How to check-in for international and regional flights?
Passengers should arrive at the airport within the required
time limit. Please bring your valid passport, necessary
visas and other valid travel documents and complete
all check-in and immigration requirements in advance.
What is the closing time for check-in on regional and international
flights?
For flights originating in Beijing: All of Air China’s
domestic and international flights operate out of T3.
Check-in counters for Air China flights will close 30
minutes before departure for domestic flights and 60
minutes before departure for international and regional
flights. Boarding gates for all flights will close 10
minutes before departure. Customers connecting between
Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 or 2 should plan for a minimum
connecting time of 2-3 hours depending on the flight.
What travel documents do I need to present when checking in for an international flight or a regional flight?
You should present your passport, visa and other valid travel documents. You should carry your passport, visa and other travel documents on your person instead of putting them in your checked baggage.
Which types of travel documents are valid documents?
Valid travel documents include a resident identification
card, a temporary identification card, a military ID
card (officer, solider, trainee, civil service cadre,
retiree, or staff), travel documents for residents in
Hong Kong, Macau SAR and Taiwan, a passport and travel
certificate for foreign passengers, a diplomatic identity
card, a student identity card for a young person under
16 years old, and a household register or identification
issued by the police authority where the household is
registered.
What form of identification can a foreign passenger use
to take a domestic flight if he or she doesn’t have a passport?
For domestic flights only, foreign passengers can use
a photocopy of their passport and a certificate with
a photo and seal issued by the Immigration Office.
What documents are required for foreign passengers or Taiwan
residents to enter Tibet?
Foreign passengers should have a valid visa and tibet
travel permits to visit Tibet. Without this documentation,
foreign passengers may transit in Lhasa but can not
stay overnight.
What form of identification can I use to check in for domestic
flights if my ID card is lost?
You must obtain certificate of domicile from the local
police station that maintains your record of permanent
residence. Bring this certificate of domicile along
with two one-inch ID photos to the airport police station
to get a temporary flight ID that you can use to check
in.
When is a transit visa required?
If you are departing from China, transferring to another
flight in another country and then traveling to a final
destination in a third country, please check with the
governments of the countries you will transit to determine
whether you will require a transit visa prior to your
departure, to ensure that your trip will not be delayed.
What passport validity is required to purchase tickets for
international flights?
Passports should be valid for at least six months after
the date of the international flight, except for regional
flights (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).
How can I check-in?
When you have an Air China E-ticket, you can check in using any of the following ways:
1. Check in at the airport with your valid travel documents. (These documents must be the same as the documents you used when making the reservation): Proceed to a designated Air China counter at the airport to check in for your flight, select a seat and get a boarding pass. The Air China staff will confirm that your e-ticket matches the ID number/name you used to purchase the ticket and will confirm the flight number and time of your flight, print your boarding pass, and show you where to check in your luggage. After you have checked in your luggage and picked up a boarding pass, proceed through the airport security checkpoint with your boarding pass, and go to your departure gate to wait for your flight. To avoid delays, we recommend that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time to allow enough time to reach the gate in time to board your flight.
2. Check-in online at Air China’s website: When your itinerary and check-in time allow for online check-in, you can check-in online, select your seat and print your boarding pass. Upon arrival at the airport, you can go directly through the security checkpoint and board the flight using the A4 boarding pass you printed.
3. Check-in at an airport self service kiosk: You can use the self service kiosk at the airport to check-in using valid travel documents (These documents must be the same as the documents you used when making the reservation). At the kiosk, you can select your seat and print your boarding pass by following the on-screen instructions.
4. Air China APP: You can select your preferred seat and print your boarding pass as long as check-in through Air China APP is available for your flight and is applicable to your flight time. A short text message which contains a QF code will be sent to your mobile phone, and the code is your e-boarding pass. At the airport, you can use your e-boarding pass for security check and boarding. In the case of flight change, aircraft rescheduling and class upgrade, please approach our waitlist check-in counter at the airport.
Can mainland residents use a Hong Kong and Macao Pass to
take domestic flights?
Can Hong Kong Identity Card be used to take mainland flights?
Can I check-in online if I'm taking a code share flight?
No. Only flights flown by Air China qualify for online
check-in.
