Flights FAQs - Checking in
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights FAQs, Searching and Booking, Luggage, Pets, Airport Hotels and Parking, Airport Transfers, Checking-in, Flight Seats, In-Flight Food and Entertainment, Flight Delays, Flight Tickets and Changes
Flights FAQs - Checking in
For call charges please see below.
Day before check-in at London Gatwick (North Terminal)
Our Day Before Check-in facility is available to all passengers flying from London Gatwick Airport with Thomsonfly.com (TOM) or First Choice Airways (FCA). This service is free of charge, and there's no need to pre-book. Day Before Check-in is available to all passengers travelling on all our flights that have a scheduled departure time of 12:00 (midday) or earlier, with check-in desks opening between 12:00 (midday) and 22:00. This means less time spent at the airport on the day of departure.
What you need to do... To comply with the Department for Transport security requirements, ALL members of your party must present themselves at the airport check-in. You will need to take the letter of confirmation from us, everyone's ticket, passports and all baggage. Our agents will then issue a letter outlining arrangements for your departure the next day.
The day before the flight...
- Any time between 12:00 (midday) and 22:00, go to LGW (North Terminal, Zone A) with all passengers travelling on the same booking, their tickets and passports, and all baggage. Use our easy to find 'Day Before Check-In' Desk.
- Passengers are asked security questions relating to their baggage. Hold baggage is then checked, weighed and tagged, and dispatched as normal.
- Passengers are presented with boarding cards* (unless travelling to USA, see notes below) and receipts for checked-in baggage. You don’t need to return to the Airport until the following morning.
On the day of departure...
- Go to LGW North Terminal, pass by check-in, and walk straight to the queue for Airport Security, with sufficient time to reach the Departure Gate at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time.
- Remember, only one piece of hand baggage per person which must meet the current FCA/TOM size limitations**. Liquid restrictions still apply in hand baggage.
* Passengers travelling to destinations requiring additional security at check-in (currently all USA flights) will not be issued with boarding cards at the point of Day Before Check-in. Passengers still follow the procedure above, but will need to return to Check-in the following morning to pick up boarding cards. This is in line with international security requirements, and in common with the majority of airlines operating flights from UK to the USA.
** Winter 08/09 size limitations for hand/cabin baggage are as follows:
Thomsonfly.com:
- Maximum weight (all routes, excluding Cruise Only) 10kg.
- Maximum weight (Cruise only) 5kg.
- Dimensions: 55cm x 45cm x 20cm.
First Choice Airways:
- Maximum weight (all routes) 5kg.
- Dimensions: 45cm x 35cm x 20cm.
Summer 09/Winter 09/10 size limitations for hand/cabin baggage are as follows:
Thomsonfly.com/First Choice Airways: -
- Maximum weight (all routes) 5kg.
- Dimensions: 55cm x 45cm x 20cm.
Midnight Check-In... Passengers with a scheduled departure time of 0800 or earlier may choose to check-in through the night, with our Midnight check-in service, open from Midnight. The rest of the procedure is as detailed above.
A few useful questions and answers...
Q: If I am travelling as part of a group, but only a few of us want to make use of day before check-in, is this possible, or does it have to be all of us together?
A: All members of the group will need to use this service (remember, the new Thomson ticket book only issues one coupon per party).
Q: If for any reason, on the day of departure, I decide I want to pack something else in the baggage I already checked in the day before, is this possible?
A: You will be able to check-in additional items of luggage on the day but you will need to join the main check-in queue. Charges will apply if baggage allowances are exceeded.
Q: Will I still have to queue on the day of departure? (is there a special desk allocated, etc?)
A: On the day of departure you will proceed directly to the departure lounge and then the departure gate. If your flight is subject to additional security requirements (eg flights to USA) then you will need to register with the security company at check-in on the day of departure before you are issued your boarding card.
Q: If I check in the day before, does this mean I can arrive at the Airport later on my departure date?
A: You must allow sufficient time to clear Airport Security, and should reach the departure lounge at least 1 hour before scheduled departure time (remember, boarding can commence as early as 40 minutes prior to scheduled departure time).
Q: What if I miss the 22:00 deadline for day before check-in? Will I have to wait until the morning to check-in?
A: Our Midnight Check-in service opens from midnight, and is available to all passengers with a scheduled departure time of 08:00 or earlier.
Q: I’m flying with FCA/TOM on a flight to join a P&O, Princess, Fred Olsen, or Ocean Village cruise line, can I still take advantage of day before check-in?
A: Unfortunately not. Cruise lines have a different check-in procedure which does not lend itself to day before check-in, and we have been asked not to extend this facility to pax travelling to join a cruise line.
Q: If I’m flying with FCA/TOM to join a TUI operated cruise (e.g. Island, Thomson Spirit, etc), can I use day before check-in?
