Gate 41Do I need a passport, and who checks it?
A boarding pass gets me on the plane. Where does my passport come in?
On an international flight you need a passport, and sometimes a visa or an online travel authorisation, for the country you are flying to. Which ones depends on your nationality and where you are going, so check before you travel.
It is looked at several times. The airline checks it at check-in or at the gate, because it must not carry anyone who cannot enter the destination. Some airports have passport control after security. On arrival, immigration checks it again. On a domestic flight you usually need only a photo ID, and the rules differ by country.
A little deeper
Airlines send the passenger details to the authorities before departure in many countries, which is why the name on your ticket has to match your passport exactly.
Keep your passport and boarding pass together and easy to reach. If you are unsure what you need, your airline and the official government travel pages for your destination are the places to check.
See it in Gate 41, in the departures hall
Related questions
People involved
- Tomás WeberCheck-in agent
- Daniel WhitfieldGate agent