It turns out not everyone knows what to do after buying an online airline ticket. Rejoicing, anticipating the trip, and stroking your wallet so money reappears there quickly – that goes without saying. But here's a specific situation: you've paid for a ticket, what next? We've compiled a memo so you don't miss anything.

Immediately after purchase

Print your documents

This is a formality and just in case. Situations vary, what if you're asked to show your itinerary receipt? It's rare, but it happens. And you need to understand that this is not the same as a boarding pass. You receive that at the airport at the check-in counter or at a self-check-in kiosk. 

Download the app

There's another way to always have all your flight information at hand — download our app (iOS, Android). You don't even need internet — the data is available offline. 

The day before departure

Check in for your flight

It's not enough to just pay for a plane ticket to fly; you also need to check in for the flight and secure your seat. Check-in opens 24 or 36 hours before departure, depending on the airline, and closes 40 minutes or an hour before departure. 

And it's important to do this in advance to get a comfortable window seat, of course.  The day before departure, the airline will send you an email with an offer to complete online check-in. You just need to follow the link and choose your seat. The system initially assigns a random one, and if you don't like it, choose another. Depending on your ticket fare, you will have a paid or free seat selection. 

If you have luggage, you still don't necessarily have to check in at the airport. Complete online check-in or get a boarding pass at a self-check-in kiosk, and drop off your luggage yourself at a special counter. Nothing will happen to it, rest assured, it will get on the plane just like suitcases checked in at the airport. 

Online check-in for Aeroflot flights >>>

Online check-in for S7 Airlines flights >>>

Online check-in for UTair flights >>>

If you don't want to bother with this, use our service  “Online Check-in”. This means we check you in for the flight ourselves. When purchasing the service, you just need to specify your desired seat (window or aisle, front or back). 

What are the benefits of the service? 

• if online check-in opens at an inconvenient time and you're afraid you won't make it;
• if the airline's website is in a foreign language; 
• you don't want to arrive at the airport too early and stand in line for check-in.

Pack your bags

Few people enjoy packing: they do it at the last minute without looking or thinking about what's needed and what's not. But there's plenty to think about! If you're flying with checked luggage, you have a bit more choice than those flying with carry-on. 

How to properly pack carry-on luggage? >>>

 

On the day of departure

Head to the airport

It's very important to calculate your arrival time at the airport. Many factors need to be considered when planning your time:

• whether you checked in online or will do so at the airport;
• whether you are flying with or without luggage;
• how long it takes to get to the airport and if there's traffic on the way; 
• whether you need to go through passport control.

If you are checking in at the airport, dropping off luggage, and going through passport control, leave at least 2-3 hours before departure, as there might be queues everywhere. Add travel time, and another half an hour just in case (traffic jams, unforeseen road events, driver strikes, and so on).

However, if you're flying a domestic flight with carry-on luggage and have already checked in online, you only need to go through security at the airport. So you can confidently arrive an hour beforehand, having correctly calculated your travel time. 

What to expect at the airport?

Do you rarely fly or are you at an airport for the first time? We've already prepared an action plan! What awaits you: flight check-in, luggage drop-off (if any), security screening, passport control, in some cases customs control, and finally boarding. That's in brief. Read more about the airport for beginners here >>>

 

How not to miss your flight

What you need to remember: if you've checked in for a flight, it's not a guarantee that you'll get on the plane. If you overslept or were late for your boarding (were shopping, delayed at security, etc.), they won't wait for you. In some airports, late passengers are announced over the loudspeaker and waited for if time permits (boarding started earlier and there's time until departure). But this isn't always and everywhere the case. It's in your best interest to be at the correct gate by the start of boarding — this time is written on your boarding pass. 

If the flight attendant closes boarding and the doors, and the plane is still on the ground, you still won't be allowed through. And this isn't personal malice from an airline employee; that's just how the system works. 

What to do if you missed your flight? >>>

The same applies to transfers, but there are nuances here: your fate depends on whether you have a single ticket for the entire route or if you bought separate tickets. And it's also important whose fault it was that you were late. We've explained this in detail here >>>

If things don't go as planned

Sometimes there are troubles when your flight is canceled or delayed for some reason. If this suddenly happens, don't panic and don't run out of the airport at light speed. Just wait, soon everything will be explained to you and you'll be told what to do next. But it's still better to know in advance what to do, especially if you're in a foreign airport and your language skills aren't great. Therefore, in case your flight is canceled, we also have advice >>>

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