IndiGo Online Check-In: How to Get Your Boarding Pass

IndiGo online check-in opens several hours before scheduled departure and closes before takeoff. Give yourself plenty of margin: once that window has passed, the airport counter is your only option. The exact opening and closing time depends on the flight, so check it on your booking or itinerary, as that is the reference to follow.

At the airport, counter hours differ depending on the type of flight and the terminal. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore or Hyderabad at peak times require more buffer than a regional airport, and an international flight generally needs more time than a domestic one because of document checks and security screening. Checking in on time doesn't mean you can skip arriving early at the boarding gate, since it closes before the published departure time.

Online check-in is done through the airline's official website or the IndiGo mobile app, using the booking reference (PNR, six characters) and the passenger's name exactly as it appears on the booking, or the email address used at the time of purchase.

A few points worth knowing:

• Seat selection is offered during the process. With IndiGo, most seats carry a fee whether chosen at booking or at check-in; if you don't pay, a seat is assigned automatically.
• Travellers who booked through a travel agency or tour operator can check in with the same PNR, provided the ticket has actually been issued.
• Certain situations aren't handled online and require a counter visit: passengers with reduced mobility who requested assistance, infants without a seat, unaccompanied minors, animals in the cabin, oversized baggage, and generally any case where documents need to be checked in person.
• On international flights, passport details and, where applicable, visa information are requested during check-in. An incorrectly filled field will block the process.

Connecting flights on the same PNR are normally processed together, but a change of airport or rerouting onto another airline often means going back to a counter.

Once check-in is confirmed, the boarding pass is sent by email and remains available in the app or in the booking management area. It comes in a mobile format (barcode or QR code to scan) as well as a printable PDF.

On domestic Indian flights, the mobile boarding pass is widely accepted at checkpoints. On international flights and at certain foreign airports, staff may require a paper version or stamp the pass at the counter: if in doubt, stop by the IndiGo counter with your passport before going through security.

The boarding pass must always be used together with valid identification: an official photo ID for domestic flights within India, a valid passport (and visa where the destination requires one) for international travel. The name on the pass must match the travel document exactly.

Online check-in doesn't remove the need for a bag drop if you're travelling with checked luggage. This counter closes at the same time as check-in, sometimes slightly earlier, which is one of the main reasons travellers miss flights despite having checked in.

General guidelines for IndiGo, worth confirming on your booking since the allowance depends on fare and route:

• Cabin baggage: one carry-on bag per passenger, with weight and size limits set by the airline, plus one small personal item.
• Checked baggage: the included allowance varies by fare type and destination; on international flights it often differs from the domestic allowance.
• Extra baggage bought in advance online is generally cheaper than paying at the airport counter on departure day.

Some services provided at the counter may carry a fee depending on the airport, so it's worth checking on site before requesting anything. If you'd rather not track the check-in window yourself, iBoardingPass can complete your online check-in as soon as it opens and send your boarding pass by email.

Online check-in won't accept my PNR. Check that the ticket has actually been issued (a booking still pending payment or issuance by the agency can't be checked in) and that you're within the check-in window. A flight operated by a partner airline under a 6E number is sometimes managed on the operating carrier's website.

I haven't received the boarding pass by email. Check your spam folder, then retrieve it directly from the booking management area or the app.

My name is misspelled. Minor corrections are handled by IndiGo customer service before departure; don't go to the airport expecting to sort this out at the gate.

I missed the check-in deadline. Go straight to the counter: depending on the airport and time, an agent may still accept you, but the airline isn't obliged to, and a passenger who arrives late is treated as a no-show.

I'm changing my itinerary. Any flight change cancels the check-in already done; you'll need to check in again for the new segment.

If your journey combines several Indian carriers, the rules don't carry over from one airline to another: Air India check-in conditions differ from IndiGo's, particularly on baggage allowance and closing times.