1. Check your booking and schedule your departure time
The day before, open your confirmation email and check the departure airport, flight schedule, and baggage allowance included in your ticket. Also confirm your travel arrangements: actual travel time, parking, shuttle, taxi, or who will be accompanying you.
The check-in deadline is not the same as your arrival time at the airport. For Chalair domestic flights, it is 30 minutes before departure; for flights to and from Kerry, it is 40 minutes. Be sure to allow plenty of time to check your luggage and go through security, especially if you’re traveling with children or during a busy period. See the details in Chalair’s Check-in and Formalities FAQ.
2. Check in online as soon as possible
If your flight allows it, checking in online will save you a step on the morning of your departure. With Chalair, online check-in is available between 48 hours and 2 hours before the scheduled flight time for certain departure airports. Keep your e-ticket number handy and save your boarding pass to your phone.
Be sure to take a screenshot of your boarding pass as well—you’ll be able to access it even without an internet connection. Since online check-in isn’t available for all airports, check the terms and conditions on the dedicated page. One checked bag must be dropped off at the counter on the day of departure.
3. Gather all the family's documents
Prepare a folder to keep in your personal bag, containing the documents for each traveler, including those for children.
- For flights within mainland France, Chalair accepts, among other things, a passport, a national ID card, the France Identité digital ID, a French driver’s license, or a valid French residence permit with a recent photo.
- For international travel, check the entry requirements for your destination on France Diplomatie’s Travel Advisory page.
Add to this bag your confirmation from booking, any medical documents you might need, and the necessary documentation for your stay. In the morning, all you’ll have to do is grab the bag.
4. Pack your bags without waiting for the alarm to go off
Pack your bags the day before, and weigh them if possible. Check the size limits, weight allowances, and restricted items before closing your bags. On Chalair flights, one carry-on bag and one personal item are included; checked baggage allowances vary depending on the fare you booked. Find more details on the Baggage page.
Attach the identification tags to your checked luggage and gather everything you’ll be taking with you —suitcases, coats, a stroller, a car seat, or any special equipment—near the gate. If you’re bringing an unusual item, be sure to review the information on hazardous materials before departure.
5. Plan a morning where you don't have to make any decisions
The night before, pick out your clothes, prepare breakfast, plug in your phones, and set two alarms.
- If you're hitting the road, check your fuel level, the airport address in your GPS, and the parking situation.
- If you're taking a taxi or shuttle, please reconfirm the pickup time and location.
Before going to bed, check your emails and travel notifications one last time. If there are any schedule changes or operational updates, you’ll be able to adjust your plans without any stress.
The Quick Checklist for the Day Before
- Check the schedule, airport, and flight number.
- Set a departure time from your home that allows for plenty of time.
- Check in online when the service is available.
- Save and take a screenshot of the boarding pass on your phone.
- Gather the identification documents for all travelers.
- Seal, weigh, and label the luggage.
- Put your suitcases and essentials near the door.
- Book or reconfirm your ride to the airport.
- Charge the phones and set two alarms.
Spending 15 minutes checking things over the night before is often enough to give you some much-needed peace of mind when you wake up. It’s a much better way to start your trip than rummaging through the house in the middle of the night.