Travel question: Should I check in online before getting to the airport?

Q I have always used Ryanair in the past to book my flights, but this time round I am travelling with Thomas Cook from East Midlands to Tenerife South. Can I get a physical boarding pass by checking in at the airport, or do I need to do it online?

Mark B

A It is nine years since Ryanair took the radical step of demanding that all passengers check in on before reaching the airport, and applying high fees for anyone who did not turn up with a printed boarding pass. Today, you can bring your boarding pass on a smartphone and show it at the airport (or pay £55 if you forget).

Thomas Cook Airlines encourages passengers to check in online (for “selected departures only”) between two and 24 hours before the flight, saying: “It means you can get your boarding pass in advance and make your way through the airport that little bit quicker.” Though note that it is possible.

In other words: if you want to wait until you get to the airport, that’s fine.

Online check-in is valuable if you are travelling with cabin baggage only, because it bypasses a hurdle at the airport (and also gives a bit of flexibility if you are running late). But if you are going to be dropping bags then it makes little difference. Indeed, because check-in staff can get all the “Advance Passenger Information” they need from swiping your passport in a fraction of a second, airport check in can save you time and trouble.

Most other airlines also allow airport check-in without financial penalty, including British Airways, easyJet and Flybe. Given the cost savings that Ryanair enjoys as a result of abolishing airport check-in, though, carriers may gradually move to make the online procedure mandatory.

Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder