People going on a trip or business trip on an airliner for the first time often do not know the nuances of going through the check-in process for a plane. The stages are standard, carried out according to a proven scheme. The basic rules of conduct for passengers are the same, so it is interesting to know how long it takes to start and finish the process of issuing a boarding pass. Let’s take a closer look at what a passenger needs to know when at the airport.

Buying an air ticket is less stressful and exciting than checking documents and filling out forms in front of an airport terminal employee. Today it is easy and simple to book a flight through a website on the Internet. Moreover, the procedure for searching and comparing several carrier companies by price and flight duration is available to any user completely free of charge. A successful reservation will bring benefits and comfort to a person planning a long-distance plane trip.

Residents major cities and the capital needs to know exactly in which terminal check-in should take place in order to calculate how many hours in advance to arrive at a fairly distant airport. Before leaving home, you need to check the availability of documents, things, and accessories needed for an air trip. For example, personal belongings, books, magazines and personal equipment will allow you to pass the time during the flight and arrive comfortably in your destination city.

Before the flight, you need to make copies of documents and place them separately from the originals in a convenient and accessible place. It is also necessary to scan documents and then place them on an electronic mailbox, so that in case of loss or destruction, you can access personal papers from any computer. You need to check the availability of all necessary additional documents:

  • pension certificate;
  • student card;
  • travel card for a child;
  • visa documents;
  • various certificates.

As for the air ticket or its electronic copy, the form received on the website should be printed out. There is no need to worry about the validity of this option if the flight was purchased online. After all, at the airport they will check it and compare information from the database, adding it to the boarding pass.

When packing, you need to divide your items into luggage that will be sent to the luggage compartment, and hand luggage for transportation in the cabin. Don’t be too lazy to weigh your packed suitcase, because almost all companies strictly monitor this parameter. An excess of things even by 100 grams after control at flight check-in will result in a fine. It is necessary to observe the level of the volume of liquid transported in the bag hand luggage.

Except bank card, it is important to carry a certain amount of cash with you to avoid the occurrence of various unnecessary incidents.

You must arrive 3.5 hours before departure. Registration begins three hours before and ends 30 minutes before the plane's departure. New to air tourism you need to add another half hour of spare time to this time before checking in for the plane. It is known that on your first trip you need to familiarize yourself with the operation of the airport and individual systems.

Didn't have enough time to get ready, had to be late and arrived when registration was already ending? For such passengers, there is a counter at the airport where those who did not have time for standard check-in are processed. But then a fine will be imposed. Passing through a separate counter does not guarantee quick boarding because there is usually a lot of people there.

Approximately 10% of customers on each flight are considered late, so the full process of checking and issuing tickets can take about two hours. Upon arrival at the airport, you need to find a board that displays the necessary information.

There you can see:

  • the name of the airline through which the ticket was issued;
  • flight number:
  • departure time;
  • place of arrival;
  • serial number of the registration desk;
  • platform for landing;
  • active state of the flight itself - when check-in begins (on-time), flight delay (delayed), cancellation (canceled), boarding status (check in, if in progress) or (gate closed, if finished), how long before boarding ends.

Thanks to the data in this table, you can find out all the necessary information about the current flight. Then you need to go to the counter indicated on the line. To find her number, check the flight number on the purchased airline ticket. Upon approaching the counter, passengers are often faced with a long queue. In this case, it is possible to ask airport staff to issue a ticket through an empty counter. And usually they agree without any problems.

A successful client of the company is able to significantly reduce the time of the registration process.

When you approach an airport employee, you must provide the prepared documents. In most cases, this is a passport and a previously purchased ticket. If you plan to travel abroad, a visa is attached to all documents. After this, place your suitcase and, if necessary, hand luggage on the scales. If the baggage is not overloaded, a special sticker is affixed to it and the baggage is sent for further inspection.

