ANA Check-in: Essential Steps for a Smoother Flight Registration
The Japanese concept, omotenashi centres on providing abundant hospitality that extends to anticipating what a person might want before they ask for it. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken this concept and infused it into their check-in process, paying attention to detail a priority.
Still, if you’re new to air travel or if you just want to learn more, then you’re in the right place because the guide will take you through Ana’s check-in methods, their steps, what you need to check-in and more.
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What is Check-in?
The check-in process is required by all airlines, and ANA is no exception. It’s important because it confirms your intention to travel on the flight you booked and gives you the opportunity to choose or change your seat, upgrade, add or change baggage preferences, meals, and more.
Evolving technology has made checking-in more and more convenient for passengers with biometric check-in methods quickly becoming more available. This method, however, isn’t standard in all airports or with all airlines, so in this guide we will focus on the 4 methods that are most commonly used: online check-in, the ANA app, self-serve kiosks, and check-in at the airline counter.
What Do You Need for ANA Check-in?
When you purchased your ANA flight, you should have received a confirmation email with a booking confirmation number. Keep this number handy because you’ll need it to check in, but you might need it later, especially if you have any sort of ANA flight disruption.
To check-in with any of the methods we mentioned, you will need:
- Your passport
- Your reservation number or
- Your eTicket number, or
- Your ANA number
- Visa documents (depending on where you’re going)
What Time Should You Check-in?
With ANA, you can check-in as early as 24 hours and as late as 75 minutes before departure. This being said, checking-in as soon as you are able to will make for a much easier airport experience.
Also, the timeframe will be different for airport check-in than with the online methods, and can vary from airport to airport. Typically, you should plan to check-in to your ANA flight as follows:
Domestic Flights
- Online and App Check-in: Opens 24 hours before your flight and closes 20 minutes prior to departure
- Airport Check-in Desks: Opens 2 hours prior to departure and closes 30 minutes before your flight.
- Baggage Drop-Off: Closes 30 minutes prior to departure
International Flights
- Online and App Check-in: Opens 24 hours before your flight and closes 75 minutes before departure
- Airport Check-in Counters: Open 3 hours prior to your flight and close 60 minutes before your flight.
- Baggage Drop-Off: Closes 60 minutes before departure
Using the Different Check-in Methods
As mentioned, you can complete ANA check-in in 4 different ways, each of which we will explain in the following sections. It’s always best to check-in early, and the easiest way to do this is online or through the ANA app. Let’s take a closer look.
Online Check-in Methods
Check-in On ANA’s Website
- First, go to ANA.co.jp
- From there look for the TRAVEL INFORMATION tab on the top menu and select it
- When the new window opens, look for the BEFORE TRAVEL column and choose ONLINE CHECK-IN
- Next, enter your reservation number, first and last name. You can also search by eTicket or ANA number
At this point, you’ll be prompted through several steps where you will select your seat, add or change baggage preferences, and choose from various entertainment, meals and other in-flight options.
Using the ANA App
- Download the ANA app from Google Play or the Apple Store
- Log-in or use as a guest
- Go to the CHECK-IN option
- Enter your 6-character reservation number and name
- Choose the correct flight for which to check-in
- Select or change seats, baggage options, and in-flight preferences
- Confirm your details
- Your mobile boarding pass will be available to save or download.
Special Considerations for ANA Online Check-in
The website and app check-in procedures are basically the same, but if you choose to use these methods, there are a few things you should consider.
International passengers, for example, will have to go to the check-in counter to have their travel documents verified. As well, minors travelling without an adult, passengers with pets, anyone travelling on a codeshare flight or anyone requiring extra help will need to check-in at the airport at an ANA check-in desk.
Most importantly, remember that if you have luggage to check, you will still need to arrive at the airport in time to get your bag tags and drop off your belongings at the bag drop area. The bag drop areas close 60 minutes before departure for international flights.
ANA Check-in at the Airport
If you have to, or prefer to, check-in at the airport, you can either do so at a self-serve kiosk or at the ANA check-in desk. Either way, you must arrive at the airport early enough to check-in and go through security in time for your scheduled departure time. With ANA, boarding closes 10 minutes prior to departure.
