The easiest way to find your boarding gate is by looking at your boarding pass. Typically, you'll see a column labeled "Gate" with a number, letter, or a combination of both.
However, sometimes the gate number is missing on the boarding pass. Instead, the gate column might be blank, have a dash (-), or say "TBD" (to be determined).
This is quite common, so there's no need to worry. In this article, I'll explain why this happens and how to find your gate information.
The most common reason for a blank gate number is early check-in. This often occurs when you check-in online, do an early check-in, or check-in right when the counter opens.
Airlines usually get gate information only a few hours before departure. So, if you check-in early, the gate number isn't available yet, leaving the gate column empty.
Solution: Simply keep an eye on the information boards around the airport. These boards will display gate information for your flight as it becomes available.
Sometimes, even passengers who check in later don’t see a gate number on their boarding pass. This can happen due to various reasons like crowded airports, technical repairs on the aircraft, or other issues.
To avoid confusion, some airlines choose not to print the gate number until they have the exact information.
Solution: The solution is the same as before—regularly check the information boards at the airport. Additionally, listen for announcements as the airport staff will usually announce the gate number for your flight.
If you're on a transit flight, you might not see the gate number for your next flight on the boarding pass printed at your initial airport.
This often happens because the gate for the next leg of your journey hasn’t been assigned yet, especially if your first flight is long.
Solution: When you arrive at the transit airport, check the information boards or ask an officer at the transit counter for the gate information.
So, those are the three reasons why your boarding pass might not have a gate number. Now you don't need to worry because this is a common issue and easily resolved at the airport.