Aeroméxico online check-in: timings and boarding pass rules

Aeroméxico's online check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes 48 hours before departure. This window isn't the same for everyone: according to the airline's public information, the opening time is earlier for domestic flights within Mexico than for international flights, and the Basic fare on a domestic route follows the shorter international-style window.

The exact time is shown on your booking, and that's the one that counts, especially on connecting itineraries where each segment can have its own schedule. Once online check-in closes, the airport counters remain an option, but they too close before takeoff; the cutoff depends on the airport and the type of flight, and it's specified on your booking. Leave yourself plenty of margin: once the counter closes, the ticket can no longer be used, and failing to show up can lead to the ticket being cancelled.

Two routes lead to the same boarding pass before you reach the airport: the airline's official website and the Aeroméxico mobile app. Either way, keep your booking code (six characters) and the exact name as it appears on the ticket close at hand.

Points to watch during the process:

• Passport, visa or ESTA details are requested for international flights and must match the document you'll present at the checkpoint.
• Seat selection depends on the fare: an AM Plus seat is included with the fare of the same name and must be chosen when the ticket is purchased to secure that spot on the flight.
• Certain cases fall outside the digital process and go through an agent instead: infant on lap, unaccompanied minor, animal travelling in the cabin or in the hold, special assistance, bulky sports equipment.

If you're on a codeshare flight actually operated by Delta, KLM, Air France or another SkyTeam partner, check-in is usually done on the website of the carrier that operates the flight.

The Aeroméxico boarding pass comes in a mobile version (app, phone wallet, PDF sent by email) and a paper version, either printed at home or issued at the counter. Some airports and local authorities require a printed document: if in doubt, have your boarding pass printed at the Aeroméxico counter before going through security.

Check three things as soon as you receive it: the spelling of your name, the flight number with its gate, and the boarding deadline printed on the document. The gate closes before the displayed departure time, and gate changes remain possible right up to the last moment, so keep an eye on the screens. The AM Plus fare includes priority check-in and boarding, shown as a boarding group on the pass.

Being checked in doesn't exempt you from going to the counter if you have a suitcase to check into the hold. Baggage drop counters close at the same time as standard airport check-in: find out the cutoff that applies to your flight and arrive early.

The allowances attached to most fares include one personal item placed under the seat and one carry-on bag measuring 55 x 40 x 25 cm cm weighing up to 15 kg, with that weight limit applying to both pieces combined. The checked baggage allowance is limited to 25 kg per piece, within the maximum linear dimensions set by the airline. With the AM Plus fare, priority services (check-in, baggage, boarding) come at no extra cost, and additional checked bags are sold at a reduced rate according to the airline's public information. Extra or oversized pieces bought at the counter usually cost more than if purchased in advance.

On the document side, the airline advises checking the entry requirements set by the authorities of your destination; the agent verifies these before issuing the baggage tag, and a document that doesn't meet requirements can lead to boarding being refused.

Online check-in is refused. This is often a sign that your booking needs an agent's review: ticket bought through a travel agency, a recent name change, incomplete travel documents, or a flight operated by a partner airline. Get to the counter earlier than planned.

The boarding pass never arrives by email. Check your spam folder, then look for it under the Your Trip section of the airline's website using your booking code and passenger name.

Name misspelled. Aeroméxico corrects a simple spelling mistake at no extra charge, on presentation of an official document. An actual name change is a paid service and comes with a deadline that falls several days before departure on international routes, and a few hours before departure on domestic routes; ask the airline for the exact cutoff as early as you can.

Missed flight. With the most restrictive fares, changing your flight isn't allowed if you miss it. The more flexible fares, however, let you reschedule your itinerary without penalty; contact the airline as soon as possible to keep the rest of your trip on track.

Other airlines apply different check-in windows, such as SkyTeam partner Aerolíneas Argentinas. If you'd rather not keep an eye on the opening time yourself, iBoardingPass can check you in as soon as it opens and send your boarding pass by email.