How do i check in for a flight

Check in at a self-service kiosk or desk

You can check yourself in for your flight at a self-service check-in kiosk in the departure halls. The kiosk will print out a boarding pass. The blue self-service kiosks are for KLM / SkyTeam airlines, and the yellow ones for several other airlines.

You can also go directly to your airline’s check-in desk. The airline representative will print your boarding pass and check in your baggage. Your interaction with the check-in desk employee will be safe as you will be separated from each other by a plastic screen. Simply check the website, app or screens in the departure halls to see the location of your check-in desk.

Drop off your bags at a self-service kiosk or counter

More airlines than ever have automated their baggage check-in processes. This is particularly useful if you checked in online. At the self-service baggage drop-off, simply follow the instructions on screen. Print your baggage tag and attach it to the handle on the longest side of your baggage. Your bags will automatically find their way to your plane.

Can I use this service?

The following airlines offer self-service baggage drop-off at Schiphol: Aero Mexico, American Airlines, Austrian, Cathay Pacific, Corendon, Finnair, IcelandAir, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Norwegian, SAS, Swiss, TAP, Transavia & TUI. You can find the self-service baggage drop-off kiosks in the following departure halls:

  • Departure 1: Austrian, Finnair, IcelandAir, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss, TAP & Transavia
  • Departure 2: KLM
  • Departure 3: Aero Mexico, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Corendon, Norwegian & TUI

Are you flying with another airline? Or is online check-in not an option for you? Then you can of course go to the check-in desk of your airline to check in and drop off your baggage. At the check-in desk a representative will tag and process your bag for you.

We recommend you arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure for international flights.

Check if your destination has travel restrictions. If your destination requires specific travel documents, remember to bring a completed copy with you to the airport.

  • Travel and health restrictions by destination Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.
  • Check flight status

When to arrive at the airport

Our recommended arrival times are meant to allow plenty of time to check in (with or without bags) and clear security before scheduled departure.

  • Within the U.S. – at least 2 hours
  • Outside the U.S. – at least 3 hours

Check-in

To speed up the process, you can use curbside check-in or self-service kiosks at most airports. You can use curbside check-in if you have an electronic ticket (can scan it from your phone).

Check-in times

You can check-in online or from the app starting 24 hours before and up to 45 minutes before departure (90 for international).

  • Check-in online
  • American Airlines app

To check-in and check bags at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure:

  • Within the U.S. – 45 minutes
  • To or from destinations outside the U.S. – 60 minutes

Airports with earlier check-in times

Airport locationAirport codeCheck-in before scheduled departure
Aruba AUA 75 minutes
Barcelona, Spain BCN 75 minutes
Buenos Aires, Argentina EZE 75 minutes
Dublin, Ireland DUB 75 minutes
Georgetown, Guyana GEO 90 minutes
Madrid, Spain MAD 75 minutes
Paris, France CDG 75 minutes
San Juan, Puerto Rico SJU 60 minutes
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands STX 90 minutes
St. Kitts and Nevis SKB 90 minutes
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands STT 90 minutes
Tampa, Florida
Applies only to the Consolidated Rental Car Center
TPA 90 minutes
Tel Aviv, Israel TLV 75 minutes

Check-in and arrival times for flights operated by other carriers, including codeshare partners, are set by the individual airline.

Airports with checked bag limits

You can't check bags more than 4 hours before departure when flying from:

  • Charleston (CHS)
  • Denver (DEN)
  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
  • Honolulu (HNL)
  • Kahului (OGG)
  • Kansas City (MCI)
  • Las Vegas (LAS)
  • Orlando (MCO)
  • Portland, Oregon (PDX)
  • Salt Lake City (SLC)
  • Seattle (SEA)

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  • Travel alerts
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How do you do a flight check

To check in for your flight: Visit your airline's website as soon as 24-hours prior to the departure of your first flight. Use the confirmation number in your online account to check in. You will also be able to view your seats and, if permitted by the airlines, confirm your seating preferences.

Should I check

Online check in is especially crucial if you've booked a domestic flight without a seat allocation. It will let you pick your seat to make sure you're not in the very last row. Overall, the whole process gives you a few less things to stress about at the airport, especially these days.

What do you need to check

In order to check-in online you will need your flight details, your PNR (aka booking number or confirmation number) and your passport number, if you are on an international flight. You also need to know the number of bags you'll be checking in.

Do you get a boarding pass when you check

When will I get my boarding pass? Boarding passes are provided at check-in, either online (online check-in is usually available 24 hours prior to the flight) or in person at a kiosk or at the check-in counter.