Published 11 November 2026 | Updated 11 November 2026 by Kate Acaster
Turkish Airlines check in opens online and in the app 24 hours before departure and closes 90 minutes before. At the airport, the desks close 60 minutes before an international flight, including flights between the UK and Türkiye, and 45 minutes before a domestic flight within Türkiye. Turkish Airlines says the time may vary at some airports.
Advertisement
Every deadline at a glance
Checked in online? Any paper pass and any hold bags still have to be dealt with by the desk deadline. That is 60 minutes before an international flight and 45 before a domestic one.
| Check-in step | International flights, including the UK | Domestic flights in Türkiye |
|---|---|---|
| Online and app check-in | Opens 24 hours before departure, closes 90 minutes before | Opens 24 hours before departure, closes 90 minutes before |
| Self-service kiosks | Usually the same 24-hour to 90-minute window, where the airport has kiosks; varies at some airports | Usually the same 24-hour to 90-minute window; varies at some airports |
| Check-in desk closes | 60 minutes before departure | 45 minutes before departure |
| Bags and pass after online check-in | 60 minutes before departure | 45 minutes before departure |
| Recommended arrival at the airport | 3 hours before departure | 2 hours on the check-in page; the help pages say at least 3 |
| Be at the boarding gate | At least 30 minutes on flights needing special security control (the UK is given as an example); 20 minutes on other flights | 20 minutes before departure |
Turkish Airlines check in online, step by step
You can check in on the website or in the app. The airline’s check-in help pages explain how it works:
- Open check-in from 24 hours before departure, and finish before the 90-minute cut-off.
- Check in up to nine passengers on the same booking reference.
- Choose your seat, or accept the one assigned, then download a mobile boarding pass.
- If you have no hold bag, go straight through security to the gate. If you do, take it to a Bag Drop or Online Check-in counter at the airport.
Online check-in doesn’t ask for your baggage details, so bags go to a counter at the airport. If you have extra baggage, Turkish Airlines says to arrive in time to pay for it there. To cancel an online check-in, contact the airline’s call centre.
Kiosks usually open and close with online check-in, though Turkish Airlines says the times vary at some airports. You start by placing your Miles&Smiles card or the card you paid with on the reader, or by typing your e-ticket number or booking reference. Pick a seat and the pass prints. Hold bags then go to a Bag Drop counter. A kiosk can check you in for every leg of a domestic connection within Türkiye. If you have no hold bag, it can also handle both flights of a same-day return.
Which UK airports have kiosks
Turkish Airlines’ list of airports shows online and mobile check-in at all six UK airports it names. Edinburgh and Stansted have no kiosk, so use the website, the app or the desk there.
| UK airport | Online and mobile check-in | Self-service kiosk |
|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | Yes | Yes |
| London Gatwick | Yes | Yes |
| Manchester | Yes | Yes |
| Birmingham | Yes | Yes |
| Edinburgh | Yes | No |
| London Stansted | Yes | No |
Seats you get at check-in, by fare
Your fare decides whether you can choose a seat free at check-in. These rules come from the check-in procedures page for international flights:
- EcoFly and ExtraFly: a standard seat is assigned at random free of charge. From 24 hours to 4 hours before departure you can pay to choose one; after that, the seat is random.
- FlexFly: a standard seat of your choice, free.
- PrimeFly: a standard or front seat of your choice, free.
- Business: a Business seat of your choice, free.
A paid standard seat can be swapped once between 4 hours and 90 minutes before departure. Emergency exit, extra legroom and bassinet seats can’t be swapped. Once your boarding pass has been printed, you can’t select a seat or change it. Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members, and passengers on the same booking as them, can choose a standard seat on Turkish Airlines flights.
When you need the desk
The desk is where you go if you skipped online check-in, or to settle extra baggage. Bring your ticket number, booking reference and passport; Turkish Airlines says you can complete everything at the desk with those. Staff check your documents, take your bags and issue the boarding pass. A few airports close earlier than 60 minutes: the airline names Lagos at 2 hours, and Kuwait and Abuja at 90 minutes.
Turkish Airlines says that on flights needing special security control, naming the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel and Canada as examples, you must be at the gate at least 30 minutes before departure. On other flights it is 20 minutes. It doesn’t say whether that means flights to these countries, from them or both, so allow 30 minutes in both directions. It also warns that from some terminals it can take up to 25 minutes to reach the gate. Keep your online or mobile boarding pass to hand.
Connecting flights and partner airlines
If your trip starts on a Turkish Airlines flight and continues on a partner airline, you can check in online for the whole journey where the partner allows it. If part of your trip is on another airline, extra fees may apply, such as a charge for printing a boarding pass, according to the check-in procedures page.
“Leave the desk to its last minute on the way home from Türkiye and you’ve got half an hour to clear security and reach the gate. Turkish Airlines says it can take up to 25 minutes to reach the gate from some terminals, which leaves very little for the security queue. My advice: check in on the app and drop your bag early.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Where Turkish Airlines’ own pages disagree
Its check-in procedures page asks for 3 hours before an international flight and 2 before a domestic one, while its help pages say at least 3 hours for any flight. Where the pages differ, allow the longer time.
Related Türkiye and airline guides
- Istanbul budget travel guide
- Turkey budget travel guide
- How early to arrive at the airport
- KLM check in times
- Hand luggage size comparison for UK airlines
Turkish Airlines check-in: FAQs
When does Turkish Airlines online check-in open and close?
It opens 24 hours before departure and closes 90 minutes before, on the website and in the app.
When do Turkish Airlines check-in desks close?
The desks close 60 minutes before an international flight and 45 minutes before a domestic flight in Türkiye. The time may vary at some airports.
How early should I arrive for a Turkish Airlines flight from the UK?
Turkish Airlines recommends arriving 3 hours before an international flight, including flights between the UK and Türkiye.
How early must I be at the gate for a Turkish Airlines flight to the UK?
At least 30 minutes before departure. Turkish Airlines sets this for flights needing special security control and gives the UK as an example. On other flights it is 20 minutes.
Can I choose my seat free when I check in with Turkish Airlines?
On EcoFly and ExtraFly international fares the seat is assigned at random unless you pay to choose one, which you can do at check-in from 24 to 4 hours before departure. FlexFly, PrimeFly and Business fares include a free choice of seat.
Do I need to print my Turkish Airlines boarding pass?
No. You can use a mobile boarding pass. At the desk, staff can check you in with your ticket number, booking reference and passport.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