If the cargo weight is exceeded, a fine will be imposed. At the beginning of check-in, you can provide your seat preferences (window, exit, aisle). If such free seats are available, the passenger’s wishes will certainly be taken into account. When check-in at the counter is completed, the passenger will receive a tag with baggage numbering so that they can pick it up upon arrival at their destination.

When does boarding begin?

No matter how much the ticket was purchased for, all passengers undergo checks and additional inspection in case of suspicion of carrying prohibited items or for other reasons. After issuing a ticket at the check-in counter, passport data will be checked. Keep all the necessary papers ready in your hands so as not to delay the line and quickly get to the plane. When approaching an airport employee, you must present the following documents:

  • identity card - passport;
  • permit - visa;
  • boarding pass received upon check-in.

Here the luggage is also scanned and passed through a metal-sensitive detector. A check is carried out for prohibited items and substances (if you are sure that there are no such items, then you need to go through the green corridor).

After passing control, and if no suspicious items are found, the passenger is allowed to enter the open area. Here you can visit cafes or shops, buy small souvenirs and everything you need for your trip. Listen carefully to announcements. After being notified of boarding for the flight, you must go to the gate, present your ticket and board the plane for your onward flight.

For a successful flight, you need to follow all the above rules, familiarize yourself in advance with the check-in start time and arrive at the airport with enough time to avoid some nuances, such as paying a fine for being late.

Check-in and boarding at the airport

A person who is planning to fly for the first time often has no idea when exactly check-in for the plane begins. He may also have a question: how long does it take for registration to end? Therefore, before purchasing an airline ticket, study the information that relates to the registration procedure. It can be posted on the official website of the airport or on the Internet resource where you decided to purchase a ticket.

There is nothing overly complicated about checking in for a plane. Everything happens according to the established scheme. To complete this procedure without any unpleasant incidents, it is very important to calculate in advance how many hours or minutes you can get to the airport, taking into account the state of city traffic. Knowing how long before departure check-in for your flight begins, and also having more time to spare, you will arrive at the airport without delay and go through all the services without fuss.

It should be noted that air check-in is fundamentally different from boarding other types of intercity and international transport. Every airline has its own rules and regulations that air passengers must comply with. In order to get positive emotions from the flight, you must adhere to these instructions.

How does check-in for a flight take place?

Upon arrival at the airport, proceed to the departure hall. Have everything ready necessary documents. Baggage must be folded in such a way that you can carry the necessary items on board. You must behave politely and calmly at all stages of registration. And it starts with an electronic scoreboard.

Electronic scoreboard

When you approach the scoreboard, you need to familiarize yourself with the information depicted on it. Check-in counter numbers, plane departure times, etc. are displayed here.

For those flying to another country (or city), you need to find the departure board. It is designated by the word DEPARTURES (or DEPARTURES).

Note! Electronic displays in all international airports have the same symbols.

It may contain the following columns:

  1. Flight – flight and its number.
  2. Airline – the name of the airline.
  3. Counters – registration counter number.
  4. Time – dispatch time: scheduled and expected.
  5. Destination – flight direction.
  6. Gates – number of the platform (gate) from which the landing will take place.
  7. Remark – flight status, which can have the following entries:
  • check-in – registration in progress;
  • boarding – indicates the number of the open gate, which is indicated by a letter with a number, for example, A3, B4, etc.;
  • on-time – it is assumed that the plane will take off without delay;
  • canceled – this flight has been cancelled;
  • delayed – there was a flight delay;
  • gate open – the boarding gate has opened;
  • gate closing – you should hurry up, as registration ends in a few minutes;
  • gate closed – “the gate has closed” or registration has ended;
  • departed or Airborne - the plane has departed.

The table shows the approximate arrangement of symbols on information panels:

FLIGHT DESTINATION COUNTERS SCHED EXPCT REMARK
UN 202 MOSCOW 1–3 18:45 CHECK-IN CANCELED

CHECK-IN CANCELED

After reading the electronic board and finding out the number of your registration desk, you should go to it.

