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Sichuan Airlines online check-in and boarding pass
Sichuan Airlines (code 3U) offers online check-in and seat selection on its official website and app, under the order management section. The airline states that check-in cities and opening times vary by station, which is why the same rule does not apply everywhere. This page brings together what you need to know before departure: when to check in, how to get your boarding pass, and when the airport counters close.
When Sichuan Airlines online check-in opens and closes
The airline publishes a list of cities and opening times for online check-in, so the exact time depends on your departure airport and the type of flight (domestic China, regional or international).
Online check-in always closes before departure time, and this cut-off is not the same from one station to another. Use the earliest time as a guide and check the deadline shown on your booking or itinerary.
Worth noting too: the airline has issued a notice adjusting the check-in deadline for flights departing from Vancouver. At certain stations, the closing time can therefore be earlier than usual practice. Check the passenger notices for your airport before you travel.
Official website, app and seat selection
At Sichuan Airlines, check-in and seat selection go through the same function, listed as "选座值机" (seat selection and check-in) in the services section of the official website.
Points to know before you start:
- If the ticket was bought on the airline's official website or app, check-in is done from the order details, under "My Orders".
- For other tickets, you search using the passenger's name together with the ticket number, ID number or passport number, with verification by SMS code.
- For an international ticket, the name must be entered in surname/given name format using Latin letters, exactly as shown on the ticket.
- The airline refers passengers to its terms of use for the seat selection and check-in service, which it asks travellers to read before using the feature.
The Sichuan Airlines mobile app (and its WeChat mini-program) gives access to the same functions. Depending on the flight and fare, not all seats can be assigned online: some remain managed at the counter or may carry a fee.
The boarding pass: formats and special cases
Once check-in is confirmed, the boarding pass is available electronically (in the app or by email, depending on the channel used) or can be collected at the airport, at the counter or at a self-service kiosk.
Certain situations still require a visit to the Sichuan Airlines counter:
| Situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| International or regional flight | Passport, visa and entry document checks before the boarding pass is issued |
| Passengers covered by the airline's special assistance services (unaccompanied minor, wheelchair, pregnant traveller, ill passenger, travelling with an infant) | Special assistance request to be submitted in advance to the airline, through its dedicated section |
| Checked baggage | Drop-off at the counter or a bag-drop kiosk before the flight closes |
For connecting flights, Sichuan Airlines offers a check-in through service: depending on the route and airport, your baggage and boarding passes may be processed through to your final destination. Ask for confirmation at the departure counter, as this depends on the agreements in place for your itinerary.
At the airport: counters, baggage and arrival time
Even once checked in, it pays to arrive early: bag-drop queues, security checks and, on international routes, immigration all take time, particularly at Chengdu Tianfu and Chengdu Shuangliu. Follow the reporting time shown on your booking and the notices published by the airline for your airport.
Watch out for the terminal: the airline has released information about the transfer of regional routes to Terminal 1 at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Check the terminal shown on your boarding pass on the day of travel.
On the baggage side, Sichuan Airlines' cabin and checked baggage allowances depend on class, fare, route and your status in the Golden Panda programme. The airline offers the option to buy extra baggage in advance (prepaid baggage). Settle these extras before you get to check-in, and weigh your bags at home to avoid a surprise at the counter. Restrictions also apply to prohibited items, detailed in the airline's baggage rules.
If something does not work
Online check-in can be refused for ordinary reasons: a name entered in a different format from the one on the ticket, a station not covered by the list of cities open for online check-in, or a flight too close to departure. In these cases, the airline's counter remains the normal route.
If a flight is delayed or cancelled, Sichuan Airlines provides self-service handling for changes and refunds on disrupted flights, as well as delay or cancellation certificates issued from its services section. For any query, the airline lists assistance available 24/7 on 95378 within China, and +86 28 8888 8888 for its international lines.
Other Chinese carriers apply quite different opening times and seat rules; if your trip combines several airlines, also see the pages on Air China check-in, China Eastern Airlines flights, the China Southern boarding pass, Hainan Airlines check-in and Shandong Airlines rules. If you would rather not keep track of when check-in opens yourself, iBoardingPass can check you in automatically as soon as it opens and send your boarding pass by email.
Frequently asked questions
When can I check in online for a Sichuan Airlines flight?
It depends on your departure airport: the airline publishes the list of cities and opening times for online check-in. Closing also happens before departure and varies by station. Go by the deadline shown on your booking.
Where do I check in if my ticket was bought on the Sichuan Airlines website?
Under "My Orders", on the order details page for the ticket, through the seat selection and check-in function. With a ticket bought elsewhere, you need to search by passenger name plus ticket number, ID number or passport number, with SMS verification.
Can I board with a boarding pass on my phone?
The boarding pass issued after online check-in is available electronically. On international and regional flights, a visit to the counter is often still needed for passport, visa and entry document checks. Allow enough time to arrive early for this formality.
Do I still need to go to the counter if I am already checked in?
Yes if you have a bag to check in, if your trip falls under the airline's special assistance services (unaccompanied minor, infant, assistance, ill passenger), or if your travel documents need to be verified. Bags must be dropped off before check-in closes for the flight.
How do I choose my seat on a 3U flight?
Seat selection is done together with check-in, in the same section of the official website or app. The seats on offer depend on the flight and your ticket; some seats cannot be assigned online or may carry a fee.
How long before departure should I be at the airport?
Follow the reporting time shown on your booking and the airline's notices for your airport, and arrive early: bag-drop, security and, internationally, immigration all take time. Some stations have earlier deadlines: the airline has, for instance, issued a notice adjusting the deadline for departures from Vancouver.
What should I do if my Sichuan Airlines flight is delayed or cancelled?
The airline provides self-service handling for changes and refunds on disrupted flights, as well as delay or cancellation certificates. Its phone assistance runs 24/7 (95378 within China, +86 28 8888 8888 for international lines).
Check-in times compared
| Airline | Online check-in opens | Check-in closes |
|---|---|---|
| China Eastern Airlines | 48 hours before departure | 60 minutes before departure |
| Shandong Airlines | - | 30 minutes before departure |
| Shanghai Airlines | 48 hours before departure | 60 minutes before departure |
Other airlines
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The information on this page is taken from the airlines' official websites and dated item by item.