We are an independent service and are not affiliated with any airline. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. We provide a paid check-in assistance service through a monthly subscription priced at €49. Check-in can also be completed free of charge on the official website of the relevant airline.
Citilink Online Check-In and Boarding Pass Explained
Citilink is the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, with a network centred on Indonesia (Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Medan, Makassar) plus a handful of international routes. Check-in opens well before departure and closes well ahead of boarding, even on the shortest domestic flights. This page brings together the key points: when to check in, how to get your boarding pass, what still needs sorting at the counter, and what to do when something goes wrong.
When Citilink check-in opens and closes
Citilink online check-in opens a set number of hours before departure and closes well ahead of the scheduled take-off time. The exact timing depends on the airport and the type of flight, so trust the time shown on your booking or confirmation email and treat it as a strict deadline.
At the airport, check-in counters close before departure, and this cut-off is enforced without exception. Arrive well ahead of time, factoring in security checks, which can take a while at Indonesia's busier airports.
Once the counter has closed, the ticket is treated as unused and the airline is under no obligation to rebook you on another flight. This is the point that ends up costing latecomers the most, more than any fee itself.
Checking in online, via the app or at the counter
Citilink offers several check-in channels, and they don't all cover the same situations:
| Channel | Who it's for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Citilink website | Most passengers with cabin baggage or already-paid checked baggage | Requires the booking code and passenger name |
| Citilink mobile app | Passengers with a smartphone | Stores the boarding pass within the app |
| Self-service kiosks at the airport | Major Indonesian airports | Useful when online check-in hasn't gone through |
| Citilink counter | Infants, assistance, document checks, oversized baggage | Closes earlier than boarding |
Some travellers are still directed to the counter: those flying with an infant, pregnant passengers, passengers requiring assistance, pets in the cabin or hold, and sports equipment. In these cases, online check-in may be refused or only partially completed, and an agent will need to finalise things.
The Citilink boarding pass
Once check-in is confirmed, the boarding pass is sent by email or displayed in the app. It shows your name, flight number, seat, expected gate and the boarding deadline.
Not every airport Citilink serves applies the same policy on electronic boarding passes at security checkpoints. If you're unsure about your departure airport, head to the counter or a kiosk to get a printed copy.
On international flights, the boarding pass doesn't replace the document checks: a valid passport, any required visa and paperwork demanded by the destination country are all checked before the final document is issued. Also make sure the spelling of your name matches your passport exactly.
Baggage, seats and getting through the airport
Citilink's checked baggage allowance varies depending on the fare purchased, and cabin baggage is limited in both size and weight. Buying extra baggage allowance in advance, online or through customer service, is generally cheaper than paying for it at the counter on the day of departure.
Checking in early doesn't change anything about dropping off baggage: you still need to reach the baggage drop-off counter before it closes, and that closing time depends on the airport and the flight. Seat selection is offered during check-in; some seats may carry a fee depending on the fare and cabin.
When things go wrong: errors and special cases
A few common situations and how to handle them:
- The booking code is rejected: check that the flight is indeed operated by Citilink and that the ticket has been paid in full.
- Online check-in isn't available for your flight: some international departures or certain airports require you to use the counter, and this isn't an error on your part.
- You haven't received the boarding pass by email: check your spam folder, then try again from the app using the same booking code.
- Mistake in the name: this can be corrected before check-in through Citilink customer service, and fees may apply.
- Flight changed or cancelled: any boarding pass already issued is no longer valid, and a new one is issued once you've been rebooked.
Travellers who would rather not keep track of when check-in opens can hand the task over to iBoardingPass, which checks in as soon as it opens and sends the boarding pass by email.
Frequently asked questions
When can I check in for a Citilink flight?
Online check-in opens before departure and closes several hours ahead of take-off, depending on the flight and airport. The exact time is shown on your booking, so rely on that rather than a general rule, and plan to check in as soon as it opens.
Is the Citilink boarding pass on my phone enough?
It depends on the departure airport: not all of them apply the same policy to electronic documents at security checkpoints. If you're not sure, get your boarding pass printed at the counter or a kiosk before going through security.
Does Citilink charge for checking in at the counter?
Counter policies depend on the airport and the fare purchased. What commonly gets paid for on the day of departure is excess baggage: buying extra allowance in advance is generally cheaper than paying for it at the counter.
What happens if I arrive after check-in has closed?
The counter will not reopen. The ticket is then treated as unused, and Citilink is under no obligation to rebook you on a later flight: you'll need to contact customer service to look into a new ticket or a change, usually at a cost.
Can I choose my seat during Citilink check-in?
Seat selection is offered during check-in. Some seats may carry a fee depending on the fare and cabin, and sitting together as a group isn't guaranteed unless you select your seats.
Do I still need to go to the counter after checking in online?
Yes, if you have checked baggage, a pet, special equipment, an infant, or an international flight requiring document checks. The baggage drop-off counter closes before departure, at a time that depends on the airport.
Other airlines
← China Southern Airlines (Previous airline)CityJet → (Next airline)
The information on this page is taken from the airlines' official websites and dated item by item.