Air Canada and WestJet

[Hockeychic]

I have been flying out of Buffalo for the last few years but now have 2 flights booked through Pearson, 1 with Air Canada and 1 with West Jet.

I have booked both flights online and already have selected my seats.

Do I have to do a online check in or can I just show up? Do I need to print off boarding passes or enter any further info online?

Thanks

Kim

 

[jj1403]

You can just show up but I would bring your boarding passes just in case.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

I have been flying out of Buffalo for the last few years but now have 2 flights booked through Pearson, 1 with Air Canada and 1 with West Jet.

I have booked both flights online and already have selected my seats.

Do I have to do a online check in or can I just show up? Do I need to print off boarding passes or enter any further info online?

Thanks

Kim

You'll probably save some time at the front desk if you check-in on line but i don't believe there is a requirement to do so online. ABSOLUTELY bring in your printed boarding passes.

 

[minnie56]

You don't have to check in online--but I would!!
There can be a long line up at the A/P to do so and yours will be much shorter to get your baggage weighed and tagged plus Passports checked.

 

[Hockeychic]

Great thank you all for the info.

Is there a time limit on which this must be done? How far in advance can I print these off and up to how close to the flight?

Thanks again for all the info.

I did check the website but I must be a complete idiot today cause non of it is making sense.

Thanks
Kim

 

[BraMax]

With Air Canada you can check in 24 hours in advance. I don't know about West Jet though. Pre print your boarding pass then all you have to do is check your luggage and if travelling to the states clear customs. It makes the whole process so much easier and faster! Enjoy your trips!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

WestJet also allows you to check-in for your flight 24 hours before.

Also last month when my family and I flew Air Canada from YYZ-MCO we had checked-in online and went right in the line to get our checked bags tagged. However had we not done it online Air Canada makes you do it at one of their express check-in kiosks in Terminal 1, so I don't think they have a regular check-in desk for those who did not check-in online.

 

[Tantor]

They usually send a reminder at the 24 hour mark saying that you can check-in. I can't remember if you have to sign up for this but you can easily check by looking at your reservation on line.

 

[crashbb]

You can check-in 24 hours before your departure. At YYZ, Air Canada has different check-in areas depending on if you checked in on-line or not - the line for those who checked in on-line (and are just dropping off their bags) is almost always shorter (and if, for some reason it isn't, you can just go into the normal check in line).

Check in, even if you don't have access to a printer - they can re-print your boarding passes when you drop off your bags, but you are still in the system as having been checked in.

In the, thankfully, unlikely even that they need to involuntarily bump someone, one of the criteria they use (among many) is check-in time - the earlier the less likely you'll be bumped.

 

[Hockeychic]

Thanks eveyrone. Is the 24 hour mark also the earliest you can check in?

 

[crashbb]

Thanks eveyrone. Is the 24 hour mark also the earliest you can check in?

Yes.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

At YYZ, Air Canada has different check-in areas depending on if you checked in on-line or not - the line for those who checked in on-line (and are just dropping off their bags) is almost always shorter (and if, for some reason it isn't, you can just go into the normal check in line).

Even if you did not check-in online the express check-in kiosks are located by the line for those who already checked-in online and are waiting to get their checked bags tagged. So once you get your boarding passes printed from the express check-in kiosk, you just get in that line to get your checked bags tagged.

I also did not happen to see a regular check-in like they had in the old Terminal 2 where you line up for your boarding passes and get your bags tagged there by the same agent, so I guess that's a thing of the past.

 

[crashbb]

Even if you did not check-in online the express check-in kiosks are located by the line for those who already checked-in online and are waiting to get their checked bags tagged. So once you get your boarding passes printed from the express check-in kiosk, you just get in that line to get your checked bags tagged.

I also did not happen to see a regular check-in like they had in the old Terminal 2 where you line up for your boarding passes and get your bags tagged there by the same agent, so I guess that's a thing of the past.

YYZ has separate lines for those who checked-in on line and those who check-in using the kiosk. During busy times there is an agent there who will check - it is easy to tell by looking at the boarding pass.

And I got my boarding pass done by an agent at YYZ check in 2 days ago.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

YYZ has separate lines for those who checked-in on line and those who check-in using the kiosk. During busy times there is an agent there who will check - it is easy to tell by looking at the boarding pass.

And I got my boarding pass done by an agent at YYZ check in 2 days ago.

Well last month when my family and I flew Air Canada the line to get our bags tagged if we checked-in online was busy and there were no seperate line that morning if you were using the express check-in kiosks.

 

[Valjean13]

A bit off topic, but if you are flying within Canada (not sure if it works for cross-border flights), both airlines allow you to use an e-boarding pass. You check that option when you check in online, then they send the boarding pass to your cell phone. You can have it sent by text message or by email. You just open the message and show the screen to the agents, simple as can be. I did this over Christmas, with both airlines, and it worked like a charm. It was just one little way to "go green".

 

[crashbb]

A bit off topic, but if you are flying within Canada (not sure if it works for cross-border flights), both airlines allow you to use an e-boarding pass. You check that option when you check in online, then they send the boarding pass to your cell phone. You can have it sent by text message or by email. You just open the message and show the screen to the agents, simple as can be. I did this over Christmas, with both airlines, and it worked like a charm. It was just one little way to "go green".

Air Canada will let you do that on any flights from Canada to a non-US destination. So any domestic flight or any flight from Canada to an international destination.

You can check in on your mobile as well.

http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/traveller/mobile/ebp.html