Registration desk

Registration for any aircraft depends not on the airport administration, but on the air carrier itself and on the type of aircraft. Business class in any terminal has its own separate counter. If she is absent, the passenger can ask another to register. A passenger with a first or business class ticket must be allowed to go to someone else's counter without queuing. When approaching your counter, you must present a package of documents, as well as a ticket.
Depending on the specific case, the following documents may be needed:

  • insurance;
  • visa for departure abroad;
  • route receipt (if a transfer is planned);
  • international passport;
  • passport of a citizen of the country.

Keep documents in a ziplock folder where you can easily access them. You must have scanned copies of documents with you. You can play it safe and place copies of these papers in your email account so that you can access them if necessary.

Please note! When flying with children, you must have documents for each child, exactly those required by the air carrier.

When going on a trip with a large group, it is advisable to submit all documents at the same time - in this case, your seats on the plane will be nearby.

Baggage and hand luggage

The topic of luggage on an airplane is still very relevant today. You must check in your suitcase or travel bag, but keep your hand luggage with you. Luggage (free of charge) is limited to one passenger and weighs no more than 20 kg. If the weight of the suitcase is more than expected, then each kilogram in excess must be paid for. During check-in, place your suitcase on the moving belt. Once you arrive at your destination, it will be returned to you.

There is no need to pack things that you may need on board the ship into your suitcase. At the same time, pay attention to the rules for transporting cabin luggage on an airliner, since the airline may change its regulations regarding the transportation of hand luggage every year.

Carry-on luggage allows 2-3 bags, but they must be of a certain weight and size. The weight of cabin baggage is limited: for business class – up to 10 kg, for budget class – up to 8 kg. Each airport has special devices that allow you to check the weight and size of all bags.

So, at this stage, you will receive a tear-off luggage tag.

Customs inspection and passport control

Further verification is carried out by the security service. you pass passport control. An employee of the above-mentioned service checks your passport, visa (in case of departure to another country) and boarding pass. When going through customs, your carry-on baggage is scanned and you must pass through a metal detector.

Important! Under no circumstances should a passenger joke with security personnel when they ask questions about drugs or weapons, otherwise they will put themselves at risk of being kicked off the flight. Moreover, a criminal case may be brought against him.


After the security check, you should head to the aisle whose number is indicated on your boarding pass. At this stage the registration process is completed. Then the flight itself begins.

When going through all of the above procedures, you should adhere to important recommendations:

  1. Don't be late.
  2. Keep your documents ready.
  3. In addition to a bank card, it is recommended to have cash with you.
  4. Don't forget about permissible weight luggage and hand luggage.
  5. Maintain restraint.
  6. Do not distract airport terminal staff and security services with conversations and jokes.

Having received a coupon and a tear-off tag with information about your luggage, you should go to the “open area” - the waiting room. Passengers flying abroad are transferred to transit zone. Here you can visit Duty Free, where duty-free branded goods are sold.

Check-in for a flight to Domodedovo

Check-in for the flight and baggage check-in at Domodedovo Airport is carried out on the check-in islands. The group of islands has its own sections. The time frame for the registration process depends on the type of aircraft, the direction of flight and the air carrier. Start of registration: for domestic air routes - from 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours before takeoff, for international flights - from 2 to 3 hours. Registration ends 40 minutes before the aircraft departs.

There are also self-service kiosks at the airport. Registration via the World Wide Web, which is also possible, begins 24 hours and ends 1.5 hours before departure.

Checking in for a plane at Sheremetyevo

At Sheremetyevo, for airliners flying within the state, registration opens 2 hours before and closes 30 minutes before the aircraft takes off. Regarding international flights – two and a half hours and forty minutes, respectively. This time may change by mutual agreement with the air carrier. It all depends on the specific case.

You can also register using special terminals or an online system.

