Last updated: 31 October 2026.
Etihad's published rules centre on its home airport, Zayed International in Abu Dhabi. Other airports set their own times, and Etihad has a page of check-in opening and closing times for every destination, so use the time on your ticket there.
30 hourshow early online check-in opens
1 hourbefore departure when online check-in closes
60 minEconomy desks at Abu Dhabi close (45 for Business and First)
4 hourshow early the desks open at Zayed International
Key times at Abu Dhabi
- Check-in desks open
- 4 hours before departure
- Economy check-in closes
- 60 minutes before departure
- Business and First check-in closes
- 45 minutes before departure
- Boarding closes
- 20 minutes before departure
- Flights to the USA: arrive
- 4 hours before departure
- Flights to the USA: US Customs and Border Protection preclearance
- 2 hours before take-off; 90 minutes before for Business, First and The Residence passengers
- Bags handed in after online check-in must be at the desk no later than 90 minutes before departure, according to the Conditions of Carriage.
- Registered passengers can use the e-gates at Abu Dhabi immigration, subject to visa rules.
Online and app check-in
- The window runs from 30 hours to 1 hour before take-off, varying by airport pair. Save your boarding pass, then leave any bags at the desk on arrival.
- A boarding pass sometimes cannot be issued: if the departure airport does not accept digital passes, if you travel with a pet, or if staff must check your visa. Go to a desk in these cases. Etihad cannot check you in by phone or chat.
- Should online check-in demand a visa that your trip does not require, use the airport desk.
City check-in and home check-in (UAE)
- Check in away from the airport from 24 hours until 4 hours before departure (24 hours until 7 hours in Al Ain). Home check-in through Morafiq runs from 24 hours to 5 hours before.
- Sites include Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Mussafah, Madinat Zayed and Al Ain. Extra bags, seats and upgrades are paid there too, by Visa, Mastercard or American Express card only.
- US flights are included. Wheelchair users with no medical-clearance requirement may use it; children flying alone cannot, and go to Zayed International.
- Parking is free at the Cruise Terminal and in Al Ain.
Priority and special cases
- Etihad Guest Silver members have dedicated Economy check-in counters at Island C in Abu Dhabi; Gold members may use the Business desks and Platinum members the First desks at any airport.
- Children flying alone have to check in at an airport desk two hours or more ahead.
- Same-day flexibility lets some travellers move to an earlier flight, at least four hours earlier, provided check-in has not closed and boarding has not started.
- During peak holiday periods Etihad advises arriving three to four hours early.
Questions travellers ask us
When does Etihad check-in close?
At Abu Dhabi, 60 minutes before departure in Economy and 45 minutes before in Business and First. Boarding closes 20 minutes before.
What is the online check-in window?
From 30 hours before departure until one hour before.
Is check-in possible off airport?
Yes: city points in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain accept bags from a day to four hours ahead (seven hours in Al Ain).
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of Etihad. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
12 questions and answers
You shall be able to get the boarding passes at the time of first check-in.
You shall be able to get it from the airline in your profile created on airline website. It shall also be available in the mobile app of the airline which is downloaded on your mobile.
45 kg per person is the check in baggage allowance on Economy Choice and Choice Plus tickets. Cabin baggage allowance is of 7kg.
Yes, cabin baggage of this dimention can be carried.
yes, that can be done.
TV allowed only in check in baggage.
yes, it is okay to carry it in check in baggage. It shall be carried as a part of free check in baggage allowance by weight and size (dimensions).
Within permitted over all allowance weight and dimension limit, it is permitted.
Please tell which items do you want to take in cabin.
Further to my question in feb 2016 my PNR is XCQRAN
both ways its Etihad airways - Mumbai - Abu Dhabi - Manchester - Abu Dhabi - Mumbai
Will my luuggage be tagged right till the final destination in this case or i will have to checkin the luggage again at abudhabi airport
if you could clarify please
Many Thanks
Cyrus
Your bags will can be tagged till final destination when check in done at the Mumbai airport. Airline officials will inform you after checking the stoppage times.
We could not check since we need your last name along with the PNR no. for checking the status of flights.
I have one more query please,
From Mumbai to Manchester, when there will be a stoppage at Abu Dhabi:
1. Will there be a change of plane
2. If there is a change of plane will i have to Recheck the baggage or it will be automatically tagged at Mumbai and transferred to the new plane at Abu Dhabi
Thank you.
Cyrus.
We can not reply to it till we have the PNR no. as it will show which airlines are flying on two legs of your journey. To keep it simple, we can suggest that you speak to the local airline office with which you booked the tickets for a through check-in. If you have booked with Etihad, they might suggest that you check in at airport and get the bags tagged till the final destination. So, please speak to them.
The info is a bit confusing or maybe i just can seem to understand,
I am in the process of buying tickets from Mumbai To Manchester via Abu Dhabi and return and wish to know the same.
So Jet airways will also be involved as a Partner Flight
I will be opting for the cheapest economy option. i have a couple of queries
1. What will be my check in luggage limit per person (will it be one bag of 23 kg or two bags of 23 kg each) as on the site it was written as travel from India to UK 2 bags of 23 kg each.
2. Will a child of 5 years also be allowed a bag of 23 kg
3. Will the same rules apply on Jet Airways.
4. Can i carry few eatables in my hand luggage to suffice me for the stopover at Abu Dhabhi.
If you can clarify. Thank You
Cyrus.
If you have tickets booked with Etihad, its baggage allowance policy will apply all through.
It will be 2 bags of 23 kg each for you and also for your son. So, a total of 4 bags of 23 kgs each.
You can carry some eatables which are permissible in cabin.