Most airlines open online check-in 24-48h before departure and close it 45-120 minutes before; LCCs often open earlier. Save your mobile boarding pass and drop bags in time.
Pick an airline below for its check-in guide:
Three ways to check in
Web/app check-in opens earliest (24–48h before departure for most carriers) and gives the best seat pick; airport kiosks cover quick reprints; staffed counters handle international document checks, special assistance and outsize bags. Domestic China flights are broadly paperless — mobile boarding pass plus ID through security — while international departures usually still require a counter document check even after online check-in.
Windows differ by airline
Opening and closing times vary widely: Cathay, EVA and SIA open at 48 hours; mainland carriers mostly open the day before (Air China domestic from ~20:00); cut-offs range from 45 minutes (CEA domestic) to 5 hours before departure (some Hainan international flights requiring counter verification). The table below lists exact windows for the major carriers.
Seat strategy
The minute check-in opens is when the free seat map is fullest — set an alarm for window/aisle or adjacent seats. Exit rows give the most legroom but carry eligibility rules and often a fee; ahead of the wing is quieter; the tail deplanes last. LCC random assignment skews to middle seats — the small seat fee is usually worth it for pairs.
Families: most carriers hold row 1 for infant travellers (bassinet on long-haul needs advance request), and same-booking passengers are seated together when possible — early check-in remains the only reliable guarantee in peak season.
Missed the cut-off?
Missing online check-in is not missing the flight — head straight to the airline counter; you can still check in until the counter deadline (typically 40–60 minutes before departure domestically). After a genuine no-show, most domestic fares rebook onto later same-day flights free or cheaply; international tickets follow fare rules. If you sense you'll be late, call the airline while en route — a logged call often earns more flexibility.
Check-in windows by airline
| Airline | Window |
|---|---|
| Air China (CA) | Domestic online check-in generally opens the day before departure (around 20:00 at most airports) and closes about 60 minutes before; international opens about 36h before and closes about 120 minutes before departure (route-dependent). |
| China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Online check-in opens ~24h before departure; closes 45 min before domestic and 60 min before international flights. |
| China Southern Airlines (CZ) | Domestic online check-in opens ~14:00 the day before departure, closes 45-60 min before; international opens 24-48h before, closes 60-90 min before (route-dependent). |
| Hainan Airlines (HU) | Online check-in opens ~24h before departure; closes ~1h before domestic and ~4-5h before international flights (international passengers must verify documents at the counter). |
| Sichuan Airlines (3U) | Online/app check-in opens 24h before departure at most airports (07:00 the day before at Chengdu hubs); closes ~60 min before domestic, ~90 min international. |
| XiamenAir (MF) | Online/app check-in opens ~24h before departure; closes 60 min before domestic, 90 min before international flights. |
| Juneyao Airlines (HO) | Online/app check-in opens ~24h before departure; closes ~90 min before international and 60-90 min before domestic flights. |
| Spring Airlines (9C) | Online/app check-in opens ~48h before departure, closes ~1h before; airport counters close 45-60 min (domestic) / 60-90 min (international) before departure. |
| Cathay Pacific (CX) | Online check-in opens 48h before departure and closes 60 min before; HKIA counters also close 60 min before. |
| China Airlines (CI) | Online check-in opens 48h and closes 60 min before departure (US/Guam routes open 24h before). |
| EVA Air (BR) | Online check-in opens 48h and closes 1h before departure (US/Canada routes open 24h before). |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | Online/mobile check-in opens 48h and closes 1.5h before departure. |
| Scoot (TR) | Online check-in opens 48h and closes 1.5h before departure (some route exceptions); airport counters close 60 min before. |
All airlines
Air ChinaChina Eastern AirlinesChina Southern AirlinesHainan AirlinesShanghai AirlinesShenzhen AirlinesSichuan AirlinesXiamenAirShandong AirlinesJuneyao AirlinesSpring AirlinesCathay PacificHong Kong AirlinesHK ExpressAir MacauChina AirlinesEVA AirSTARLUX AirlinesTigerair TaiwanSingapore AirlinesScoot
Frequently asked questions
Can I change seats after checking in?
Yes — self-service until the cut-off, then via the counter or gate staff.
How do connections check in?
Single-ticket connections usually issue all boarding passes at once; interline itineraries may require re-check at the transfer point.
Is a mobile boarding pass enough?
Domestically yes (screenshots included); some countries require a stamped or paper pass on international departures — allow counter time.
The system shows the wrong baggage allowance
Check what your fare included on the order page, then fix it with the counter or hotline before airport day — never buy allowance at airport rates to “solve” a display error.