Norwegian Online Check-In: Schedules, Boarding Pass and Baggage

Check-in opens 2 hours before departure. This window isn't the same everywhere: at Skellefteå, domestic check-in opens later, while flights to or from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Geneva, Istanbul, Beirut, Tbilisi and Antalya open earlier, according to the airline's published information.

Closing times, on the other hand, depend on the type of flight:

Boarding itself closes a few minutes before departure time, whatever the flight. Passengers needing special assistance must check in well ahead of time, generally one hour before departure on domestic flights and two hours before on international flights. The same head start applies at the counter: unaccompanied minors, pets, weapons, musical instruments and sports equipment must be presented at least one hour before scheduled departure. The boarding gate closes well before the time printed on your ticket, so build in a margin and always double check the exact time shown on your booking.

There are two routes to a Norwegian boarding pass: the Travel Assistant app, where the check-in button completes the process and displays the pass on your phone or tablet, and the My Trips section of the website, where you sign in to your booking and follow the on-screen steps.

A few points worth keeping in mind:

• Online check-in isn't yet available for every destination Norwegian serves.
• If it doesn't appear in the days before departure, check-in will have to be completed at the airport.
• Some destinations require Advance Passenger Information (APIS) to be submitted before check-in, so keep your travel documents close at hand.
• Flights operated by another carrier or booked through a third party may follow a different process.

Once checked in, the barcode on your digital boarding pass is scanned at security and again at boarding. For a digital pass, Norwegian requires the Travel Assistant app: boarding passes issued by a travel agency don't contain the information needed for the boarding process.

Prefer paper? The barcode can be scanned at the airport's check-in kiosks to print a copy, or shown at the check-in desks. As for documents, you'll need to present a photo ID whose name matches exactly the one on the ticket ; the carrier may refuse boarding in the absence of valid documents. A shortened first name, a married surname, or a typo should be corrected with the airline before departure day, never at the gate.

Once checked in online, head straight to the bag drop area after printing your bag tags at the check-in kiosks or asking for help at the counter. For checked baggage, 1 hour before departure.

Self-service kiosks at many airports let you check in, print your bag tag and boarding pass, then drop your suitcase at the self-service counter. Norwegian recommends allowing at least two hours before your scheduled departure and checking the departure airport's website, since security wait times vary widely.

Cabin and checked baggage allowances depend on the fare purchased (Lowfare, Lowfare+, Flex), so check exactly what's included in your ticket before you travel, as bags added at the airport generally cost more than at booking. Fast Track, the priority security lane, is included with Flex tickets at certain airports.

Does online check-in reject your booking? This can happen if the route isn't yet covered by the service, if passport information required by the destination is missing, if the flight is operated by another airline, or if a passenger on the booking falls into a category handled at the counter (special assistance, unaccompanied minor, pet, weapon, musical instrument). In these cases, check-in must be completed at the airport, either at the counter or a kiosk, within the deadlines shown in the table above.

Arrive after check-in closes and you won't be allowed to board, even if the aircraft is still at the gate: on a Lowfare ticket, rebooking onto a later flight usually comes at a cost. Without valid ID or the required travel documents, Norwegian reserves the right to deny boarding. Entry requirements vary by destination and nationality, and some require authorisation obtained before departure, so check with the relevant country's authorities. If you'd rather not keep an eye on check-in opening yourself, iBoardingPass can check you in online as soon as it opens and send your boarding pass by email.

Other airlines apply similar rules: see the deadlines at easyJet, the process at Eurowings, how French Bee check-in works, Iberia Express schedules, or the Jet2 boarding pass.