Checking in for a plane to Vnukovo

Check-in at Vnukovo begins 2 hours and ends 40 minutes before departure. This procedure can be completed at the check-in counter or using a self-service kiosk.

You can register for a plane online on the official website of the air carrier of your choice. Online registration opens 48 hours in advance and ends 3 hours before takeoff. Air carriers Rossiya and UTair have their own counters at Vnukovo to accept baggage for passengers who have checked in independently. This allows customers to avoid queues and save their time.

Online check-in

Registration for an airliner is carried out in 2 ways:

  1. Through the Internet.
  2. On the counter.

By using the first option, the passenger will not have to go to the airport long before the flight departs and wait in line to check in. In addition, this method has a significant advantage - the person himself chooses a seat in the cabin. The electronic boarding pass must be printed: on any printer or using a device located near the baggage drop line. This coupon must be presented when checking in your baggage, at the check-in counter, security service (when departing from the country), as well as to the flight attendant when entering the air showroom.

If you decide to receive a ticket this way, be sure to check how many hours or minutes before departure electronic check-in ends, since its online conditions vary among air carriers. Typically, receiving a boarding pass in electronic format is available one day in advance and is blocked in 45–60 minutes. before departure. The online registration procedure is available 24 hours a day. For information on how to carry out electronic registration yourself, see the websites of carrier companies.

On an international flight

Check-in for any international flight begins earlier than for a domestic flight. The time frame is usually from 3 hours to 40 minutes before the aircraft takes off. Tickets for such flights are expensive. Therefore, be sure to check with your airline about how long it takes to check-in to avoid delays and unnecessary hassles.

Prepare thoroughly for your flight. Prepare ahead of time Required documents: passport, visa, health insurance, etc.

For a domestic flight

Registration of passengers for flights internal direction opens a couple of hours before departure and closes half an hour or 40 minutes before departure. It is important to understand that each air carrier sets its own time restrictions. Therefore, when purchasing a ticket from the airline of your choice, check how long it takes to complete check-in for the flight.

On an Aeroflot flight

Next, we’ll look at how long it takes to start and complete registration for Aeroflot aircraft. This Russian company, operating flights from Sheremetyevo Airport. The air carrier provides customers with the opportunity to register online or at airport terminals where there are special self-check-in kiosks (using e-ticket). This will take about 6 minutes. Aeroflot opens web registration exactly one day (24 hours) and ends 40 minutes before takeoff.

Regular check-in begins 2 hours before and ends 40 minutes before the aircraft takes off. Terminals D, E, F offer 4 check-in options: priority, for economy class passengers, via kiosk and early check-in (via kiosk, online, mobile). Detailed information is on the company website.

Thus, to avoid troubles, check with your carrier company in advance about the time allotted for the registration procedure. Make sure to arrive at the airport early and complete pre-flight formalities.

Before you travel by plane, you should be prepared to stand in more than one line. Going through the necessary pre-flight formalities at the airport takes a lot of time. That is why it is very important to arrive at the airport terminal on time. Experienced travelers who are familiar with all the nuances know perfectly well how long before departure they need to be at the airport. What to do if you are not yet very experienced in this matter? Then this article is for you. Let's figure out what conditions passengers should know, how long all the necessary procedures take, and whether this process can be accelerated.

Airline conditions

How long before departure is it optimal to arrive at the airport? It is not always possible to give a number accurate to the minute. The fact is that the time of arrival at the airport depends on many factors. Let's list some of them:

Flight direction (domestic or international transportation);

Specific requirements of the carrier;

Availability of luggage (and especially oversized luggage, including objects of art, animals, etc.);

Possibility of passing electronic registration for the flight.

It is also important to take into account the seasonal factor. At the height of the tourist season, on weekends and holidays, during morning or evening rush hours, traffic on the airport road may be difficult. So the travel time should be calculated taking into account possible delays along the way.

Experienced travelers are well versed in familiar airports, know where the check-in and security checkpoints are and where to go next, so they can afford to linger a little on the way. But you shouldn’t overuse it here either.

