How does one do online check-in?

[IdoHaveAName]

I've read somewhere that you get charged 50 if you manually check in.
So how do I do online check-in?

Apologies for being a green/unseasoned traveller.......

Also, do I need to print a copy of anything or is the email on your phone ok?

Which airline are you flying with OP?

Aer Lingus. From Heathrow if that makes a difference?

Airlines like Ryanair are most strict when it comes to online check in and charging you if you don't do it etc.

However Aer Lingus is a full service airline who will allow you to check in at the airport in the traditional way without charge.

If I were you though, I would follow the instructions on their website for online check in, if nothing else it could save you some time. Do you have a printer to allow you to print out your boarding pass?

If you aren't checking in any hold luggage, you would be able to go straight through security.

If you are checking in hold luggage you might as well do it at the airport. They have to do the exact same ID checks if you are checking in luggage.

Will have no hold luggage. Can go to a café and print boarding pass no problem. Am I correct in thinking you can 'check-in' the day before?
Thanks for your help.

Yes you'll be able to do it now if you're flying tomorrow.

I've just checked in for our holiday on Friday. Just had to add everyone's passport numbers etc on the airline website then choose seats then check in and print out boarding passes. Because we're flying Jet2 though it seems we will still need to stand in check in line (according to boarding pass) as we have hold luggage. Thought there would be a bag drop one grr.

Thanks so much for your help. Will feel like a fish out of water at airport. Long time since I flew. Pre new regs.

Oh dear, we don't have passports, we're flying on EU ID (apparently allowed by Aer Lingus?).

You will usually get an mail prompting you, with a link. Or you can go via website. Some airlines open only 24hr ahead (BA) others 2 weeks (Easyjet). You don't have to print your boarding card if you use a smartphone and save it.

You don't complete passport info for within UK/Eire. Just need photo id.

Yes, we're going between England and Ireland. I guess we'll try the online check-in and if all comes to all get to the airport in good time.

Bear in mind that if you want to use anything other than a passport or an identity card issued by an EEA member state as your ID then you need to have been born in and be a citizen of either the UK or Ireland.

Thanks. We're both Irish.

And it will be Irish ID we'll be using.