Getting Your Boarding Pass with Air Senegal

The airline sets a clear cut-off for check-in, and that is the deadline to remember first: it closes 1 hour before departure, and at least 1h30 before departure on intercontinental flights. Air Senegal states that no passenger will be accepted for check-in past these deadlines, in order to keep flights running on time.

The opening time, on the other hand, is not announced the same way for every route. Check the exact time shown on your booking or confirmation email, since it takes precedence over any estimate, and keep in mind that the window may be shorter than you expect.

These arrival times are the ones recommended by Air Senegal. Whether you are flying from Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle or Dakar Blaise Diagne, it is best to aim for the upper end of the range on busy travel days.

Air Senegal online check-in is only available on domestic flights and a selection of international routes. If your route is not included, or if the system does not recognise your booking, you will check in at the airport counter instead, which is not a problem for your flight as long as you respect the recommended arrival times.

A few common situations:

• You are travelling with bags to check in: online check-in is still possible, and you then drop your bags at the check-in counter once you arrive at the airport.
• You only have carry-on luggage and have already checked in online: the airline states that you can go straight to the boarding gate, provided your cabin baggage respects the maximum allowed weight.
• You are travelling with children: the airline confirms that a parent can check in their children themselves, as long as they have all the documents required for the trip.
• Unaccompanied minors, special assistance, or an animal in the cabin: these cases are usually handled at the counter.

To access check-in, keep your booking reference (PNR) and the exact name shown on the ticket at hand.

The ticket and the boarding pass are two separate documents. The ticket is what you receive once your booking is paid for; the boarding pass is what gives you access to the aircraft, and you only get it once check-in is complete. Check in at the airport and you receive a paper boarding pass; check in online and you receive an electronic boarding pass.

At the document check, Air Senegal asks passengers to present an identity document (passport or ID card used at the time the booking was made). In other words, if your booking was made with a passport number, present that same passport, not another form of ID. Also keep in mind the entry requirements of your arrival country (visa, supporting documents depending on the destination), which may be checked at the counter even if you are already checked in.

For connecting flights at Blaise Diagne Airport, the airline asks passengers to be at the boarding gate no later than 30 minutes before the departure of the next flight.

Online check-in does not remove the need to go through the counter as soon as you have a checked bag. Baggage drop-off follows the same schedule as check-in: once the counter closes, your bags will no longer be accepted. The airline does not offer early drop-off the day before the flight, so allow enough time on the day itself.

As for the baggage allowance, it depends on your travel class and the fare purchased, and is shown on your ticket. One reference point from the airline's policy: a baby under 2 years old is entitled to 1 checked bag of up to 10 kg.

In the cabin, liquids and gels are regulated under international security standards, which only allow a limited quantity per passenger. Security checks apply regardless of how you checked in.

There are several reasons an Air Senegal online check-in attempt might fail. The most common one: your flight is not among the domestic flights or selected international flights open to this process. Other causes include an unconfirmed ticket or one issued by an agency without a valid e-ticket, a mistyped booking reference, a name that does not match the ticket, or a check-in window that has not opened yet.

A few useful steps:

• Double-check the PNR and the spelling of the name as they appear on your confirmation.
• Try again later if check-in has only just opened for your flight.
• If your ticket was bought through a travel agency, contact that agency for any change to the booking.
• If the issue persists, Air Senegal customer service can be reached by phone, email or social media, and the airport counter will take over on the day of the flight.

iBoardingPass can complete online check-in on the traveller's behalf, as soon as the airline opens it, and send the boarding pass by email.