Check-in and boarding pass with KM Malta Airlines

Online check-in for KM Malta Airlines opens 24 hours before departure. The airline asks passengers to reach the departure terminal at least two and a half hours before takeoff, and sets the check-in cut-off at 60 minutes before departure for Economy passengers; Business class passengers have forty-five minutes before departure.

These times are the airline's outer limits, not targets: a queue at security or a baggage desk that has already closed is enough to make you miss your flight. Allow extra time, especially in Malta during peak season and at major hubs such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow or Rome Fiumicino. Once checked in, head to the boarding gate ahead of the departure time shown on your booking.

Online check-in is done through the Online Check-in section of the airline's official website, using the booking reference and passenger name. KM Malta Airlines also has the KM Rewards app, linked to its loyalty programme, where bookings and flight information can be found.

Two limits are worth knowing before you try:

• online check-in is only offered for a list of airports set by the airline, and is currently unavailable for flights departing from Berlin;
• one-off measures can suspend it, as happened when temporary border checks were reinstated in Italy, forcing passengers to check in at the airport instead.

If your flight is affected, the only option is the desk: in that case, arrive at least two hours before departure, as requested by the airline for these situations.

After online check-in, the boarding pass is issued digitally and can be shown on a phone. With a digital boarding pass, you skip the check-in queue and head straight to the gate, or reach the lounge faster if you have access to one.

For passengers without a digital boarding pass, or who need to check bags, airport staff assist travellers and hand over their boarding pass. Some airports or local authorities may require a stop at the desk, for instance for travel document checks: check the requirements for your destination.

On a connecting itinerary booked under a single reference, with the same ticket number for all segments, passengers and bags are checked in together in one go, avoiding a second check-in at the connecting airport. On separate tickets, each airline is only responsible for the flight shown on the ticket it operates, and you'll generally need to collect your bags and check in again with the next carrier. The connection time needed varies by transit airport: check with the airline or the agency where you booked.

With checked baggage, online check-in remains possible: you simply head to the baggage drop desk once you arrive at the airport. Arriving early lets you offload your bags and reach the gate faster. Plan to be at the desk well ahead of the check-in cut-off, which also applies to baggage drop.

Sports equipment must be packed separately, and the maximum weight per bag must not exceed 32 kg; certain items, such as bowling balls or abseiling/climbing equipment, must travel in a rigid container and be checked in at the airport. Bags beyond the allowed weight are treated as extra baggage and charged at check-in, at the airport rate, which is higher than the online rate. Add your baggage options before you travel.

Terminals vary by stopover: at Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow, as well as Munich, Prague, Vienna, Lyon, Madrid or Catania, the airline uses a specific terminal, and at London Gatwick, the South Terminal. At Rome Fiumicino, check-in takes place in one terminal and boarding in another. Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan Linate, Malaga, Malta, Istanbul and Zurich each have only one terminal. Check the terminal shown on your booking before departure.

A few situations come up often, and most can be solved before reaching the desk:

• Online check-in rejects your booking. Check the reference and the spelling of the name exactly as they appear on your confirmation; for a departure from Berlin or during a temporary suspension, checking in at the desk is required.
• The boarding pass doesn't arrive. Check your email's spam folder and the Manage Booking section; failing that, airport staff will hand it to you.
• Seat change or upgrade. Seats are chosen in Manage Booking, and the airline offers a Business class upgrade before the flight.
• Delayed, moved-up or cancelled flight. The airline publishes dedicated notices and then asks passengers to arrive at least two hours before the new departure time; a full refund can be requested if the change doesn't suit you, through the online form for direct bookings, or through your agency otherwise.
• Tight connection. You must be at the boarding gate for your next flight at least thirty minutes before its departure, though this can vary by airline or airport.

KM Malta Airlines' Customer Care Centre answers by phone every day, within the hours shown on the airline's official website. Travellers who'd rather not handle it themselves can turn to iBoardingPass, which checks in as soon as check-in opens and sends the boarding pass by email.

Other airlines serve Malta and the same European capitals, with their own deadlines: see Air France's rules, the Aegean check-in process, Aer Lingus's instructions, Air Europa's, or the Aeroitalia check-in.