Before arriving at the airport, it is essential to check compliance with the documentation and customs regulations for the trip you are about to take, including with regard to any countries of transit, and with the Airline’s instructions regarding check-in, hand and checked baggage, pets or requests for special assistance. Failure to comply may result in you being denied boarding, should your documentation be inadequate or not correct, or in the application of penalties and additional fares, should you fail to comply with the Airline’s Conditions of Carriage.
Check-in
Depending on the Airline and the ticket selected, passengers can check in either online or at the airport, free of charge or for a fee. It is always advisable to check the Conditions of Carriage agreed to with the purchase of the ticket.
When you check in, a boarding pass, namely the document that will allow you to board the aircraft, is generated. Regardless of how it is issued, each passenger will have their own pass, which will contain a unique serial identification number and all useful information for boarding. Please note that, for safety reasons, some seats cannot be assigned to particular categories of passengers such as children, infants, persons with motor disabilities or persons accompanied by pets.
Passengers must check in at the airport in accordance with the Airline’s instructions; if no instructions are given, it is recommended that passengers arrive two hours before the scheduled departure time: this will enable them to properly carry out the necessary operations.
Upon arrival at the airport, passengers are required to proceed to the check-in counters at the departure terminal when:
- They have not checked in online or printed their boarding pass: they will be asked to show confirmation of their booking or ticket along with their ID and all of their baggage;
- They have checked in online but need to check one or more pieces of baggage in the hold (‘drop off’): they will be asked to show their boarding pass along with their ID, the baggage they wish to check in and the baggage they wish to take with them in the cabin.
Please note that all operations at the check-in desks must be carried out in person, so it is not possible to collect a boarding pass or check in baggage for a passenger who is not physically present.
Airlines set a time limit beyond which it is not possible to check in baggage, usually 30-45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. For more information, please refer to your Airline’s Conditions of Carriage.
Documents
It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that they are in possession of all the documentation required for the trip. The production of a valid ID document is always required for all passengers, including children and infants: the document must always be in its original form, intact and, if leaving the country, valid for a period of time sufficient to cover the country of transit and/or destination. Depending on the chosen itinerary, it may be sufficient to show a driving licence (domestic flights only); alternatively, an identity card, passport, visa, entry or residence permit or even health documentation may be required; regulations are constantly evolving, so it is recommended to always check the latest updates on entry requirements. For more information, consult the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Viaggiare Sicuri and, if in doubt, contact the authorities of the country of destination. Failure to comply with the documentation requirements will result in denied boarding.
Please note that underage passengers not accompanied by parents or legal guardians are subject to additional obligations in case of international travel according to the regulations of their country. For Italian minors, please consult the State Police website.
Customs
The transport of goods across national borders is governed by customs regulations. Common-use goods (laptops or other electronic devices for personal use, foodstuffs) may also be subject to restrictions, particularly if the movement concerns countries outside the European Union. For an overview of the rules in force, see the “Traveller’s Customs Charter”.
Security checks
Everything that is taken on board an aircraft is subject to security checks.
Certain objects, substances and devices, even those of common use, are not allowed on board because, by their nature, they are deemed potentially dangerous for the flight and the passengers. In other cases, they are allowed in restricted quantities or under special conditions.
It is essential to understand that checks – and in some cases prohibitions – by airport security staff are intended solely to ensure a safe flight.
Passengers and their hand baggage must pass through the Security Checkpoint located in the Departure terminal.
Passengers are asked to actively prepare for the check by:
- producing their boarding pass;
- placing all hand baggage on the belt (including fanny packs, pouches, purses);
- separating laptops, tablets or electronic devices from their baggage and placing them in a separate tray;
- removing any bags containing liquids, creams or gels from their baggage and placing them in a separate tray;
- placing jackets, scarves, hats and any other items they are carrying in a tray;
- crossing the portal and avoiding bumping into it;
- complying with any additional requests from staff (e.g., taking off shoes and placing them on the belt, opening the baggage for further inspection);
- in case of prostheses or pacemakers, informing the dedicated staff in advance.
Should objects not allowed in the cabin be detected, the passenger may be offered the option of checking the baggage into the aircraft’s hold, provided that check-in is still open and the transport of such objects in the hold is permitted. For this reason, it is always recommended that you arrive at the airport and at the security checkpoint well in advance, even if you are travelling with hand luggage only.
Boarding
Once the security checks have been completed, the passenger can proceed to the gate for boarding. At the gate, they must produce their boarding pass, ID and the baggage they wish to take with them into the cabin. Please follow the Airline’s instructions regarding boarding priority or sequence and use the separate lanes where provided. The boarding gate closing time is determined by the Airline in order to enable the flight to take off on time. Passengers who arrive later than the time limit indicated on the boarding pass may be denied boarding.
