Emirates Online Check-In: Deadlines, Boarding Pass and Airport Guide

Emirates online check-in is available starting 48 hours before departure of the scheduled departure. It closes 90 minutes before departure of the scheduled departure, for all passengers holding an e-ticket: after this deadline, you must go to the airport counter.

A few cases fall outside online check-in. It is generally unavailable if the first flight of the itinerary is not operated by Emirates, which applies to codeshare flights: check-in must then be done with the airline operating that first segment. According to the airline's public information, minors travelling without an accompanying adult must check in at the Emirates counter.

To check in on the airline's website, you need the surname of each passenger and the booking reference shown on the e-ticket. Emirates Skywards members can also sign in through their account. During the process, Emirates offers seat selection, the option to add your Skywards number to earn Miles, a choice of special meal, and, on some flights, last-minute upgrade offers.

The Emirates App covers the same functions and keeps your details from one trip to the next. It is not mandatory: the mobile boarding pass can also be added to Wallet or collected at the counter.

Seat selection depends on the cabin class and fare purchased, and a fee may apply in some cases. Check what applies to your ticket under 'Manage Booking'. Other airlines in the region follow very different rules: see, for example, the page on El Al check-in.

After online check-in, the mobile boarding pass can be downloaded to your phone, either in the Emirates App or in the Wallet app. It works at most airports, though not all: a few destinations still require a printed pass or a reissue at the counter, usually due to local regulations. If you are unsure about your departure airport, go to the Emirates counter, where staff can reprint the pass or send it by email.

If you check in at the airport, Emirates staff will check in your bags and can send the mobile boarding pass to your email address. At Dubai International Airport, self-service kiosks also let you print your pass and tag your bags.

On multi-segment itineraries, the boarding pass is not always issued through to the final destination, particularly when one flight is operated by another airline. Check in Dubai whether a new document needs to be collected for your connecting flight.

Emirates asks passengers to arrive 3 hours before departure at most airports, with the window extending up to four hours at some locations. Your ticket shows the arrival time suited to your journey, and that is the one that applies, particularly at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Nice or Lyon, where security queues vary a great deal depending on the season.

Departing from Dubai, baggage drop closes 12 hours before departure for flights to the United States. Also in Dubai, the city check-in service at ICD Brookfield Place (DIFC) lets you drop your bags between 24 hours and 4 hours before the flight, then head to the terminal later in the day.

Once checked in, the countdown continues: you still need to clear passport control and security, then reach the boarding gate. Allow plenty of time, as the gate closing time is printed on your boarding pass.

Online check-in does not remove the need to visit the counter if you have checked baggage, an animal, special equipment or documents to be verified (visa, US travel authorisation).

Online check-in not working: first check that the check-in window is open, then confirm that the first flight of your itinerary is indeed operated by Emirates. A ticket issued by an agency, a misspelled name or incomplete passenger details (passport, visa) can also block the process; if so, update your information in the booking or contact the counter.

Boarding pass not received or missing: go back into your booking using your name and reference, then download the document again. The Emirates counter can reissue it on the spot.

Deadline missed: after 90 minutes before departure, only the counter can check you in, and it closes well before the scheduled take-off time. It is always better to arrive early rather than risk being late.

Changing a seat or correcting information afterwards: go back to 'Manage Booking' as long as check-in remains open. If you would rather not track the opening of check-in yourself, iBoardingPass can check you in online as soon as it opens and send you the boarding pass by email.