Check-in

Check-in | Ticketing | Self check-in | Baggage | Passport control | Transit | Passenger security screening | Basic boarding gates

Checklist

• You are advised to commence check-in at least 2 hours prior to the departure of your flight
• Valid passport (+visa) or personal ID card if traveling to Schengen countries
• Airline ticket or electronic ticket
• Hold baggage: regulations and weight limits vary by airline
• Hand baggage: regulations and weight limits also vary by airline

Check-in

Please check the Terms and conditions of your flight ticket as in case of some airlines all non-EU/EEA citizens must have their travel documents checked and boarding pass stamped at the check in counter of their airline prior to passing through airport security.

Check-in, consisting of ticket validation and hold baggage drop-off, usually commences two hours prior to departure. It is advised to already arrive at the airport by this time at the latest, so as to ensure that you have enough time for all required processes. Check-in counters at Budapest Airport are located in Terminals 2A and 2B on the departure floors. All passengers are required to have their tickets (or electronic tickets) validated at the terminal specified on their tickets. If a passenger takes advantage of the on-line check-in service before leaving for the airport, he/she will nonetheless have to go to the appropriate terminal for the airline, with the printed boarding pass, if there is hold baggage to drop off.

Check-in counter allocation after the opening of the bud:skycourt

T2A	T2B
Air France	Germanwings
Alitalia	Israir
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	Onur Air
Air Malta	Air Berlin
Lufthansa	Finnair
LOT Polish Airlines	British Airways
Swiss International Air Lines	AirBaltic
Egyptair	Norwegian Air Shuttle
CSA Czech Airlines	Aer Lingus
Austrian Airlines	easyJet
Tarom Romanian Air Transport	easyJet Switzerland
Brussels Airlines	Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium
Turkish Airlines	Ryanair
TAP Air Portugal	Transavia Airlines
	Arkia Israel Airlines
	Jet2.com
	El Al Israel Airlines
	Air Cairo
	OLT Express Germany
	Qatar Airways
	Smart Wings
	Sky Airlines
	Aeroflot Russian Airlines
	Sky Work Airlines
	Travel Service
	Tailwind Airlines
	Ural Airlines
	TunisAir Express
	AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines
	Wizz Air

Ticket validation

During ticket validation you will be required to present your airline ticket, a valid passport or other travel document (a personal ID card is sufficient for EEC member states and Schengen countries) and a valid visa, if necessary based on relations with the destination country. You are advised to check the validity of your passport or other travel document and your visa in advance, since you may be barred from traveling in the absence of these.

A number of issues related to your journey may be decided during ticket validation, such as your final seat, the quantity of hand baggage allowed or a potential fee payable in relation to excess baggage. In line with the airline ticket class (economy, business, first class) and depending on certain security regulations and the number of free seats remaining, passengers can chose where they would like to sit. A boarding pass will be received at the time of ticket validation, which specifies the following information: name of passenger, flight number, travel class, boarding gate number, exact time of boarding, passenger’s seat number.

Passengers are required to arrive at the boarding gate by the time indicated on the boarding pass. Passengers may have their bookings deleted if they do not report to the gate at the specified time, or arrive late.

Self check-in

The passengers of some airlines are able to check in on their own at Terminals 2A and 2B, using the touch screens of the self check-in machines provided. Since these machines make check-in significantly faster, easier and more efficient, they have become very popular. Therefore there is ever-increasing demand for them from passengers, who are thus able to select their seats themselves, as well as from airlines.

Currently the passengers of Lufthansa, AUA, SM Brussels, Finnair, AirFrance and most recently of KLM can use the CUSS kiosks, whilst talks are currently ongoing about the use of CUSS with several smaller airlines. Lufthansa relies most heavily on this option (approximately 70%).

Baggage

Baggage is also checked in at the check-in counter. Nowadays all airlines determine their own baggage weight limits allowed per passenger. It is recommended to check the details of this prior to traveling on the website of the given airline. Failure to observe weight limits may result in a fee being payable for excess baggage, the extent of which depends on your destination. A boarding pass will only be issued after this fee has been paid at the customer service office of the given airline or the handling company.
Check-in staff are also in charge of deciding, based on the respective rules of the given airline, whether a certain piece of baggage can qualify as hand baggage and can be taken on board aircraft. Rules relating to hand baggage can also be found on airline websites. If hand baggage is oversized or is too heavy, it will have to be checked in with the rest of your hold baggage. In this case a fee for the excess weight also has to be paid, if the total weight of the unaccepted hand baggage and of the hold baggage exceeds the limit specified.