In addition, when entering an airport you often have to go through a small security screening area. Usually this formality takes no more than a couple of minutes, but sometimes a queue can form here. So it’s worth setting aside a small amount of time, at least five minutes, for this.

To avoid unpleasant moments and unnecessary delays, prepare in advance and place in a separate compartment of your bag all the documents necessary for the flight. So, if you, keep your passport ready and route receipt with boarding pass. If you are flying abroad, your package of documents must include a foreign passport (with a visa stamped, if required by the laws of the country). In some countries, you may be asked to show proof of insurance and proof of financial security at your arrival airport.

Flights with animals also require additional time. Please note that your pet will have to undergo a veterinary inspection at the airport, after which you will be issued permission to fly and a boarding pass. This also takes time, especially not only you, but also other passengers with four-legged friends undergo veterinary control.

Pre-flight formalities include several procedures: check-in for the flight and baggage clearance, customs clearance, pre-flight inspection, passport control and boarding the plane. Let's look at these procedures in more detail.

Checking in on board the aircraft at the boarding complex building

What's the first thing you need to do when you arrive at the terminal building? Of course, register. By the way, it is the time frame associated with passenger check-in and baggage check-in that both experienced travelers and the airlines themselves advise to focus on.

Check-in times vary depending on where you're traveling to. For domestic flights, check-in of passengers and baggage by airport terminal staff begins two hours before the plane departs. It is at this time that the airlines themselves recommend that clients arrive at the terminal building.

Registration for international flights starts earlier. This is due to the large number of required procedures: in addition to inspection before departure, you will face customs and border inspections. In this regard, when flying abroad, airlines recommend that tourists arrive at the airport at least three hours before flight departure. During this time, you will have time to calmly go through all the required formalities and arrive on time at the desired gate to board the plane.

Please remember that the airline may refuse to transport a passenger who is late for check-in or boarding. This provision is fixed in Art. 91 Federal Aviation Regulations " General rules air transport passengers, baggage, cargo and requirements for servicing passengers, shippers, consignees.” Thus, check-in for domestic flights usually ends 30-40 minutes before departure, for international flights a little earlier - 40-60 minutes. Boarding ends 20-25 minutes before flight departure.

Electronic check-in

Today, many airlines offer passengers an alternative to checking in directly at the airport. For convenience and to save time, you can register electronically on the airline’s website. These actions allow the passenger to reduce the time spent in the “airport” - you can calmly finish all your work and arrive an hour and a half before departure.

Usually, Online check-in for a flight opens one day before the plane departs.

There are several advantages of electronic check-in. If the ticket fare requires the passenger to choose a seat, then you will be able to study the layout of your aircraft’s cabin in advance and calmly and choose the most convenient seats for you. Accordingly, if you are flying with a companion or family, you are guaranteed to know that you are sitting next to each other.

When you check in online, you will receive a boarding pass by email. All that remains is to print it out (you can do this at home or at self-service counters at the airport). So you no longer have to stand in line at the check-in counter.

But there is one nuance that should be taken into account. If you are traveling with a suitcase, you will have to check it in. Some airports do not have separate counters for passengers to drop off their luggage; you will be asked to do this at the same counters where other passengers check in. You can clarify these points by contacting a representative of your chosen airline by phone hotline.

In addition, this service is not available on all flights and not to all categories of passengers. Thus, electronic check-in is not available if you are accompanying people with disabilities or traveling with a small child who does not occupy a separate seat. You will have to go through check-in at the airport if you are bringing valuable works of art or pets.

You can also find out the airline's recommendations on the carrier's website. For example, one of the largest Russian airlines Aeroflot clarifies that if you are traveling with luggage, even in the case of online check-in, you must arrive at the check-in counter no later than 45 minutes before flight departure. If you only have hand luggage with you, you must be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before departure. At this point you must go through security control.

