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Riyadh Air Check In: How It Works and Boarding Pass
Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia's new national carrier, based in Riyadh, and check in is mainly done online, through the airline's website or its mobile app. As with most international carriers, the check-in window closes well before departure. This page covers what you need to know beforehand: the times to watch, your boarding pass, going to the counter, and dropping off baggage.
When Riyadh Air check-in opens and closes
On international flights, online check-in generally opens the day before departure and closes several hours before the flight. Check the exact time shown on your booking or confirmation email: it's the one that counts, and it can vary depending on the departure airport.
A few safe benchmarks to help plan your day:
| Step | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Online check-in opens | the day before departure, depending on your booking |
| Online check-in closes | several hours before departure, ahead of counter closing |
| Airport counters | open several hours before the flight, closing time shown on your booking |
| Boarding gate | be there by the time printed on your boarding pass |
It's best to leave yourself plenty of room: checking in early gives you time to sort out a document issue, and an airport like Riyadh King Khalid can call for extra margin during peak hours.
Checking in online or through the app
Riyadh Air offers two main channels: the airline's website and its mobile app. Either way, you'll need your booking reference or ticket number along with the passenger's surname. The app lets you retrieve your booking, boarding pass, and flight information.
During the process, you'll be asked to enter your travel details: passport number, expiry date, nationality, and depending on the destination, your address of stay or visa. These details are checked before boarding; an incomplete entry can block the issuing of your boarding pass and send you to a counter instead.
Some passengers can't complete online check-in and must go to the airport: those needing special assistance, unaccompanied minors, travellers with a pet, tickets involving another carrier for part of the journey, or documents that need an in-person check. It's not a refusal, just a check carried out at the counter.
Boarding pass: format, reissue, checks
Once check-in is confirmed, the boarding pass is issued digitally (in the app or by email) and, at most airports, can be printed or reprinted on site. Your passport must remain valid according to the requirements of your destination country, since entry conditions vary from one country to another.
At the airport, the boarding pass is used at three points: baggage drop, security screening, and the gate. If your assigned seat changes, if a name is misspelled, or if the document won't display, go to the Riyadh Air counter before passing through security, not after.
For flights to or from certain countries, local authorities require a travel document check at the counter even when online check-in has been completed. In that case, you keep your boarding pass, but an agent still needs to see your passport and visa.
Baggage drop and getting through the airport
Checking in online doesn't remove the need to drop off checked baggage: you still need to go to the Bag Drop counter, which closes before boarding does. Cabin and checked baggage allowances depend on the cabin booked (Economy, Business) and the fare chosen; they're shown on your booking.
A few points flagged by the airline worth knowing before you pack:
- Dangerous goods must be declared at the time of booking or check-in; the airline asks that these be flagged to check-in staff before you're checked in.
- Rules vary by country of departure, transit, and arrival: check what applies at each of your airports.
- Depending on the item, some dangerous goods are only allowed in the cabin or only in the hold, in line with international regulations.
- Hoverboards are banned, because of the risk from their lithium-ion batteries.
- Firearms, ammunition, explosives, corrosive products, and pepper spray are not allowed in the cabin, in the hold, or on your person.
Online check-in can also be carried out through iBoardingPass, as soon as the airline's check-in window opens, with the boarding pass sent by email.
Common issues and how to fix them
Check-in won't start? Most often, the window isn't open yet, or the ticket was bought through an agency and the agency's booking reference differs from the airline's: in that case, use the code shown on the e-ticket issued by Riyadh Air.
Other common situations:
- Name incomplete or reversed compared to your passport: get this corrected with the airline or agency before departure.
- Connecting flight with another airline: the boarding pass for the second leg may only be issued at the airport.
- Check-in closed: get to the counter as quickly as possible; past the check-in deadline, the airline can refuse boarding and the ticket may need to be reissued, with fees depending on the fare.
- Seat not assigned online: it will then be assigned at the airport or at the gate, depending on availability.
If you're ever unsure about a specific time, the check-in deadline shown on your booking always takes priority over any general rule.
Frequently asked questions
When can I check in for a Riyadh Air flight?
Usually the day before departure for an international flight. The exact opening and closing time is shown on your booking, and that is the time that applies.
Can I use the Riyadh Air app to get my boarding pass?
Yes, the airline's mobile app lets you manage your booking and display your digital boarding pass. It can also be sent by email and, at most airports, printed on site.
Do I still need to go to a counter if I checked in online?
Yes if you have checked baggage: bag drop is done at the Bag Drop counter. A counter visit is also required when authorities at the departure or arrival country impose a travel document check.
What should I do if online check in isn't working?
Check that the check-in window is actually open and that you're using the booking reference issued by Riyadh Air. Some passengers (special assistance, unaccompanied minors, travelling with a pet, itineraries shared with another carrier) must go to the counter regardless.
What is the cut off time to arrive at the airport?
Counters close before departure, and boarding closes even earlier. Allow yourself a comfortable margin: the cut off time on your booking is the reference to follow.
Do I need to declare anything when checking in?
Yes, if you're carrying items that could be classed as dangerous goods: Riyadh Air asks that these be declared at booking or check-in, and flagged to check-in staff before you're checked in.
Other airlines
The information on this page is taken from the airlines' official websites and dated item by item.