Check-in guide · FlySafair
FlySafair Check-In: Times, Cut-Offs & How It Works
FlySafair online check-in opens 24 hours before departure at flysafair.co.za and closes 60 minutes before your flight. At the airport, check-in desks and bag drop close strictly 40 minutes before domestic departures. Checked in online with no bags? Go straight to security.
How FlySafair online check-in works
FlySafair sends you an email when online check-in opens — 24 hours before your scheduled departure. You check in on the FlySafair website using your six-character booking reference (the code at the top of your confirmation email). The window closes 1 hour before departure, so this is not something to leave for the Uber ride to the airport.
Your boarding pass options
You can print the boarding pass at home or simply show it on your phone screen — the barcode scanners at South African airport security read directly off a smartphone. No FlySafair app is required for check-in; it runs through the website.
Checked in online, no hold luggage?
Skip the counters entirely. Show your boarding pass and photo ID at the security barrier and head to your gate. This is the single biggest time-saver FlySafair offers, and on a 06:00 OR Tambo departure it can be the difference between a calm coffee and a sprint.
Checked in online, but you have a bag to check?
You still need the bag drop counter, and the 40-minute domestic cut-off applies to your bag, not just to you. If the bag misses the cut-off it does not fly, even if you do.
Airport check-in: desks, kiosks and the 40-minute rule
FlySafair’s check-in desks open 2 hours before departure and close exactly 40 minutes before domestic departures — the airline is strict about this because its business model runs on on-time performance. Regional/international check-in closes 60 minutes before departure.
At the larger airports FlySafair also has self-service kiosks near the check-in counters — touch-screen machines where you tap the FlySafair icon, enter your booking reference and print a boarding pass. Kiosks follow the same window: open 2 hours before, closed 40 minutes before.
FlySafair itself recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure. During December holidays and Easter at OR Tambo or Cape Town International, treat 2 hours as the realistic minimum — ACSA security queues are the bottleneck, not FlySafair’s counters.
Running late? Your realistic odds with FlySafair
| Time before departure | Your position |
|---|---|
| 90+ min | Comfortable. Check in online in the car park if you haven’t already. |
| 60–90 min | Fine — but online check-in closes at the 60-minute mark. Do it now. |
| 40–60 min | Online check-in is closed. Desks are still open until 40 minutes out — go directly to a counter, not a kiosk queue. |
| Under 40 min | Check-in is closed and FlySafair does not make exceptions. You’re rebooking — expect a change fee plus fare difference. |
The honest advice: FlySafair’s 40-minute cut-off is enforced more consistently than almost any other rule in SA domestic aviation. Plan around it, not against it.
What you need at check-in
- Adults: green ID book, smart ID card, valid passport or driver’s licence for domestic flights.
- Children: a birth certificate (abridged or unabridged) — have it with you for domestic travel.
- Your booking reference: the six-character code on your confirmation email.
Booked through Travelstart? Your Travelstart confirmation contains the FlySafair booking reference — use that code on FlySafair’s check-in page, not your Travelstart order number.
How FlySafair’s cut-offs compare to other SA airlines
The same missed alarm plays out differently depending on whose plane you’re on. Here is every major SA domestic airline’s check-in window side by side:
| Airline | Online check-in opens | Online closes | Airport counter / bag drop | Recommended arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlySafair | 24 hrs before | 60 min before | Desks close 40 min (domestic) / 60 min (regional) | 90 min before departure |
| LIFT | 24 hrs before | 45 min before | Counters & bag drop close 45 min | 90–120 min before departure |
| Airlink | 24 hrs before | 60 min before | Counters close 30 min (dom) / 50 min (intl); bag drop 60 min | 2 hrs (dom) / 3 hrs (intl) report time |
| SAA | 24 hrs before | 90 min dom / 2 hrs intl (web) | Domestic counters close 45 min; intl 60 min | 90 min (dom) / 2.5–3 hrs (intl) |
| CemAir | 24 hrs before | Not separately published | Counters open 90 min, close 45 min; bag cut-off 45 min | 90 min before departure |
Cut-off times verified against each airline’s official published guidance, July 2026. Airlines can change these without notice — your booking confirmation is final word.
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FlySafair Check-In — Frequently Asked Questions
When does FlySafair online check-in open?
FlySafair online check-in opens 24 hours before your scheduled departure time on the FlySafair website, and closes 60 minutes before departure.
What is FlySafair's bag drop cut-off?
Bag drop and check-in desks close 40 minutes before domestic departures and 60 minutes before regional/international departures. Bags that miss the cut-off are not loaded.
Can I check in for FlySafair on my phone?
Yes. Check in via the FlySafair website on your phone and show the boarding pass on your screen at security — airport scanners read smartphone barcodes. No app is required.
Do I need to go to the counter if I checked in online?
Only if you have a bag to check. With hand luggage only, go straight to security with your boarding pass and photo ID.
How early should I arrive for a FlySafair flight?
FlySafair recommends at least 90 minutes before domestic departures. In December and Easter peak periods at OR Tambo or Cape Town, allow 2 hours for security queues.
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