A: Yes, you should follow the normal procedure.
Please note, this service is subject to availability. All FCA (First Choice Airways) & TOM (Thomsonfly) flights now check-in at North Terminal, Zone A.
Early check-in
Thomsonfly offers early check-in opening times at the following UK airports. Thomsonfly encourages customers to take full advantage of this extra time to clear security channels, and arrive at the departure gate ready to board in plenty of time. Check-in will open 4 hours prior to flight departures at the following airports (the check-in times for all other UK Airports will continue to open as per the information contained in your ticket book/confirmation letter/email):
- Birmingham: All flights except Wednesdays - TOM 4934 Birmingham to Salzburg.
- Bristol: All flights.
- Cardiff: All flights to Orlando Sanford & Cancun.
- Doncaster: All flights to Orlando Sanford & Cancun.
- Glasgow: All flights.
- London Gatwick: All flights except Monday (TOM4247 Gatwick - Zakynthos, and TOM6861 Gatwick - Funchal), Wednesday
(TOM4035 Gatwick - Varna), Thursday (TOM Gatwick - Malaga and TOM Gatwick - Paphos), Saturday (TOM1357 Gatwick - Gerona), and Sunday (TOM6081 Gatwick - Palma). - London Stansted: All flights.
- Manchester: All flights.
How can I find out about Advanced Passenger Information (API)?
The collection of Advanced Passenger Information (API) is a requirement to/from specific countries, it involves obtaining passenger information from passports and transmitting to the applicable country prior to customers entering the country. Collecting API is a very simple process and when carried out at check-in involves passports being swiped through a special machine which collects the relevant data. Customers should not notice any difference at check-in, and contrary to recent media reports following the introduction of API on flights to Spain, delays are not anticipated. Other countries where API is required includes Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago & USA.
Please note : Customers travelling to the USA are also required to provide their first night's address.
Norwich Airport development fee
For all bookings that depart from Norwich International Airport, there is an airport development fee applicable to all passengers. Passengers departing up to and including 31st August 2008 will be required to pay £3, and for departures after 1st September 2008 the charge will be £5. Please be aware that this fee is payable on your outward journey and passengers will not be allowed to proceed through security without first purchasing a ticket from one of the machines located in the airport terminal. Please allow plenty of time for this additional process in case of any queues at the payment machines.
What time should I check-in and be at the boarding gate prior to departure?
When flying from the UK, check-in desks are usually open 2 – 3 hours prior to your departure time, and you will usually be required to check-in at the appropriate terminal at least two hours prior to departure. If you’re taking a long haul flight, that’s usually a flight over five hours, then we recommend you check-in three hours before your flight is due to leave. The desks close promptly, so make sure you’ve completed check-in at least an hour before take off.
Check-in desks at resort airports are normally open 2 hours before departure. Please be aware that the check-in desk usually closes 40 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. If you haven’t checked-in prior to the check-in deadline, your reservation may be cancelled and you may be refused boarding onto the aircraft, so please ensure you arrive with plenty of time to spare.
Recommended check-in time varies by airline, so always check your ticket for the exact details of when you need to arrive at the airport, what time you should check-in and when you need to be at your boarding gate.
What benefits do I get with the Executive Check-in Plus Service?
Arrive at our exclusive Executive Check-in desk as late as 1 hour prior to departure, and be sure of seats together and the fastest check-in of anyone else on your flight. Our Executive Check-in Plus service includes entry into the Executive Lounge, so avoid the hassle of the departure lounge, help yourself from our open bar and relax. Executive Check-in Plus is available at most of our UK airports. Call us on 0871 231 4143.
What benefits do I get in the Executive Lounge?
Once you're at the airport and you've checked in for your flight, relax before your flight in the Executive Lounge. Comfortable seats, complimentary drinks, newspapers and magazines await you in our lounge. Executive Lounges are available for you at most of our UK airports and when flying back to the UK. Use of our Executive Lounge is also provided as part of our Executive Check-in service. Call us on 0871 231 4143 to book your place. Please note that children aged 12 or under are not permitted entry into the lounges.
How do I know which terminal I am flying from?
You will find this information on the 'Destinations' page on www.thomsonfly.com. Select your departure airport from the 'Where do you want to go?' dropdown box, by selecting your country (e.g. Great Britain) followed by your departure airport (e.g. Birmingham). The page will then display airport information, including the terminal you will be flying from.
What is the departure tax for Brazil?
The departure tax for Brazil is now US$36 per passenger, which is payable upon departure at the airport.
Please note, for 0871 numbers calls cost 10p per minute and for 0844 numbers calls cost 5p per minute. Charges apply at all times from BT landlines. Other operator networks may vary.
