How to check in online with KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM online check-in lets you get your boarding pass before you reach the airport and, in most cases, go straight to security if you're travelling with hand baggage only. You can complete it on the KLM website or in the KLM app, and it takes just a few minutes.

In this guide we cover when check-in opens, how to complete it step by step, how to get your boarding pass and what to do at the airport once you're done.

One question that comes up a lot is how far in advance you can check in online. KLM online check-in opens 30 hours before your flight's scheduled departure time, and you can complete it either on the website or in the app. There's only one exception: for flights to and from the United States, online check-in opens 24 hours before departure. In both cases, this is the point at which you can check in, choose your seat and get your boarding pass.

The other deadline to keep in mind is the airport check-in deadline: the point by which you need to have your boarding pass and, if you have checked baggage, to have already dropped it off. It applies regardless of how you checked in. The limits depend on the type of flight: for European flights check-in closes 40 minutes before departure, for intercontinental flights 60 minutes before. At some airports the times can be different, but the exact deadline for your flight is always shown on your boarding pass. Bear in mind boarding too, which starts 60 to 25 minutes before departure and closes around 15 minutes before.

Before you start the KLM online check-in process, have the following to hand:

• Booking code (the 6-character code, such as ACQ167, that you received when you bought your ticket) or the ticket number (the 13 or 14-digit sequence, such as 0741234567890, shown on your confirmation).

• Passenger's last name, exactly as it appears on the booking.

• Flight number (such as KL1234): the KLM check-in form asks for it along with the other details, and you'll find it in your booking confirmation email.

• ID card or passport, depending on your destination: you need it for some of the steps, and you'll need it on the day of your flight either way.

With these details you can start the process in the app or on the web without needing to register on the airline's website. If you have a Flying Blue account, the Air France-KLM group's loyalty programme, you can also log in with your credentials and find your booking already linked to your profile. Now let's look at the steps to follow to check in online with KLM.

KLM online check-in takes just a few minutes and can be completed on the airline's official website or in its app. Once you're done, you get your digital boarding pass through whichever channel you prefer.

To check in online with KLM:

1. Go to the KLM website or open the airline's app.

2. Enter your booking code or ticket number, along with the passenger's last name and the flight number.

3. Select the passengers and the flight you want to check in for.

4. Check your trip details and, if needed, complete or confirm the information requested.

5. Choose your seat, if your fare includes it, or accept the one assigned automatically.

6. Add any extra services available.

7. Confirm your check-in and choose how you'd like to receive your boarding pass.

Online check-in can be completed on the web or in the app. Below you'll find the differences between the two options.

Booked through a travel agency or a site like eDreams or Booking.com?

You still check in online on the official KLM website or in the airline's app, wherever you bought your ticket. The process is identical to the one for passengers who booked directly: you need your KLM booking code (or ticket number), the passenger's last name and the flight number.

The one thing to watch is the booking code. When you buy through a travel agency or an online travel agency (OTA) such as eDreams, Booking.com, Agoda or similar, you receive a confirmation code from the agency, which doesn't always match the KLM booking code: the 6-character code (such as ACQ167) the airline uses to identify your booking in its own system. That's the one you need in order to access online check-in.

How to find your KLM booking code:

• check the confirmation email from the agency or OTA: the airline's code is often shown in a separate section, next to wording such as "airline confirmation number", "airline booking reference" or "booking reference";

• if it isn't in the email, contact the agency or OTA directly and ask for the airline's booking code, explaining that you need it to check in with KLM.

As an alternative to the booking code, you can use your ticket number for KLM online check-in: the 13 or 14-digit sequence that agencies usually include in your travel documents. The flight number, on the other hand, is always easy to find: it appears on every booking confirmation, including those issued by agencies (for KLM it starts with the letters KL).

Once you've completed online check-in, you have your digital boarding pass: in most cases, if you're travelling with hand baggage only, you can go straight to security at the airport and then to your gate.

There are several ways to get your KLM boarding pass and find it again later:

• in the KLM app, where it's always to hand;

• by email, from which you can also add it to your phone's wallet;

• in the My Trip section of the website, so you can download it at any time;

• printed: at home after online check-in, or at the airport from a self-service kiosk or at the desk.

There's one situation worth knowing about: if your travel documents (such as your passport or visa) still need to be verified, after online check-in you may receive a check-in confirmation instead of a boarding pass. Your check-in is still valid: you'll be given your boarding pass at the airport desk, once your documents have been verified.

What to do at the airport

Now that you have your boarding pass, what you need to do at the airport depends on your baggage:

• if you're travelling with hand baggage only, in most cases you can go straight to security and then to your gate, skipping the airline desks altogether;

• if you have checked baggage, you'll need to drop it off at the KLM check-in desk or, depending on the airport, at a self-service drop-off point.

The deadlines are the ones covered above: for European flights, baggage drop-off closes 40 minutes before departure, for intercontinental flights 60 minutes before, and at some airports the times can vary. In any case, the exact closing time for your flight is shown on your boarding pass. It's very important to stick to it so you don't risk being denied boarding.

In most cases KLM online check-in is available with no particular restrictions, but in certain situations, as the airline explains, you can't check in either online or at a self-service kiosk and you need to go to the desk at the airport:

• passengers who have requested special assistance;

• anyone travelling with a pet, in the cabin or in the hold: check-in is done at the special assistance desk, where the animal and its carrier are weighed and labelled; KLM recommends arriving at the airport well in advance, up to 3 hours before departure;

• unaccompanied minors: the child's check-in is done at the desk, where you need to hand in the signed form required for the unaccompanied minor service;

• flights operated by partner airlines: as covered above, if your flight is operated by an airline other than KLM or Air France, check-in on the KLM website may not be available, even if you booked with KLM.

You checked in on time, well within the deadline, and you were at the gate exactly when you should have been. And yet the airline can still be the one that leaves you stranded, through a cancellation, a delayed flight or overbooking.

In these cases, if the airline is at fault, European Regulation EC 261/2004 entitles you to compensation of up to €600 per passenger. The right to compensation applies to arrival delays of more than 3 hours, to cancellations announced without sufficient notice (more details here) and to denied boarding due to overbooking.

Working out whether you're entitled to compensation, and how to get it from the airline, isn't always easy. To find out more, read our guide to KLM compensation. Alternatively, you can check for free with AirHelp: just enter your flight details to find out in moments whether you're entitled to financial compensation.

Track your KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines flight after check-in

Once online check-in is done, the wait for your flight begins. From that point on it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your flight status, especially if you have connections or someone picking you up when you land.

The KLM app lets you follow your flight with real-time updates. Alternatively, you can use the free AirHelp app, which adds one more feature: if your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, is cancelled, or you're denied boarding, the app automatically checks whether you're entitled to compensation under Regulation EC 261/2004 and alerts you directly.

With the AirHelp app you can:

• receive real-time notifications about delays, cancellations, gate changes and baggage carousels;

• scan your boarding pass to add your flight quickly;

• share your flight status with whoever is picking you up;

• automatically check whether a disruption entitles you to compensation of up to €600;

• start your compensation claim straight from the app, with no paperwork.

The app is free and available on iOS and Android.