What time should you arrive at the airport?
As a general rule, earlier is always better. If you’re flying within Japan, the airline recommends arriving an hour to an hour and a half before your flight.
For international travel, you should plan to arrive 3 hours before departure, particularly if you are travelling to the United States.
Keep in mind that larger airports usually have higher traffic volumes, and this means longer lines, so plan accordingly.
ANA’s Self-Service Kiosks
While you can check-in 24 hours before your flight with the online methods, you’ll have a different window of time to work within if you’re using a kiosk. Additionally, not all airports will have them, in which case you’ll have to go to the check-in counter.
Most of the time the kiosks operate alongside the counters so when one opens or closes, so does the other. Regardless, here are some kiosk operating times in different airports. If you don’t see your departure airport in this list, contact them to verify the kiosk hours of operation.
Kiosk Hours in Various Airports
Departure Airport | ANA Kiosk Services Open | Kiosk Services Close |
Shanghai | 3.5 hours before departure | When counter closes |
Brussels | 4 hours before the first flight | When counter closes |
6 hours before flights | When counter closes | |
Hong Kong | 3 hours before the first flight | When counter closes |
4 hours before the first flight | When counter closes | |
3.5 hours before the first flight | When counter closes | |
24 hours before flight | When counter closes | |
Seattle | 4 hours before the first flight | When counter closes |
Vienna | 6 hours before the first flight | When counter closes |
ANA’s Check-in Counter
Long queues and wait times aside, one of the most straightforward ways to check-in is at the check-in counter. This is also the last stop you’ll make if you have to check your bags or take care of other issues you couldn’t take care of online or on the app.
Make sure you have all your travel documents ready to make the process faster for you and your fellow passengers. Once you get to the counter, an ANA agent will help you with all aspects of the check-in process including seat changes or selection, baggage, and any other preferences related to your flight.
ANA’s check-in counters usually open between 2-3 hours before departure, and close 30-60 minutes before your flight, but some airports may have variations on these times. The following table will give you more details, but always confirm check-in counter times with your departure airport.
ANA Check-in Counter Operating Times
Airport | Terminal | When it Opens |
Chicago | Terminal 1 | 3 hours before departure |
Frankfurt | Terminal 1 Hall B | 3 hours before departure |
Hong Kong | Terminal 1 | 3 hours before departure |
Houston | Terminal D | 3 hours 45 min before departure |
London | Terminal 2 | 3 hours before departure |
Los Angeles | Tom Brady Terminal | 3 hours before departure |
New York | Terminal 7 | 3 hours before departure |
Paris | Terminal 1 | 3 hours before departure |
Vancouver | International Terminal | 3 hours before departure |
Vienna | Terminal 3 | 3 hours before departure |
How to Manage Your ANA Booking
It’s not uncommon for passengers to change or alter their booking details. You might need to add or change your baggage totals, upgrade your seat, or reschedule your flight. Fortunately, you can do all this online on ANA’s website or in their mobile app.
From the ANA homepage, you’ll see a second menu with several tabs. The third one is MY BOOKING. Click this tab and you’ll be taken to a new window with different ways for you to access your flight details. Once you see the flight you want to work with, you can select from the various choices like change baggage, upgrade, and so on.
Once you make the desired changes, all you have to do is confirm them and you’re ready to go!
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People Also Ask
What if your travel documents change after you’ve already checked-in?
If your passport or other travel documents suddenly change after check-in, you’ll have to visit the check-in counter at the airport before your flight. Make a point of arriving extra early to allow time for dealing with these changes.
If you’ve checked in with the ANA app, do you have to print your boarding pass?
No you don’t have to print your boarding pass, although it might be good to print one to use as a backup. Also, you should check with your departure airport to see if they require paper boarding passes.
Is online check-in available if you’re travelling with a group?
Yes, you can check-in online if you’re travelling with a smaller group, but if you are part of a larger booking that was secured with a travel agency, you will have to do this at the check-in counter at the airport.
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