Passing security check

Upon arrival at the airport, passengers go through several stages of inspection. The first is at the entrance to the terminal building. You need to go through metal detectors, and here employees inspect the contents of bags and suitcases. In Russia, there are frames at the entrance at all airports; in other countries, it happens that there is no such area or the inspection is carried out selectively.

After checking in and checking in luggage, passengers proceed to special security screening areas. Security officers here carefully check whether the passenger is carrying prohibited items on himself or in his hand luggage. It is worth taking into account the queues at the inspection points and the time it takes to remove outer clothing, belts, and in some cases shoes. In general, this procedure takes about 10-20 minutes, sometimes taking up to half an hour.

Please note that in the inspection area only those things that the tourist takes with him into the aircraft cabin are checked. Baggage checked at the check-in counter is checked without the presence of the passenger.

In order not to get stuck at this stage, you need to study in advance the list of permitted and prohibited items. In particular, there is a general ban on the carriage of flammable and flammable substances, toxic compounds and weapons, both in checked luggage and in hand luggage. There are also strict rules regarding the carriage of liquids in the cabin of an airliner (they must be packed in containers with a volume of less than 100 ml, the total volume of liquid cannot exceed one liter). All this information can be found on the airline’s website, and, if necessary, clarified by calling the hotline. This way you will save time and nerves.

Save time in an Aeroport

How to quickly complete all the necessary formalities at the airport? There are several ways to save time.

If you are registering online, please print and take with you all receipts and boarding passes for all passengers. If you are traveling light, then with these documents you can safely bypass the check-in counters and go to the security check area.

Take a responsible approach to airline rules, especially when it comes to carrying things in the cabin and in luggage. Suitcases must not contain prohibited items, and their dimensions and weight must comply with the standards established by your carrier. Seizure of prohibited substances and items and registration excess baggage requires additional time.

How to brighten up the wait at the airport

So that passengers have something to brighten up the wait for their flight, the airports have everything they need: shops, restaurants, cafes, playgrounds for children, rooms for mother and child. Passengers await their flight in the general lounge or business lounges (depending on the ticket purchased or the availability of individual privileges).

If your flight is delayed, you are entitled to additional free services. When your flight is delayed by more than two hours, you are entitled to a free soft drink or two phone calls. If your flight is delayed by more than four hours, you will be fed free of charge. When your plane's departure is delayed by more than eight hours, passengers must also be accommodated in a hotel at the airline's expense, with a free transfer to and from the hotel.

Nuances for beginners

Think in advance about how you will get to the airport. Take into account the possibility of unforeseen situations: the taxi may be delayed, and there may be traffic jams on the way to the airport. If you get there public transport, check his schedule. In Moscow, it is convenient to use Aeroexpress, a high-speed train that runs to the airport and back.

Always adhere to the time limits set by the airline. If you are late, it is not a fact that you will be able to get your money back for the ticket. In addition, a comfortable amount of time will save you from unnecessary fuss before the flight.

If you get confused at the airport or need help, contact your airline. They will always tell you where the counters you need are located and what to do in case of force majeure (if you are late, your flight is delayed or rescheduled).

It would be a good idea to study the airport map in advance so that you can get your bearings at home in the terminal areas and decide where you need to go to check in and where to drop off your bags. Some airports consist of several remote terminals, sometimes it can take up to half an hour to get from the entrance to the check-in area. Even if the airport is not very large, spend 5-10 minutes searching for the necessary check-in counters or other required zones. Please also take into account the queues for individual employees (for registration, inspections), this may take another 20-30 minutes.

Tourists who receive tickets and documents purchased from a travel agency at the airport before registration begin are advised to arrive half an hour before registration begins. Here you will first have to find the counter of your tour operator and, possibly, stand in line with other tourists.

Additional time will be required for baggage packing procedures at the airport and tax-free refund processing.

