Wizz Air online check-in is free and closes 3 hours before departure: it opens 24 hours before if you have not bought a seat, and 30 days before if you have. Airport check-in, on the other hand, costs money (it is cheaper if you buy it in advance). You must be at the gate no later than 30 minutes before departure. Here are the times, the steps and what happens if you skip it.
When Wizz Air check-in opens and closes
| Option | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Online or app, no seat purchased | From 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Free |
| Online or app, seat purchased | From 30 days to 3 hours before departure | Free |
| Auto Check-in | Automatic 50 hours before; can be added up to 4 hours before the flight | Paid |
| Airport check-in | At the desk on the day of the flight | Paid (cheaper if bought in advance) |
The 3-hour cut-off is earlier than on many other low-cost airlines: if you are on an early flight, check in the evening before. At airports where online check-in is not available (Wizz Air lists Agadir and Zaragoza), airport check-in is free.
How to check in online with Wizz Air, step by step
- Go to wizzair.com or the WIZZ app and log in, or open "Check-in & bookings" with your confirmation code and surname.
- Start check-in for each flight in the booking.
- Enter your travel document details if asked: on flights within the Schengen area they are not needed, but you still travel with your ID card or passport, the same one used at check-in.
- Download your boarding card: print it, keep it in the app or save it to your phone's Wallet.
- At the airport, if you have a checked bag, go to the bag drop desk first; then be at the gate at least 30 minutes before departure.
Some airports do not yet accept mobile boarding passes: in that case the app does not generate one and you must print it from the website. Children under 14 must be accompanied and checked in online by a passenger over 16.
Auto Check-in: how it works
With the paid Auto Check-in service, Wizz Air checks in you and everyone on your booking 50 hours before departure and emails the boarding cards. For Schengen flights it needs a contact phone number; for other flights, your travel document details. If you buy it and then check in manually, it is not refunded. It helps if you are worried about forgetting, but online check-in remains free.
Non-EU documents and invalid boarding cards
This matters on routes between the UK and the EU, which are outside Schengen:
- Non-EU travel documents: after online check-in, go to the desk to have your documents checked and your boarding card stamped.
- "NOT A BOARDING CARD" or "INVALID": your ticket is still valid, but you must present it at the check-in desk 3 hours before the flight for document verification. There is no fee in this case.
- Lost boarding card: download it again from the website with your confirmation code and surname.
- Flight changed after check-in: you must check in again for the new flight.
What happens if you do not check in
If you do not complete check-in by the deadline, or do not reach the desk or the gate in time, Wizz Air cancels the booking and you cannot board. The airline says it refunds the fare minus the fees for other services. That is not a delay or cancellation by the airline, so it gives no right to compensation. If the plane is the one running late, things are different: with an arrival delay of 3 hours or more, a cancellation with less than 14 days' notice or denied boarding because of overbooking, you may be entitled to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, unless there were extraordinary circumstances. See our page on Wizz Air delays and compensation.
With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed money: you pay nothing upfront and you pay 25% + VAT only if you get the compensation. For packing, read our Wizz Air hand luggage guide.
Frequently asked questions about Wizz Air check-in
How early can I check in online with Wizz Air?
From 24 hours before departure, or from 30 days before if you bought a seat. It closes 3 hours before.
Do I have to pay for airport check-in with Wizz Air?
Yes, except at airports where online check-in is not available. It is cheaper if you buy it before the day of travel.
Can I check in with Wizz Air 2 hours before my flight?
Not online: it closes 3 hours before. After that, only paid airport check-in is left.
Do I need to print my boarding pass?
No, at most airports the one in the app is enough. Where mobile boarding passes are not accepted, you must print it.
What time do I need to be at the gate?
No later than 30 minutes before scheduled departure, with your boarding card and the same travel document you used at check-in.
Work out your compensation now
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Find out more
- Air passenger rights
- Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
- Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
- Overbooking: what you are owed
- What our service costs
Article updated on 22/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.