What to do when online check-in does not issue a boarding pass
Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026
Читать на русскомCheck-in and the boarding pass are separate steps
First establish whether check-in is complete or the system will not let you start it. Save the exact message, attempt time and booking status. An instruction to visit a desk for document checks does not automatically mean cancellation or refusal to carry you.
Check whether check-in has opened for your fare, schedule changes have been accepted and passport details are correct. For a third-party purchase, ensure that you have the airline's booking reference and access to the reservation.
The Wizz Air example
Wizz Air's official check-in guidance ↗ states that some airports do not support mobile boarding passes, requiring a printed document instead. The airline also provides for desk checks of non-EU travel documents. Consequently, passengers with different passports experiencing the same problem does not establish its cause.
Check your particular airport and flight requirements rather than simply whether the app opens. Online check-in, desk and boarding deadlines differ; completing one step does not extend the next.
When it is a technical problem
On its check-in issues page ↗, Wizz Air recommends trying the desktop website or app, checking acceptance of schedule changes, and taking a screenshot and contacting support if the problem persists. Do not wait until the deadline is close.
Request a specific answer: which desk to visit, which documents to present and whether issuing the pass will incur a fee. Choosing paid airport check-in is different from a mandatory document check after completing online check-in. Do not assume that every technical failure guarantees a free service; retain the airline's response.
At the desk and afterwards
Arrive with a buffer before check-in closes. Prepare your passport, entry documents, check-in confirmation, error screenshots and correspondence. If asked to pay, request the reason, a receipt and the service description.
Prioritise boarding on time. A fee dispute can then be raised in writing with evidence. Correct inaccurate details through the airline's designated process rather than creating a new booking unnecessarily. Check the return flight again: a mobile pass accepted at one airport may not be accepted at another.