How to Check In at the Airport Kiosk

What Is an Airport Check-In Kiosk?

Airport check-in kiosks are self-service touch-screen machines located near your airline's check-in counter. They let you complete the check-in process without waiting for an agent. You can print your boarding pass, select or change your seat, pay for checked bags, and get bag tags — all in a couple of minutes.

Where Are the Kiosks?

Kiosks are positioned in the departures hall near each airline's check-in counter area. Look for your airline's logo — American Airlines kiosks are grouped with American, Delta with Delta, and so on. They're typically freestanding machines with touch screens at eye level. At busy airports, there are rows of them.

What You Need to Use a Kiosk

You'll need one of the following to locate your booking:

• Confirmation number (the 6-character booking reference in your confirmation email)
• Credit card used to book the flight (swipe it to pull up your reservation)
• Frequent flyer number
• Driver's license or passport (some kiosks can scan IDs)
• Flight number plus your last name

The easiest method is usually swiping the credit card you booked with — the system finds your reservation instantly.

Step-by-Step: Using the Kiosk

Step 1: Find Your Reservation

Touch the screen to start. Select how you'd like to locate your booking (confirmation number, credit card swipe, frequent flyer number, etc.) and enter your information. The system will pull up your flight details.

Step 2: Verify Passenger Information

Confirm that the name, flight, date, and destination are correct. If anything is wrong, stop and see an agent rather than proceeding.

Step 3: Select or Change Your Seat

The kiosk will show your current seat assignment and often allows you to change it from the available inventory. On many airlines, you can also upgrade to a premium seat at this point for an additional fee.

Step 4: Add or Pay for Checked Bags

If you're checking bags, indicate how many. You'll pay the baggage fee (if applicable) by credit card at the kiosk. The machine will print bag tags — paper labels you attach to your bag handles. Some kiosks print two tags per bag; others just one. Attach the tag to your bag handle so it hangs freely.

Step 5: Print Your Boarding Pass

The kiosk prints your boarding pass on a small paper card. It contains your name, flight number, gate, seat number, and barcode. Keep this accessible — you'll need it at security and the gate.

Step 6: Drop Off Checked Bags

If you're checking bags, take them to the bag drop counter. This is a shorter line than full check-in — you just hand over the bag, the agent scans the tag, and you're done. At some airports, there are automated bag drop machines where you do this entirely yourself.

What Kiosks Can and Can't Do

Kiosks Can:

• Print boarding passes
• Check you in for your flight
• Let you select or change seats
• Accept payment for checked bags
• Print bag tags
• Allow same-day flight changes (on some airlines)

Kiosks Cannot:

• Help with name corrections
• Handle special service requests (wheelchair, medical equipment)
• Resolve booking problems or errors
• Process international travel documents that require agent verification
• Rebook you if your flight is cancelled

For any of these issues, you'll need to see an agent at the counter.

Kiosk vs. Online Check-In: Which Is Better?

Online check-in (done from home via app or website) is generally better when possible — you get your boarding pass on your phone, can select seats from your couch, and don't have to find the kiosk at the airport. However, kiosks are excellent when:

• You forgot to check in online
• You need a printed boarding pass
• You need to pay for bags and want to print bag tags in one step
• Your mobile boarding pass isn't working

Common Kiosk Problems and Solutions

"Reservation not found": Try a different lookup method (confirmation number instead of credit card, or vice versa). Make sure you're at the correct airline's kiosk.

Kiosk freezes: Press cancel and try a different machine. They occasionally freeze.

Payment declined: Try a different card or see the agent for alternative payment options.

Name mismatch: If your name on the ticket doesn't exactly match your ID, see an agent. This is a problem that can't be resolved at a kiosk.

Budget Airline Kiosks: Watch for Fees

Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant are known for charging fees for counter check-in if you didn't check in online. Using their kiosk may also incur a fee on some carriers. Check your airline's fee schedule before arriving — online check-in from home is usually the free option.