The Airport Check-in Trick: Learn It for Your Next Flight

If you plan to catch a flight soon and want your experience at the airport to be smooth and easy, you should take note of the check-in trick to save some time and get the best seats on the plane.

Travelers who are not used to flying frequently may discover how airports change from year to year, adapting to new regulations and reconfiguring their spaces to meet emerging needs. One example is the facial recognition machines that allow passengers to be identified without the need to show their personal documents.

Nowadays, many travelers resort to online check-in to avoid long lines at the airports. Once you have your boarding pass, you do not have to go to the check-in counter and should head directly to security control which will grant you access to the various boarding gates. However, some passengers do not feel comfortable completing their check-in from their smartphone and prefer to obtain their boarding pass at the airport.

If you prefer to check in at the airport, we have some news for you. The first is good news, as it has been proven that the closer you check in to the boarding time, the greater the chances of getting a seat towards the front of the plane. This happens because, generally, airlines implement a random system for seating assignments that starts from the back row and moves forward.

Another important thing to consider if you check in at the airport's counters is that you can express your preferences to the agent assisting you. Generally speaking (and provided there is availability), they usually accommodate your requests. For instance, if you want to travel in an aisle or window seat, you just need to ask, and if there are available seats, they will assign you one without much trouble.

If your goal is to secure a good seat and avoid the lines that usually form at the various check-in counters, the ultimate trick is to... check in at the automated kiosks you can find in the terminals of most airports worldwide.

Generally, there are numerous automatic check-in kiosks clustered together, and there usually isn't much of a line for getting boarding passes. The explanation is simple: those who need to check luggage must go to the counter to have their luggage identified and weighed, while those who are not checking bags likely arrive at the airport with their check-in complete.

Checking in at the automatic kiosks is not complicated. You simply need to enter your reservation number and the passenger's last name to complete the process. In this case, as boarding time approaches, you will likely be able to get a seat towards the front of the plane. And if you are a lucky person, you could end up with a window seat without having paid an extra fee. This could happen because, if passengers who board earlier do not pay to select seats, many window seats will be 'unclaimed'.

In short, checking in at airport counters can be tedious, but if you opt for the trick of using the automatic kiosks, you'll obtain your boarding pass easily and quickly. Moreover, you have a much greater chance of getting a good seat... without having to pay an extra fee!