When I first got my boarding pass, I was surprised to notice that the time printed on it didn’t match the departure time shown on my ticket or the airport information board.
It turns out these times serve different purposes. The time on your boarding pass is the boarding time, while the one on your ticket is the departure time.
So, what’s the difference? Let’s break it down so it’s easy to understand.
Boarding time is the time when passengers are allowed to start boarding the plane, typically 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled departure. This time is set by the airline and printed on your boarding pass.
During this process, you’ll need to show your boarding pass and identification, such as a passport. Once everything is verified, you’ll proceed to the gate and board the plane.
The boarding process usually ends about 15 to 20 minutes before the plane is scheduled to leave. After all passengers have boarded, the cabin doors are closed, and the crew begins final preparations for takeoff.
Airlines often advise passengers to arrive at the gate early because once the boarding process is finished and the doors are closed, latecomers won’t be allowed to board the plane.
The boarding time is set by the airline and can vary depending on several factors, including:
Larger planes take more time to board because there are more seats to fill and more passengers to organize. As a result, boarding for big aircraft usually starts earlier than for smaller ones.
Flights with more passengers, especially those at full capacity, often need extra time for boarding. To keep things running smoothly, airlines may start the boarding process earlier on these flights.
For international flights, boarding can take longer because of additional checks, like verifying passports and visas. Security procedures are often more thorough compared to domestic flights, which adds to the boarding time.
Bad weather at the departure or destination airport can impact the aircraft’s preparation. In such cases, boarding might be scheduled earlier than usual to account for potential delays.
To avoid missing your flight, it’s important to know when the boarding process starts. The easiest way to find this out is by checking your boarding pass, which clearly shows the boarding time. You’ll receive this pass from the airline after checking in.
You can also check the flight information screens at the airport. These screens display real-time updates, including the boarding time and gate information for each flight.
Departure time refers to the scheduled time when the plane is set to take off. This time doesn’t indicate when passengers start boarding or when the plane doors close—it strictly marks the takeoff.
The key difference between boarding time and departure time is their purpose. Boarding time tells passengers when they need to start getting on the plane, while departure time indicates when the plane is scheduled to leave the runway.
Because of this, once you’ve checked in and are inside the airport, the time you should focus on is the boarding time, not the departure time. Arriving at the gate based on the departure time could mean the plane has already left.
It’s no surprise that boarding passes emphasize the boarding time rather than the departure time. This helps passengers avoid confusion and ensures they know when to head to the gate.
While the departure time is also displayed on your flight ticket, the airport’s flight information screens include additional updates like boarding status, giving passengers complete and accurate information about their flight.