Allow an extra half hour if you want to purchase goods from duty free shops. When purchasing, do not forget that you should not open the package from the store until the end of the flight - some goods (alcohol, liquids with a volume of more than 100 ml) are not allowed in regular hand luggage, an exception is made only for packaged goods from Duty Free.

Not everyone can be punctual, but in the case of air travel this quality is irreplaceable. If you are late to check in for a flight, the passenger risks being left at the departure point and losing the money spent on the ticket. Airlines do not pay compensation if the passenger was unable to fly out of the country due to delays not related to force majeure.

So, if you do not want to disrupt your own plans, calculate the time for your trip to the airport in advance, taking into account traffic jams and other possible circumstances.

How long before departure do you need to be at the airport?

You need to arrive at the airport several hours before departure in order to have time to go through registration, passport control and other necessary procedures, without which boarding on the flight cannot be carried out.

Each airline company sets a certain time limit for check-in for a flight.

Most Russian carriers adhere to this rule:

  • check-in for domestic flights begins 2 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes;
  • for international flights - 3 hours, check-in ends 40 minutes before departure of the aircraft.

Tourists planning to travel should arrive at the airport in advance. According to airline regulations, only a certain number of animals can be carried on board an aircraft. If you are not one of the first to check in, your pet will have to travel in the hold.

The same recommendation is relevant for passengers planning to fly on heavily loaded flights. If there are not enough seats for all passengers, travelers last in line will have to wait for the next flight to leave the country.

When to arrive at the airport for an international flight

Passengers on international flights are advised to arrive at the airport 3-4 hours before departure. In addition to registration, you need to go through customs, passport and visa control and hand over your belongings.

When to arrive at the airport for a domestic flight

To board the plane domestic flight You can arrive at the airport terminal 1.5-2 hours before departure. The main thing is to have time to complete check-in, which ends 40 minutes before the plane departs.

If you quickly completed all the necessary procedures, and there is still quite a lot of time before departure, spend it usefully. The airport has many facilities for a comfortable stay for passengers waiting to board their flight. There are cozy waiting rooms, cafes and restaurants for a snack, playrooms for children, etc.

When do you need to arrive at the airport when going through electronic check-in?

Many travelers have been using the electronic flight check-in service for a long time, which allows them to save personal time and leisurely go to the airport, where they no longer have to stand in long queues to receive their luggage.

How long in advance you need to arrive at the airport for departure if you have an electronic document confirming registration via the Internet, you can read here.

Online registration opens 23 hours before and closes 4 hours before. Charter flight passengers can also check-in online, which opens 6 hours before departure and closes one hour before departure.

To avoid being late for your flight, plan your time to go to the airport correctly. Be sure to take into account the traffic congestion, which is especially important for residents of large cities. If you are planning a flight with baggage of a certain category (for example, valuable cargo, transportation of pets, etc.), leave for the airport in advance in order to have time to go through all the necessary pre-flight procedures, without which boarding will not be possible.

I decided to write this simple post for one simple reason - I almost missed my flight today, and my romantic trip to Venice would no longer be so romantic...

I usually arrive at the airport 2 hours before departure, as expected, although some recommend 3 hours in advance. Honestly, I’ve never come here for so long. Do you remember, there was a time when enhanced screening of passengers was just introduced and almost everywhere they were required to appear at the airport as much as 4 hours before departure.

Now it’s quite enough if you arrive at the airport 2 hours in advance, which is what I do!) On rare occasions I arrive 1.5 hours in advance, but I’m terribly nervous…. Everything is happening at a gallop across Europe: you can still go to duty free, but only for a specific purpose, when you know exactly what you want to buy and there is no time for a meaningless walk, once again sniffing the most fashionable scents, while simultaneously choosing cosmetics. And you can simply forget about drinking a cup of coffee, anticipating a quick flight and a long-awaited vacation! And I’m just one of those who loves the atmosphere of an airport - the spirit of travel is in the air here... It’s so nice to sit in a cafe, finally relax and watch the joyful faces of travelers.

