Xiamen Air Boarding Pass: Times and Counters

Exact times depend on the departure airport and the flight. The airline states that it opens check-in counters at every airport and refers passengers, for exact locations and cut-off times, to the official airport websites or its call centre 95557.

Online check-in opens anywhere from a few hours to a few dozen hours before departure depending on the route, then closes before take-off, earlier on international flights than on domestic ones. Take the earliest time shown on your booking or itinerary as the one that matters, and treat it as final: once that cut-off passes, your seat may be released.

Xiamen Air offers check-in through its website xiamenair.com and its mobile app, either by signing in to your account or by searching with your ticket number and name. At Chinese airports, self-service kiosks and mobile check-in are widely available; abroad, availability depends on the layover airport and its ground handling provider.

Some situations are still handled at the counter, as is standard practice with most airlines: unaccompanied minors, passengers needing special assistance, animals in the cabin, oversized baggage, tickets issued by a partner airline, or itineraries changed at the last minute. If online check-in rejects your booking, this isn't necessarily an error: simply go to the counter within the usual time frame.

For connecting flights through Xiamen, the airline checks baggage through to the final destination, with no need to re-check it, on its international routes. Even so, check your boarding pass to confirm how far your baggage has been tagged.

Once check-in is complete, the boarding pass is available electronically (app, email, scannable code) or as a paper copy issued at the counter or kiosks. Not every stopover accepts the mobile version: at some international airports, particularly where a visa or travel document check is required, a visit to the counter is still needed to obtain a printed pass.

Document checks are explicit at Xiamen Airlines: passengers must present a valid identity document, ticket or boarding pass at the check-in counter or boarding gate, failing which their booking may be cancelled. Keep your passport, visa or entry permit within easy reach, including if you are transiting through China under a visa-free transit exemption.

Also watch out for connections: on an itinerary combining Xiamen Air with another carrier, the boarding pass for the second leg is sometimes only issued at the connecting airport.

Even if checked in ahead of time, a passenger with checked baggage must go through a baggage drop counter before the cut-off time. The airline recommends allowing enough time and arriving early at the counter with a valid travel document, aiming for 90 minutes before departure.

Baggage allowances vary according to travel class, Egret Club status and destination. Check the airline's baggage section or your ticket for the details that apply to your journey.

Things to remember before you leave:

• Both cabin and checked baggage go through security screening before boarding.
• Prohibited items and dangerous goods are covered by the airline's specific regulations.
• Special baggage on international and regional flights falls under general rules published by the airline, and is handled at the counter.

Can't find your booking through online check-in? Check the spelling of your name exactly as it appears on your passport, along with the ticket number you're using. A booking made through a travel agency or a SkyTeam partner may carry a different reference from the one used on the airline's website.

Unassigned seats, families split up, misspelled names, schedule changes: these are handled by Xiamen Airlines customer service (Europe line +31 (0)8000205888, call centre 95557 in China) or at the airport counter. For a name change or updated information on an international ticket, the airline applies its own dedicated policy.

If you arrive late, be aware that Xiamen Airlines may cancel a reserved seat to avoid flight delays, and is not responsible for any losses or costs resulting from such cancellations. It's best to leave with a comfortable margin, especially during peak times at the Chinese hubs. Travellers who would rather not handle it themselves can hand their online check-in over to iBoardingPass, which carries it out as soon as the airline opens check-in and sends the boarding pass by email.

Other SkyTeam alliance carriers apply their own deadlines: see the rules for China Southern Airlines, those for China Eastern, Air France check-in, the Delta procedure or China Airlines check-in.