Air France check-in: when and how to check in online
The rules below are checked against the official website. Checking in with Air France is always free: nobody needs to pay a service to do it, let alone a subscription.
📬 Free check-in reminder
Tell us when and where you are flying: we will email you as soon as Air France check-in opens, with the official link. The button takes you straight to the Air France website.
It opens 30 hours before departure. Give us your take-off time if you know it: the reminder will arrive at exactly the right moment, otherwise we aim for the evening of the day it opens.
Free, no spam. By setting the reminder, you agree to receive our useful tips before and during your trip. Unsubscribe in one click.
Who is Air France?
Air France is France's national airline, founded in 1933 and today a pillar of the Air France-KLM group and the SkyTeam alliance. It follows the classic, so-called legacy model: a huge hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle for worldwide connections, flights from Orly and direct routes from France's major regional cities. From its French airports, it covers domestic routes, Europe and long-haul destinations on every continent, with tickets that still include the essentials.
In practice, flying Air France remains more comfortable than the European average: a 12 kg cabin bag is included in almost all fares, a drink and a snack are served even in Economy on medium-haul, and choosing a standard seat is free at check-in, which opens 30 hours before departure. The atmosphere is that of a major airline: plenty of staff, bilingual announcements, the Flying Blue loyalty programme. On long-haul, hot meals and personal screens are included.
It is a good choice for protected connections, for families who want to avoid the lottery of paid extras, and for anyone who prefers a complete ticket to a misleading headline price. It is a less good deal for tight budgets within Europe: on many routes, easyJet, Transavia or Ryanair show much lower base fares, and Air France's Light fare, with no checked bag and no flexibility for changes, loses part of the airline's edge.
What Air France does well
- The 12 kg cabin bag (a 55 x 35 x 25 cm case plus a 40 x 30 x 15 cm accessory) is still included in almost all fares, whereas low-cost airlines sell it as an extra.
- Online check-in opens 30 hours before departure, with a free standard seat choice on most fares.
- Connections via Roissy-Charles de Gaulle are protected: on a single ticket, a flight missed because of a delay entitles you to free rebooking.
- AirHelp Score 2025: 7.59/10 and 12th airline in the world, a ranking up 10 places in a year, well ahead of Europe's low-cost airlines.
What often catches people out
- On a growing number of medium-haul routes (Paris to Helsinki, Dublin or Tunis in particular), the Economy Basic fare no longer includes the cabin case: only a small 40 x 30 x 15 cm bag remains free, and the case becomes a paid extra of around €15 to €45 depending on the destination.
- The Light fare includes no checked bag: added online it starts at around €30 per journey, but the bill can exceed €90 if you wait until the airport.
- If the overhead lockers are full, your cabin bag may be put in the hold at the boarding gate, free of charge but with a wait at the baggage carousel on arrival: keep documents, power banks and valuables with you.
- Punctuality remains average for an airline of this standing: 7/10 according to AirHelp in 2025, behind several European competitors.
🕐 PunctualityAccording to the AirHelp Score 2025, Air France scores 7.59/10 in the global ranking (12th out of more than 100 airlines assessed), with a punctuality score of 7/10.
Frequently asked questions
When does Air France online check-in open?
30 hours before the flight departs. Exception: 24 hours before for Delta Air Lines flights departing from the United States and Air France flights departing from Atlanta and Detroit.
When does Air France check-in close?
No single published time: online check-in remains possible until the check-in deadline specific to each flight and airport, shown in your booking.
Does the Light fare include a checked bag?
No. A checked bag is an optional extra, from around €30 per journey online. Bought at the airport, it can exceed €90. If you are travelling with a bag to check in, compare directly with the Standard fare.
Can my cabin bag end up in the hold?
Yes, when the cabin is full, the last bags are put in the hold free of charge at the gate. Plan ahead: power banks and e-cigarettes must stay in the cabin, so take them out before handing over your case.
Rules taken from the official Air France website. They may change: the reminder we send always includes the current official link.
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