Passport control

The check-in counter closes 30 minutes (40 minutes for low-cost carriers) prior to the scheduled departure of the flight. Passengers arriving after this time will not be able to check in for the given flight. If you are traveling to a country outside of the Schengen zone, you will need to have your passport or travel document inspected after check-in, for which you should have not only your official document, but also your boarding pass available, since this may also be inspected. If you are traveling between two Schengen countries, and thus “not crossing any borders”, you do not need to undergo a document check.

Passenger security screening

Irrespective of the destination, all passengers and all hand and hold baggage must undergo security screening prior to departure. Passengers’ clothing and hand baggage will be screened after check-in and passport control. Passengers pass through a walk-through metal detector, while hand baggage is screened using an X-ray machine. The aim of this procedure is to prevent any sharp items, weapons, liquids or other materials compromising aviation security from being taken on board aircraft.

Transit

Passengers who have passed through check-in, passport control and security screening and enter the transit area have already left the territory of the given country. As compared to the landside passenger hall, the transit area provides more comfortable and eventful surroundings, since passengers have a choice of numerous restaurants, cafés and a wide selection of shops. Seating is also available in ample numbers at all boarding gates. Therefore, you are advised to spend any waiting time in the transit area. Opportunities are readily available to make phone calls or to exchange currencies. Boarding gates open 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure, with passengers being informed of the commencement of boarding over the loudspeakers. Whilst waiting in the transit area, please check the gate allocated for your flight on the flight information screens, since this may change based on traffic conditions. You should have both your boarding pass and your travel document ready at the time of boarding for final inspection at the gate.

Basic boarding gates

For those travelling via the basic boarding gates (BBG)

About the process:

Pedestrian boarding and disembarkation on the apron has been available since the spring of 2012 and was appreciated by passengers during the warmer period of the year. In view of the winter schedule and the weather conditions customary during this period Budapest Airport constructed a separate, covered, simple waiting facility known as a basic boarding gate or BBG, but this is not the only thing that changed. Please read through the following facts and pieces of advice carefully.

For departing passengers the most important difference to the former boarding procedure is that the official last check of the boarding pass (the actual boarding) has been relocated from the terminal to the newly built BBG facilities. You will also have your baggage assessed once inside the BBG.

For your comfort this winter you will not be allowed to exit the Terminal building towards the BBG until 50 minutes prior to your departure. To help preserve this requirement, new “sluice” electronic gates can be found within the Terminal where you will be asked to scan your boarding card if your flight is listed on the monitor as being ready for boarding. At the electronic gates there is no priority service for eligible passengers which has also been relocated to the BBG. If you have any problems or questions at the electronic gate locations do not hesitate to address our hostess. Once through the electronic gates a properly signed walkway will lead you to your BBG. Once inside your boarding pass will be checked by the airline representative. It is expected that the maximum time you will spend in the BBG will be 30 minutes. Limited Restrooms are available next to the 2A BBG facilities but not in the 2B ones therefore we recommend you to take care of this one last stop from either terminal before passing through the electronic gates. As it is winter, you are encouraged to bring along some warm clothes as the BBG’s offer limited insulation. Once your aircraft is ready for boarding the airline representative and the signs will lead you to your plane for a timely departure

Top 5 useful tips for passengers using the BBG

1. There are limited toilet facilities by the boarding gates – it is better to make one last stop within the terminal and after leaving the terminal you will have only around30 minutes with a mixture of walking and queuing before you climb the aircraft steps, time will pass quickly once you leave the Terminal. Remember your coat!

2. Keep a check on the information screens by the electronic gates – your flight will commence boarding around 50 minutes prior to its actual departure time (this sometimes differs to the scheduled departure time in case of delays).

3. Scan the bar code on your boarding pass against the bar code reader at the electronic gate

4. You still have time so do not panic and once through the electronic gate, proceed down the walkway to the BBG to which your flight is assigned.

5. Once within the BBG, please relax, work with the airline staff and get ready to follow the signs and directions towards your departing aircraft. Thus you would help airline and airport staff to keep to the schedule and be able to depart with your flight on time.