KLM Check-In and Boarding Pass: What to Know Before Your Flight

According to the airline's published information, KLM online check-in generally opens the day before departure and stays available until a few hours before the flight. This window can be shorter on certain markets, particularly where local authorities require a document check at the counter. The opening time that applies to your flight is the one shown in your booking.

At the airport, the check-in deadline is stricter than the online closing time, and it depends on both the airport and the type of flight. Treat general guidance as a minimum and allow extra time: check the exact time shown on your booking or your travel documents.

A few practical benchmarks:

A checked-in passenger who arrives too late at the gate can have their seat reassigned: completing check-in does not guarantee your seat if you arrive after the gate has closed.

KLM lets you check in from the “My Trips” section of its website using your booking reference (a six-character code) and passenger name, or your ticket number. The KLM app offers the same process and keeps your boarding pass on hand once it's issued.

At Amsterdam Schiphol and most major airports served, self-service kiosks print boarding passes and baggage tags, alongside dedicated bag-drop counters. At smaller stations operated by KLM Cityhopper, the traditional counter is often the only option, and it closes early.

KLM and Air France share a joint reservation system: a ticket sold by one can be operated by the other. Check-in is then generally done on the website of the airline actually operating the flight. Check the “operated by” notice on your ticket. The same principle applies to codeshare flights with SkyTeam partners.

If your trip involves several carriers, these related pages may help: Air France check-in, Delta Air Lines rules or China Eastern Airlines.

Once check-in is complete, KLM makes the boarding pass available in electronic form (in the app, by email or as a download) and in a printable format. The mobile version is accepted at many airports, but some stopovers and certain authorities still require a paper document: when in doubt, a printed pass avoids any back-and-forth at the checkpoint.

On a connecting itinerary, sometimes only the first boarding pass is issued online, with the next one handed over at the transfer counter. Check the number of passes you've received against the number of flight segments.

Flights to or from certain destinations require a check of passports, visas or travel authorizations before the boarding pass can be issued. Online check-in may still go through, but with the requirement to visit a counter for document verification.

Check-in is when the airline verifies your baggage. KLM allowances depend on the booking class and fare: the most economical European fares don't always include a checked bag, while long-haul fares and higher cabins typically include one or more. Cabin baggage is limited in size and weight, and an oversized bag may be checked in at the gate.

The price of adding a checked bag before departure depends on the route: check your booking for the applicable amount. Seat selection is a paid option on some fares, and the terms for seat assignment vary by ticket type as well as by the passenger's Flying Blue status.

Passengers traveling with a pet, sports equipment, a musical instrument, or those requiring assistance generally need to visit the counter, even after checking in online.

Several situations explain why KLM online check-in might not go through:

• the flight is operated by another airline (Air France, a SkyTeam partner, a charter carrier) and check-in must be done through them;
• check-in isn't open yet, or has just closed for that flight;
• passport details are incomplete or don't match the name on the booking;
• the destination requires a document check at the counter;
• the ticket has been changed, partially refunded, or is pending payment with the issuing agency;
• the group includes many passengers, an infant without a seat, or an assistance request that needs manual handling.

In these cases, visiting a counter or kiosk at the airport remains the solution, arriving well before the check-in deadline. Other alliance airlines follow similar approaches, such as Aeroméxico or Air Europa. iBoardingPass can complete check-in on your behalf as soon as it opens and send your boarding pass by email.