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I just use web checkin for my flight tomorrow. After that I should have printed my boarding pass. However, I realised that this is not possible. So what can I do now? I have already checked in, but no boarding pass. Is there any way to print that again at the airport? Or is it enough if I have my confirmation number? Or the boarding pass as a PDF?

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Your question is a general question, but your tags suggest it's related to some Canadian airport. This is causing confusion with those trying to answer your question. It would make sense to edit your question to either make it clearly generic, or clearly specific. – MastaBaba Aug 19 '12 at 10:28
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It is about this specific airline and airport. I thought thats what tags are for. I will edit my question when Im back at my laptop. – RoflcoptrException♦ Aug 19 '12 at 12:35
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I understand your line of thought. Still, I would think that tags somehow 'condense' the scope of the post, not expand it. :) – MastaBaba Aug 20 '12 at 20:25
@RoflcoptrException Is it possible to state the name of the airline & airport within the context of your question ? – Simon Mar 11 at 10:41

3 Answers

up vote 15 down vote accepted

Many of the major airlines do have self-service checkin machines at the airport. I know KLM, allows printing forgotten or failed prints.

If your airlines does not have these self service machines, and you are not yet at the airport, try going to a print or copyshop. Most airports these days have these shops, but sometimes they can have quite some waiting queues, which will be adding stress to your journey.

Depending on the airline you are traveling, you could choose to use a mobile device as an alternative boarding card. This only works if your boarding pass has a bar code they use to scan prior to boarding. What you need to do is make a pdf of your boarding pass and store it on your device. I always do this these days and this already saved me once.

A final option is to just approach the check in desk and ask a reprint. This is the least favorable solution, since the whole idea behind online check in is to minimize contact time at a manned checkin desk. Some airlines are then reluctant to help you in these request, some airlines (Ryanair comes to mind) have a hefty fee if you ask for a reprint. In the case of Ryanair this is 40 euros or even higher.

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+1 Good answer, you have sorted all possible options to avoid the check-in counter which is as you mentioned the less favorable option. – HaLaBi Aug 19 '12 at 12:36
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not relevant here, but if you forget to print your boarding pass with RyanAir, they charge you to print it at the airport! – Rory Alsop Aug 19 '12 at 15:55
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Not all airlines’ self-service machines will allow you to reprint a boarding pass if you’ve already checked in online, so you might have to join the ordinary check-in queue. (I encountered this problem with Germanwings at CGN last year.) – Brian Nixon Aug 19 '12 at 22:50
up vote 1 down vote

You can reprint it at the airport, no problem. If no self-service station is available, the regular check-in desk personnel will reprint it for you.

Some airlines in some locations allow using "mobile" boarding pass through their smartphone app, if this is the case for your airline and airport - then you don't even need to reprint anything at all.

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I had the option for a mobile pass during web checking, but can find it now. – RoflcoptrException♦ Aug 19 '12 at 3:10
up vote 10 down vote

I fly Air Canada as my primary airline. It is worth checking in online even if you don't have a printer available. There are no negative consequences compared to not checking in at all. You can line up to see someone and hand off your baggage, and they'll "reprint" your boarding pass, or you can use the kiosks (I have never seen a lineup for AC kiosks, unlike United for example) and go through the checkin process again. You will retain your original checkin time should that become relevant for things like processing upgrades or deciding who loses their seat on an equipment change. (See my answer to "Benefits of checking in online when checking bags".)

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