But today, personally, my face expressed either panic, then universal grief, then wild horror, and perhaps even all at once! The thing is that I planned an evening flight to Venice. That day, in the morning, I still had a lot of things to do, one of which, through no fault of my own, I had to stay late on. Accordingly, the entire schedule “safely” shifted, and I arrived home to pick up my suitcase later than planned.

I got ready in a hurry and went to Belorusskaya to catch the Aeroexpress. Living in Moscow, I use public transport, since the city is drowning in traffic jams. And then there’s this matter - you definitely need to catch the plane! By the way, I only order a taxi to the airport if I have an early morning flight and have to leave at night. Moscow at night is wonderful, and a walk around the city in a car will only bring pleasure!)

So, I expected to arrive at the airport 1.5 hours before departure. But when I got to the station, I “kissed” the tail of the departing express train... and thereby lost half an hour waiting for the next one (express trains go to the airport every half hour, not more often)! During this time, you could pack your luggage with protective wrapping, go through online registration for your flight and even check your luggage right in the waiting room where you buy express tickets. But I was so depressed that all these services flashed past me, I caught the announced offers out of the corner of my ear, but did not attach any importance to it... There was only one thing spinning in my head - HOW TO CAPTURE YOUR FLIGHT IN 1 HOUR!!!

By the way, even if I had been able to concentrate on something suggested, I would hardly have agreed to check in my luggage right here, I’m somehow scared, what if they don’t take me to the plane?)) Have you ever checked your luggage right at the station? or always directly at the airport? Share your experience in the comments below this article.

On the way to the airport, I heard the woman sitting next to me frantically calling her friends on the phone and asking how to get to Terminal D. It was her first trip to the airport on the express train; she had to change from a taxi to an express train due to incredible traffic jams. She lost a lot of time and, like me, went to the airport an hour before the plane took off. In general, there were already two of us. I went up to her, reassured her, explained that the express train arrives very conveniently and we will safely reach terminal D in 5 minutes if we speed up and are first in line when going through the first security check, so that we can then only enter the area leading to different terminals, from where You can already follow the signs to our terminal D! Having reached the airport, we were the first to run out of the carriage, and accordingly, we were the first in line, without wasting a minute.

This is what saved us, because... then running to the terminal was a matter of technique and endurance. Without stopping once, we flew into the terminal area, ran up to the check-in counter... Check-in for my flight to Venice closed in 5 minutes, check-in for this woman’s flight to Barcelona was already closing, and she was the last one to check in.

There was also a girl flying with us, flying on the same flight to Barcelona, ​​and an elderly lady, flying to Rome. The girl managed to run, but the lady, it seems, did not. Having fallen significantly behind us, I never saw her again. It's a pity.

Friends, remember that Check-in for the flight ends 40 minutes before departure. Even if you checked in for a flight online (which I usually do, except in this case) and all you have to do upon arrival at the airport is check your luggage, then, unfortunately, they won’t accept it for you if you arrive in less than 40 minutes before departure. The counter will already be closed. And if you have checked in online for your flight and do not need to check in your luggage, then even if you arrive at the airport, for example, 30 minutes before departure and immediately run to the passport control area, you still have the opportunity to make it in time. After passport control you just need to quickly go through security and have time to reach the desired boarding gate, which closes 20 minutes before departure.

In general, having checked in my luggage, I quickly went through passport control, then the inspection of my belongings, and in the end I had 5 minutes left before I was invited to board the plane. I was already waiting at the right exit, but I was able to relax only after takeoff...

And now, sitting on the plane, I finish writing this article. So, I’ll publish it upon arrival... (I’ve already published it, since you’re reading it:)

Friends, remember important details:

  1. No wonder they advise you to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure
  2. Check-in closes 40 minutes before departure
  3. The boarding gate closes 20 minutes before departure

How long before do you usually arrive at the airport? Please share in the comments below.