check-in anyway, so they can scan/sight/confirm your passport and any necessary visas. This is separate from the final ticket vs ID check at the gate, and if you try to skip it, frantic paging before boarding starts will ensue.
So simple question: How do I know whether I need to detour to get my passport checked?
passports paperwork airports check-in
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
Most airlines these days offer online checkin, complete with digital boarding passes downloaded to your phone. However, on international flights, you're often -- but not always -- required to go to airport check-in anyway, so they can scan/sight/confirm your passport and any necessary visas. This is separate from the final ticket vs ID check at the gate, and if you try to skip it, frantic paging before boarding starts will ensue.
So simple question: How do I know whether I need to detour to get my passport checked?
passports paperwork airports check-in
passports paperwork airports check-in
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
asked 2 hours ago
jpatokaljpatokal
116k18361520
116k18361520
When I check in online, if I need documents checked, I don't get a boarding pass— I get a notice that my documents need to be checked. Is your experience different?
– choster
2 hours ago
I suspect this will vary by airport and airline and possibly by departure terminal.
– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago
@choster Yes, on several occasions, most recently Singapore Airlines yesterday, I've received a boarding pass but still needed to go to the counter.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@MichaelHampton I suspect so too, but it'd be nice to have some guidelines if they exist.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
1
If you've received a boarding pass then why do you believe you need to go to the check-in counter?
– Doc
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
When I check in online, if I need documents checked, I don't get a boarding pass— I get a notice that my documents need to be checked. Is your experience different?
– choster
2 hours ago
I suspect this will vary by airport and airline and possibly by departure terminal.
– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago
@choster Yes, on several occasions, most recently Singapore Airlines yesterday, I've received a boarding pass but still needed to go to the counter.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@MichaelHampton I suspect so too, but it'd be nice to have some guidelines if they exist.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
1
If you've received a boarding pass then why do you believe you need to go to the check-in counter?
– Doc
2 hours ago
When I check in online, if I need documents checked, I don't get a boarding pass— I get a notice that my documents need to be checked. Is your experience different?
– choster
2 hours ago
When I check in online, if I need documents checked, I don't get a boarding pass— I get a notice that my documents need to be checked. Is your experience different?
– choster
2 hours ago
I suspect this will vary by airport and airline and possibly by departure terminal.
– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago
I suspect this will vary by airport and airline and possibly by departure terminal.
– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago
@choster Yes, on several occasions, most recently Singapore Airlines yesterday, I've received a boarding pass but still needed to go to the counter.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@choster Yes, on several occasions, most recently Singapore Airlines yesterday, I've received a boarding pass but still needed to go to the counter.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@MichaelHampton I suspect so too, but it'd be nice to have some guidelines if they exist.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@MichaelHampton I suspect so too, but it'd be nice to have some guidelines if they exist.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
1
1
If you've received a boarding pass then why do you believe you need to go to the check-in counter?
– Doc
2 hours ago
If you've received a boarding pass then why do you believe you need to go to the check-in counter?
– Doc
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
If you have a boarding pass (whether that was obtained via online check-in or via a kiosk at the airport), then you can skip the check-in counter completely and head straight to security/immigration.
If there is a need for them to sight your passport (eg, to check you have the required visas) then one of two things will happen :
1) You will not be allowed to check-in online, or you will be allow check-in, but you will not be issued with a boarding pass. In these cases you'll need to go via the check-in counter at the airport before you can head to security/immigration.
2) They will check your passport/documents at or near the gate. This could occur either as you approach the gate area, before boarding commences by them calling you by name to the podium, or as you are boarding the flight.
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
1
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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oldest
votes
If you have a boarding pass (whether that was obtained via online check-in or via a kiosk at the airport), then you can skip the check-in counter completely and head straight to security/immigration.
If there is a need for them to sight your passport (eg, to check you have the required visas) then one of two things will happen :
1) You will not be allowed to check-in online, or you will be allow check-in, but you will not be issued with a boarding pass. In these cases you'll need to go via the check-in counter at the airport before you can head to security/immigration.
2) They will check your passport/documents at or near the gate. This could occur either as you approach the gate area, before boarding commences by them calling you by name to the podium, or as you are boarding the flight.
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
1
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
add a comment |
If you have a boarding pass (whether that was obtained via online check-in or via a kiosk at the airport), then you can skip the check-in counter completely and head straight to security/immigration.
If there is a need for them to sight your passport (eg, to check you have the required visas) then one of two things will happen :
1) You will not be allowed to check-in online, or you will be allow check-in, but you will not be issued with a boarding pass. In these cases you'll need to go via the check-in counter at the airport before you can head to security/immigration.
2) They will check your passport/documents at or near the gate. This could occur either as you approach the gate area, before boarding commences by them calling you by name to the podium, or as you are boarding the flight.
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
1
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
add a comment |
If you have a boarding pass (whether that was obtained via online check-in or via a kiosk at the airport), then you can skip the check-in counter completely and head straight to security/immigration.
If there is a need for them to sight your passport (eg, to check you have the required visas) then one of two things will happen :
1) You will not be allowed to check-in online, or you will be allow check-in, but you will not be issued with a boarding pass. In these cases you'll need to go via the check-in counter at the airport before you can head to security/immigration.
2) They will check your passport/documents at or near the gate. This could occur either as you approach the gate area, before boarding commences by them calling you by name to the podium, or as you are boarding the flight.
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
If you have a boarding pass (whether that was obtained via online check-in or via a kiosk at the airport), then you can skip the check-in counter completely and head straight to security/immigration.
If there is a need for them to sight your passport (eg, to check you have the required visas) then one of two things will happen :
1) You will not be allowed to check-in online, or you will be allow check-in, but you will not be issued with a boarding pass. In these cases you'll need to go via the check-in counter at the airport before you can head to security/immigration.
2) They will check your passport/documents at or near the gate. This could occur either as you approach the gate area, before boarding commences by them calling you by name to the podium, or as you are boarding the flight.
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
answered 2 hours ago
DocDoc
74.4k4174277
74.4k4174277
1
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
add a comment |
1
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
1
1
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
Ryanair will happily issue you a boarding pass but still require that you validate your passport before the flight, if you're not an EU citizen.
– JonathanReez♦
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
I recently had my documents checked at the gate for a flight from the US to Canada (after online check-in with no checked luggage). For reasons we could not determine, but suspect had to do with eTA, my wife had hers checked twice.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
@phoog You can get your documents checked at the gate anywhere. Even within the EU. I had mine checked for the flight from Vienna to London. They even asked when I plan to return when they did not like my national ID. I didn't plan to return as I worked there and was returning from a conference and the guy did not smile too much.
– Vladimir F
3 mins ago
add a comment |
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When I check in online, if I need documents checked, I don't get a boarding pass— I get a notice that my documents need to be checked. Is your experience different?
– choster
2 hours ago
I suspect this will vary by airport and airline and possibly by departure terminal.
– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago
@choster Yes, on several occasions, most recently Singapore Airlines yesterday, I've received a boarding pass but still needed to go to the counter.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
@MichaelHampton I suspect so too, but it'd be nice to have some guidelines if they exist.
– jpatokal
2 hours ago
1
If you've received a boarding pass then why do you believe you need to go to the check-in counter?
– Doc
2 hours ago