Where to drop off baggage if you checked in online?

This is one of the most popular questions for those who checked in for a flight online or at a self-service kiosk. The answer to this question largely depends on the airport. The larger it is, the more automated and simplified this process becomes. The following options are common:

Automatic Baggage Drop-off (self-service baggage drop-off)

Some airports have special machines for automatic baggage drop-off. They are quite easy to use. Place your suitcase on the machine’s conveyor belt, hold your boarding pass (or mobile phone with a barcode on the screen) to the scanner; your flight details will then appear on the monitor. Don’t forget to check them, and if everything is correct, the machine will issue you a baggage tag, which you need to stick to the handle of your suitcase. The machine will check if the tag is correctly placed and if the information can be read from it.

In case of overweight baggage, you can pay for it on the spot at the same machine using a bank card. You can find more detailed information about overweight baggage in our article.

At a self-tag kiosk

They look similar to regular check-in kiosks; the only difference is that they issue a baggage tag instead of a boarding pass. You need to stick it to the handle of your suitcase and take the baggage to the Drop-off counter.

At the Drop-off counter

They are designed for passengers who have checked in for their flight independently to drop off their baggage.

If the airport is equipped with kiosks for printing baggage tags, simply place your suitcase on the conveyor belt. If there are no kiosks, there will be a person at the drop-off counter who will print and attach it to your suitcase. In some airports, the drop-off counter looks exactly like a regular check-in counter, but without a display showing the airline’s name.

What if there are no Drop-off counters at the airport?

If you checked in for your flight online and there are no Drop-off counters, you will have to drop off your baggage at a regular check-in counter. In most cases, you will be able to drop off your baggage out of turn or in the queue with other passengers who also checked in online.