When should I check in for international flights?
When you're traveling outside of the United States, we suggest arriving at least 3 hours prior to your departure. You must be checked in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Additionally, we recommend being at the gate and ready to board 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before departure for international flights. It's common for international flights to start boarding earlier than domestic flights (the aircraft are often larger and have higher passenger capacities), which accounts for the earlier recommendation.
The General Guideline for How Early You Should Get to the Airport. Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.
Airlines generally recommend arriving at the airport at least three hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic flight.
Arrive 3 hours before your flight's departure time to allow for check-in, baggage drop, clearing security and customs, and to explore the airport before you fly.
International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.
Online Check-in for International Flights. Online check-in allows those who have reserved seats and completed the required information to check into their flight from 24 hours prior to departure. During this process, you can confirm or change seats and get a boarding pass.
TSA PreCheck® is available when you depart from a U.S. airport to a foreign country, and for domestic, connecting flights after you return to the United States. If you travel internationally four or more times a year, consider enrolling in Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck®.
For a short-haul flight where you are only taking hand luggage, checking in online saves a lot of time and is therefore much better than checking in at the airport. If, on the other hand, you have to check in bulky luggage, it is better to use the classic check-in at the airport for security reasons.
Final Thoughts. If you are wondering “do you go through customs when leaving the U.S.”, the answer is no. All countries have customs inspection procedures at borders and international airports. However, only passengers entering a country are subject to customs inspection.
How do I get TSA PreCheck for international travel?
- Apply Online. Select an enrollment provider with enrollment locations near you. ...
- Visit an Enrollment Location. Attend a 10 minute appointment at your chosen provider that includes fingerprinting, document and photo capture, and payment.
- Get Your TSA PreCheck Number.
For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.
As a rule, for flights within the EU, you should be at the airport at least one hour before departure. For long-haul flights, two hours. Most importantly, always follow your airline's rules. You can shorten the waiting time if you check in online and travel without checked baggage.
Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.
If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.
One disadvantage is certainly that many people have poor time management and arrive too late at the airport if they check in online. For some, this can lead to unwanted time pressure. On the other hand, those who still have to check in at the airport itself usually arrive early enough and are therefore over-punctual.
| Program terms and perks | TSA PreCheck | Global Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Application cost | $78 to $85 | $100 |
| Renewal cost | $70 to $78 | $100 |
| Application processing time | Up to 60 days; usually 3 to 5 days | 4 to 6 months |
| Membership length | 5 years | 5 years |
TSA PreCheck® provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. Airports. Global Entry provides expedited U.S. customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck® benefits as part of their membership.
Quick service via TSA PreCheck is also great for frequent fliers who plan to take multiple trips over the course of a year, which 44% of Americans are doing in 2023, according to the Vacationer.
Depending on your destination your check in time may vary. Are you travelling with hand luggage only? If you are, you may be able to check in online for free and print off your boarding pass, so all you need to do when you arrive at the airport is go straight through security.
Can I still check in at the airport if I checked in online?
In most cases, you will only need to go to check-in when you have checked-in online if you need to drop off an item of hold baggage. Please ensure that you are aware of the hand baggage requirements for your specific airline before you travel.
Can I go straight to security after checking in online? If you have additional baggage besides hand luggage, you must first go to the baggage check. If, on the other hand, you are only carrying hand luggage, you can go directly to the security check.
- Sign up for frequent flier and rewards programs. ...
- Review all required international documents for your destination. ...
- Review COVID procedures in the foreign country you're visiting. ...
- Upload a copy of all your documents to a cloud. ...
- Pack sensibly. ...
- Get to the airport early.
- Check in for your flight. ...
- Check your baggage and get your ticket. ...
- Go through the security checkpoint. ...
- Go through immigration. ...
- Find your gate. ...
- Board your flight.
- Check your documents.
- Consider signing up for a travel rewards card.
- Give yourself a long booking runway.
- Be selective about lodging.
- Consider the not-so-common essentials.
- Pack right for the flight.
- Give a heads up to your credit card issuer.
- Make the clock your friend.
Travelers cannot upgrade from TSA PreCheck to Global Entry
TSA PreCheck can help travelers pass through airport security checkpoints. Meanwhile, Global Entry is specifically for travelers arriving in the United States from another country.
- China Southern Airlines.
- China Eastern Airlines.
- EasyJet.
- EgyptAir.
- Norwegian Airlines.
- Qatar Airways.
- Ryanair.
- Iceland Air.
There's no TSA PreCheck in Europe (womp womp), but at select Europe airports, travelers can skip to the front of the security…
The sooner you check in, the sooner you're able to pick your seat, if you haven't already. If you're flying on a basic economy ticket, this will be the first opportunity for you to select a seat. Seat selection is first-come, first-served, so it's important to check in as soon as it's allowed.
Checking in online is far more convenient than checking in at the airport. However, if you have to check in special luggage such as bulky goods or a pet, you should rather use the classic method.
What are the disadvantages of online check in?
One disadvantage is certainly that many people have poor time management and arrive too late at the airport if they check in online. For some, this can lead to unwanted time pressure. On the other hand, those who still have to check in at the airport itself usually arrive early enough and are therefore over-punctual.
Checking in early has numerous advantages that often outweigh the downsides, such as reduced waiting times, better seat options, and peace of mind.
Travelers cannot upgrade from TSA PreCheck to Global Entry
TSA PreCheck can help travelers pass through airport security checkpoints. Meanwhile, Global Entry is specifically for travelers arriving in the United States from another country.
