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Ethiopian Airlines: Online Check-in and Boarding Pass
Ethiopian Airlines offers online check-in on its international flights as well as across its Ethiopian domestic network. The window is short: it opens 48 hours before departure and closes 2 hours before departure, which rules out waiting until the night before for a very early morning flight if you leave it to the last minute. This page brings together the timings, eligibility conditions, boarding pass details and the remaining steps at the airport, including baggage drop.
Checked on 26 September 2026 on ethiopianairlines.com
Ethiopian Airlines rules at a glance
| Online check-in opens | 48 hours before departure |
|---|---|
| Online check-in closes | 2 hours before departure |
| Bag drop deadline | 90 minutes before departureParis-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) airport |
| App required | not mandatory; the mobile app is offered as a convenience option for checking in |
| Boarding pass validity | the passport is not valid if it has less than six months of validity remaining |
When Ethiopian Airlines check-in opens and closes
Ethiopian Airlines online check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes 2 hours before departure. In other words, checking in "the night before" works fine for a late afternoon flight, but for a dawn departure you often need to aim for the evening before that, as soon as the window opens.
| Step | Time before departure |
|---|---|
| Online check-in opens | 48 hours before departure |
| Online check-in closes | 2 hours before departure |
| Baggage drop closes at Paris-CDG | 90 minutes before departure |
These timings apply to flights operated by Ethiopian Airlines. On a ticket shared with another airline (codeshare), the carrier actually operating the flight sets the rule: check its own website. For a connecting itinerary through Addis Ababa, check-in generally covers all segments issued on the same ticket, but make sure you have received a boarding pass for each leg.
Checking in online: conditions and documents
To use online check-in, the airline requires an electronic ticket and a flight operated by Ethiopian Airlines. The Ethiopian mobile app is not mandatory; the mobile app is offered as a convenience option for checking in: the airline's website remains an equally valid route, and a printed boarding pass is accepted.
During online check-in, travel documents (passport, visa) are verified during online check-in and may require additional in-person verification at the counter for certain passengers. Pay attention to passport validity: the passport is not valid if it has less than six months of validity remaining. A missing visa or a document nearing expiry will send you back to the counter, sometimes with a long queue.
Some bookings are not eligible for online check-in and must be handled at the airport. If the screen rejects your booking without explaining why, contact the airline's customer service or go to the counter.
Ethiopian Airlines boarding pass and seat selection
Once check-in is confirmed, Ethiopian Airlines issues a digital boarding pass, which can be shown on a smartphone or printed. Seat selection happens at this stage, subject to availability; some seats (emergency exit, front row, preferred seat) are chargeable or subject to conditions depending on the fare.
At a few airports, the electronic boarding pass is not accepted at the security checkpoint or at local controls, and a paper copy must be obtained at the counter. If an agent asks you for one on arrival at the airport, have your pass reprinted before heading to the boarding area.
If you have a ShebaMiles number, add it to your booking before checking in so it appears on the boarding pass and so the baggage allowance linked to your status is taken into account.
At the airport: baggage drop and cut-off times
Online check-in does not replace a visit to the counter as soon as you have a checked bag: it must be dropped off before the local cut-off time. At Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) airport, the counters close 90 minutes before departure. Elsewhere, the baggage drop cut-off depends on the airport and the type of flight: it is shown on your booking or communicated by the local station. These cut-offs are hard deadlines, not recommended arrival times: for a long-haul flight departing from Paris, plan to be at the terminal around three hours beforehand.
As for baggage, the allowance depends on the cabin (Economy or Cloud Nine), the route and your ShebaMiles status; there is no online baggage check-in in the sense of a remote drop-off, only the option to purchase extra baggage in advance from the airline. Check the number of pieces and the weight allowed on your ticket, as these can vary by destination.
Common issues when checking in
- Booking reference not recognised: use the Ethiopian Airlines booking code (the travel agency's reference does not always work) or the electronic ticket number.
- Flight operated by a partner: check-in takes place on the operating carrier's website, not on Ethiopian's.
- Window closed: after 2 hours before departure, only the airport counter remains available, within its own opening hours.
- Documents requiring validation: go to the counter with your passport and visa, even if a boarding pass has already been issued.
- Misspelled name or added passenger: corrections must go through the airline's customer service before check-in.
iBoardingPass can carry out online check-in on your behalf as soon as it opens and send you your boarding pass by email.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance can you check in with Ethiopian Airlines?
Online check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes 2 hours before departure. Check the exact departure time on your booking, as the window is calculated on the flight's local time.
Can you check in the night before the flight?
Yes, provided departure falls within the window that opens 48 hours before departure. For a very early morning flight, the opening often falls two days before during the day: it is best to handle it then rather than the evening before.
Is the Ethiopian mobile app mandatory?
No, it is not mandatory; the mobile app is offered as a convenience option for checking in. The airline's website allows the same process, and the boarding pass can be printed.
What time does baggage drop close at Paris-CDG?
Ethiopian Airlines counters at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle close 90 minutes before departure. Given how busy the terminal can get, plan to arrive well ahead of time.
Do you still need to go to the counter after checking in online?
Yes if you have a checked bag. This also applies for document verification: travel documents (passport, visa) are verified during online check-in and may require additional in-person verification at the counter for certain passengers.
What passport validity is required to fly with Ethiopian Airlines?
The airline considers that the passport is not valid if it has less than six months of validity remaining. Also check the visa requirements for the destination country and, where applicable, any stopover.
Can you check in baggage online?
No, drop-off takes place at the airport. Online, you can purchase extra baggage in advance depending on your itinerary, then hand your bags over at the counter or a bag drop point.
Is online check-in possible on a codeshare flight?
In that case you need to contact the airline actually operating the flight: its own opening and closing times apply, and the boarding pass is issued by that carrier.
Check-in times compared
| Airline | Online check-in opens | Check-in closes |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Airlines | 48 hours before departure | 2 hours before departure |
| Air Austral | 24 hours before departure | 1 hour before departure |
| Air Botswana | 24 hours before departure | 1 hour before departure |
| Air Côte d_Ivoire | 24 hours before departure | 1 hour before departure |
| Air Mauritius | 30 hours before departure | 45 minutes before departure |
| Madagascar Airlines | 30 hours before departure | non précisé explicitement, mais l'enregistrement en ligne est disponible jusqu'à 30 heures avant l'heure de décollage (ouverture), et il est conseillé d'arriver 3h avant pour les vols internationaux et 2h avant pour les vols domestiques |
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Sources
- https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/ca/fr/book/check-in/online-check-in, checked on 26 September 2026
- https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/fr/book/check-in/web-check-in, checked on 26 September 2026
The information on this page is taken from the airlines' official websites and dated item by item.