Air Mauritius: Check-In and Boarding Pass

Air Mauritius opens online check-in 30 hours before departure. The airline states that it generally remains available until around two hours before departure, and for flights departing from Mumbai, online check-in must be completed at least 4 hours before takeoff.

At the airport, each station sets its own cut-off time. Air Mauritius's contract of carriage specifies that this cut-off can never be shorter than 45 minutes before departure. In other words, 45 minutes is an absolute floor, not a target to aim for: the airline recommends checking and respecting the specific cut-off time for your departure airport, which can be considerably earlier.

If check-in isn't completed by the cut-off time, the airline states that it may cancel the booking and deny boarding. Check-in is only considered complete once the boarding pass has been issued. For other flights on your itinerary, the airline specifies that travellers must verify the cut-off times themselves, as this information may not appear on the schedule.

Check-in is done through the dedicated section of airmauritius.com or through the airline's mobile app. Three details are required: the booking reference (six characters, such as 5M32KZ), the flight number (format MK followed by four digits), and the surname. Seat selection happens during the process; in Business Class, advance seat reservation is complimentary, while in Economy Class the seat can be chosen at the time of purchase or later through Manage My Booking.

Certain passengers are generally handled at the counter on the day of departure rather than online, notably those requiring special assistance and unaccompanied minors: check with the airline before departure.

For itineraries combining Air Mauritius with another carrier, check-in for the second leg often depends on the operating airline: verify its own deadlines, which may differ.

Once check-in is complete, the electronic boarding pass is saved to your phone: the airline recommends saving it to your device at the end of the process. Not all airports necessarily accept it; if you're unsure about your connecting airport, plan to visit an Air Mauritius check-in counter to obtain a paper version.

The boarding pass also shows the gate presentation time: according to the contract of carriage, you must arrive at the boarding gate no later than the time specified at check-in. Air Mauritius notes that it may cancel your assigned seat if you fail to present yourself at the gate by the time shown on your boarding pass.

Online check-in does not remove the need to visit the baggage drop-off counter for checked luggage: the airline states this explicitly. This counter closes at the same time as standard check-in, sometimes slightly earlier, which is why it's worth arriving well ahead of time for an international flight.

The baggage allowance depends on the fare, cabin, departure point, destination and possibly your Kestrelflyer status; it is shown on the ticket and can be checked in My Bookings. In terms of dimensions, the total of length + width + height for a checked bag should generally not exceed 158 cm: between this limit and 300 cm, an extra fee applies; beyond 300 cm, the bag must be shipped as cargo after prior arrangements. In Business Class, two checked bags are allowed up to 32 kg each (weight sometimes capped at 30 kg depending on local regulations), along with two carry-on bags up to 7 kg each.

Travel documents should be checked before departure: a valid passport, visa or entry authorisation depending on the destination. Under the conditions of carriage, the airline may refuse to transport the passenger if they do not have valid documents for the flight or refuse to present these documents or allow them to be copied.

The booking reference isn't recognised. Check that you're using Air Mauritius's six-character code and not the file number from your travel agency or tour operator, which can differ. Also double-check the spelling of the surname and the flight number format (MK followed by four digits).

Online check-in is refused. Special assistance requests, a leg operated by another airline, or stricter document checks at certain departure airports can all mean the counter takes over on the day of departure.

You missed the online window. Check-in remains possible at Air Mauritius airport counters, up to the local closing time.

Boarding pass missing or seat changed. An aircraft or schedule change can lead to a seat reassignment: the valid version is the one reissued after the change, to be retrieved again online or at the counter.

To stay on top of things when check-in opens, a traveller can hand this task over to iBoardingPass, which completes online check-in on their behalf as soon as it opens and sends the boarding pass by email.

Other airlines across the region and the African network apply similar rules: see Air Austral check-in, Air Botswana check-in procedures, or the Air Côte d'Ivoire boarding pass.