Can I check-in online if I have checked baggage?
Yes, but you still will need to check your luggage at
the airport check-in counter. Please arrive at the airport
with enough time before your flight to allow for checking
in your luggage.
Can I check in using a first generation ID card?
No,the first generation ID card cannot be used .
If I have checked in online, can I cancel my check-in?
Yes. You can cancel your check-in through the Air China
website up to two hours before the flight departure
time. Check-in can be cancelled a maximum of three times
Is online check-in available for children, infants and passengers
with special needs?
No. Children, infants and passengers with special needs
must check-in at the airport service counter.
If I have already checked in online can I change my seat
assignment?
Yes. You can cancel your original check in and check
in again, up to two hours prior to your flight departure
time.
I've checked in online. How can I find my boarding gate
information?
Boarding gates may not be determined at the time you
check-in online. Always confirm your boarding gate when
you arrive at the airport on the date of your flight.
I'm traveling with a child. I can check-in online but my
child can't. What shall I do?
If you can open the seating chart, you can call 95583
to request seats for yourself and your child. If this
option isn't available, please check in at the airport
service counter to make sure you and your child can
sit together.
What is the check-in procedure for an international flight
that has a domestic transit stop? For example a flight from
Beijing to Sydney that transits in Shanghai?
Passengers can check-in at the city of origin and check
their luggage through to the final destination, but
at the domestic transit city, passengers will need to
disembark the airplane with their carry on luggage to
attend to exit formalities
What formalities should I attend to at the airport for an
international flight?
Get a boarding pass, check your luggage, go through
the health and quarantine inspection, the exit frontier
inspection, the security check and customs inspection,
then proceed to the gate area and wait to board your
flight.
Where do I check-in for code share flights?
Go to the check-in counter of the airline that will
operate the flight
What is Through Check In?
Passengers have tickets for two or more flights, or
have two or more tickets with consecutive ticket numbers.
The departure airport will route passengers' luggage
through to their final destination airport and manage
the check-in procedures for all transfer airports enroute
for transit stops that do not exceed 24 hours.
What options does Air China offer for check-in?
Passengers can check-in at the airport service counter,
the Air China website, by telephone or by mobile phone.
How does the website check-in work?
Log on to the official Air China website, select "Check-in",
fill in the certificate number (electronic ticket number, ID number or passport number), mobile phone number, passenger name as required.
When is online check-in available?
Online check-in begins at different times for different
flights. Please check the website to see when online
check-in begins for your flight. Online check-in for
all flights ends two hours before departure time.
When is online check-in available for international flights?
Online check-in for international flights begins at
different times for different flights. Please check
the website to see when online check-in begins for your
flight. Online check-in for all international flights
ends three hours before departure time.
Under what circumstances can I check in by telephone?
If you have booked your ticket through 95583 and paid
by mobile phone you can check-in by phone for domestic
flights carried by Air China originating in Beijing,
Nanjing, Hongqiao, Dalian and Harbin. Telephone check-in
is not available for the domestic portions of international-domestic
combined flights or for CA4188, or for infants, children,
disabled passengers or passengers who require special
services.
What is the deadline for telephone check-in?
Two and a half hours before departure time
Can I check-in in advance in Lhasa?
No. Passengers must check-in at the airport service
counter.
If I have checked in using 95583 can I cancel my check-in?
Yes, by calling 95583 at least one and a half hours
prior to departure, or by going to the airport service
counter.
Under what circumstances can I check in using my mobile
phone?
You can check in using your mobile phone for domestic
flights carried by Air China originating in Beijing.
However, Mobile phone check-in service is not available
for the domestic portions of international-domestic
combined flights or for any flight from Beijing to Lhasa,
or for infants, children, disabled passengers or passengers
who require special services.
When is mobile phone check-in available?
From 24 hours prior to flight time until 90 minutes
prior to flight time.
What are the procedures for checking in by mobile phone?
Log onto the Air China mobile check-in website WAP.AIRCHINA.COM,
accept the terms of service, enter your passenger information,
select your seats, check-in, and download the two-dimensional
bar code.
Can I cancel a check-in I completed using my mobile phone?
Yes, by calling 95583 at least two hours prior to departure
time or by visiting the airport service counter.