It’s just after 11 AM here in Lagos, and the generator is humming that familiar tune outside my window. I’m staring at a flight confirmation on my screen for a trip I have coming up, and that little flicker of anxiety starts in my stomach. It’s not about the flight itself—I love flying. It’s the pre-flight chaos. The traffic getting to Murtala Muhammed, the worry about the queues, the whole song and dance of just getting on the plane.
And a huge part of that dance is the check-in.
Flying Ethiopian is a regular thing for a lot of us here. They connect us to literally everywhere. But I’ve seen so many people, friends included, get tripped up and stressed out by the check-in process. They show up to the airport expecting a smooth run and get hit with a wall of people, confusion over baggage, and the frantic search for a pen.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Seriously. I've learned the hard way, so you don't have to. So, let’s talk, for real, about how to handle your Ethiopian Airlines check-in so you can start your trip feeling relaxed and in control, not like you’ve just run a marathon.
Don’t Play Yourself: The 48-Hour Head Start
Listen, if you take only one thing away from this, let it be this: check in online the day before you fly.
Procrastination is the enemy of smooth travel. Ethiopian opens their online check-in a full 48 hours before departure. That is a massive head start. It’s the difference between getting to pick a nice window seat and getting stuck with whatever’s left over—usually that dreaded middle seat next to the toilets.
I’ll never forget waiting in the queue at MMA for a flight to DC, standing behind a family that was trying to check in for the first time right there at the counter. The flight was closing in an hour. The stress was radiating off them. The kids were getting restless, the parents were snapping at each other, and it was all completely avoidable.
By checking in from your phone or laptop, you’re telling the airline, "I'm coming." You secure your seat. You sort out your baggage situation ahead of time. You basically solve 90% of potential airport problems before you even call your Uber. The online portal closes 2 hours before the flight, so don't leave it to the last minute. Just get it done.
The Real VIP Move: Checking In From Your Couch
Okay, so how do you actually do it? It’s easier than ordering food online. I promise.
First things first, grab your phone or laptop and pull up that confirmation email from Ethiopian. You’re looking for your Booking Reference (it's a six-character code, a mix of letters and numbers, sometimes called a PNR) or your 13-digit e-Ticket number.
Got it? Good.
Now, head to Ethiopian’s website or open their app. Find the "Check-in" button. It’s not hiding. Pop in that code and your last name, and your booking will appear like magic.
This is where you take control. The site will walk you through it:
Confirm who’s flying. Just you? You and the family? Tick the boxes.
Choose your seats. This is the prize. You'll see a map of the plane. Grab that aisle seat if you have long legs. Grab the window if you want to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. Do it now before they’re all gone.
Deal with your bags. The site will tell you your free baggage allowance. For most of us flying Economy to the US or Europe, that’s usually two bags, 23kg each. If you know you’ve overpacked (we’ve all been there), you can often buy extra baggage right here, and it's cheaper than doing it in person at the airport where they know they’ve got you cornered.
Get your boarding pass. Once you’re done, it’ll generate your boarding pass. You can email it to yourself, download it as a PDF, or if you’re on the app, it’ll save it right there. My personal trick? I always, always take a screenshot of the QR code. Airport Wi-Fi is fickle. Data can disappear. A screenshot in your photo gallery is your bulletproof backup.
And that’s it. The whole thing takes maybe five minutes, and you’ve just saved yourself an hour of potential airport wahala.
Okay, So You Have to Check In at the Airport...
Sometimes, you just can't check in online. Maybe you're traveling with an infant, or the airline needs to physically see your visa for your destination country. It happens. If you find yourself in this boat, don’t panic. Just be smart about it.
First, the "three hours early" rule for international flights? It's not a joke. Obey it. The check-in counters close one hour sharp before departure, and for U.S. flights, sometimes two. You need that buffer.
Second, walk up to that counter prepared. Have your passport and any visa documents in your hand, not at the bottom of your backpack. The agent will love you for it.
But the most important tip is this: Even if you have bags to check, do the online check-in first. I cannot say this enough. When you get to the airport, you get to skip that gigantic, slow-moving check-in queue and go to the much, much shorter "Bag Drop" line. It is the single greatest airport hack. You just hand over your bags, they tag them, and you’re off to security while everyone else is still 30 people back in the main line. It feels like cheating, but it's not. It's just being prepared.
Your trip is supposed to be the fun part. Don't let the boring logistics suck the joy out of it. A few minutes of prep makes all the difference.
Quick Answers to Real FAQ
I checked in online but have suitcases. Now what?
How much luggage can I actually bring?
Can I just use my phone as my boarding pass?
Why won't it let me pick a seat?
I'm flying through Addis Ababa. Do I have to do all this again there?
Nope! As long as you're on one ticket, your bags get checked all the way through to your final stop, and you'll get all your boarding passes at your first check-in. In Addis, you just walk off one plane and find the gate for the next one. Easy.
Read Next:
·
Complete
Guide to Thai Airways Check-In (Online, Mobile & Airport)
·
The
easyJet Check-In Guide I Wish I Had Before My First Flight
