We won’t hide from the fact there's probably going to be queues in the airport this summer, and that will maybe include at the check in desks.
While we know it’s probably not what you want to hear, it’s best to be honest with you as we work to meet the surge in demand for air travel. We know handling agents are trying to recruit to meet that demand, but it takes time.
In the meantime, we’re asking you to work with us in a few different ways to help keep those queues as short as possible. Prepare for security, know what you can and can’t take in hand luggage and arrive at the airport in good time.
We appreciate a common frustration among passengers can be not knowing exactly how long before flying to arrive, so we thought we’d share check-in desk opening times to help you plan ahead.
For instance Virgin Atlantic and Turkish Airlines are among the airlines who open their desks four hours before flight times, while easyJet and Ryanair desks are open at least two hours before departure.
We’d always suggest you check-in online where possible, but if you’re dropping bags off these are the times you need to know about.
*please note times can vary and are subject to change
Airlines A-E
Airline | Opens | Closes |
Aegean Air | 3 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Aer Lingus | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Air Baltic | 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Air Canada | 4 hours before | 60 minutes before |
Air France | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Atlantic Airways | 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Balkan Holidays | 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |
British Airways | 3 hours before | 45 minutes before |
Brussels Airlines | 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Delta Airlines | 3 hours before | 1 hour before |
easyJet | at least 2 hours before | 30 minutes before |
Edelweiss Air | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Eurowings | 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Airlines F-R
Airline | Opens | Closes |
Finnair | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Flyr | 2.5 hours before | 45 minutes before |
Iberia | 2 hours before | 45 minutes before |
Jet2.com | 3 hours before | 45 minutes before |
KLM | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Loganair | 2 hours before | 30 minutes before |
Lufthansa | 3 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Norwegian | 2 hours before | 45 minutes before |
Qatar Airways | 3 hours before | 1 hour before |
Ryanair | at least 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |
Airlines S-W
Airline | Opens | Closes |
SAS | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
SunExpress | 2.5 hours before | 45 minutes before |
Transavia | 2.5 hours before | 1 hour before |
TUI | 3 hours before | 45 minutes before |
Turkish Airlines | 4 hours before | 1 hour before |
United Airlines | 3 hours before | 1 hour before |
Virgin Atlantic | 4 hours before | 50 minutes before |
Vueling Airlines | 2.5 hours before | 40 minutes before |
WestJet | 3 hours before | 60 minutes before |
Wizz Air | 2 hours before | 40 minutes before |