When to do online check-in for a flight

The opening window changes from airline to airline

There is no universal standard: many traditional airlines open check-in 24-48 hours before departure, but Ryanair only allows it free of charge in the 24 hours before for those without an assigned seat (up to 60 days before for those who already have one), while easyJet, which offers no counter check-in, opens it as early as 30 days before. Checking this detail on your booking confirmation, instead of taking the 24 hours for granted, avoids trying uselessly to access a function that's not yet active.

Why it's worth doing it as soon as the window opens

The seats with more legroom or near emergency exits, when free, are occupied quickly by the first to complete the procedure; on some airlines even the boarding sequence rewards those who register early with a more favourable position in their group. Find out how to navigate seat selection in the dedicated guide to the seat map.

The reference time zone is that of the departure airport

The opening window is based on the local time of the departure airport, not on that of whoever is doing check-in from another continent: it's the most common cause of passengers convinced the system is blocked when actually a few more hours remain. On an itinerary with multiple flights in succession it's worth noting down the local times of each departure instead of doing mental calculations based on your own time zone.

When it closes, and what happens if you miss it

Online check-in generally closes 1-3 hours before departure depending on the airline: ITA Airways stays open until 60 minutes before on international flights, easyJet closes 2 hours before, Ryanair closes baggage check-in as early as 40 minutes before (60 from 10 November 2026). On many budget airlines, moreover, those who haven't done online check-in by the deadline and show up at the counter without a boarding pass ready risk an additional penalty, designed to discourage the use of physical channels.

As soon as you book, note on your calendar the exact time online check-in opens for your specific airline — which can range from 24 hours to 60 days before depending on the carrier — so you don't miss the window for free seat selection or risk the penalty for airport check-in.