Airline Online Check-in API

Help travelers reach their airline’s online check-in from your itinerary or pre-trip message. Retrieve online check-in URLs matched to airline codes and names, ready to use in your travel application.

Get test API key View example
  • Online check-in links
  • Lookup by code or name
  • JSON, XML and CSV

Get an airline’s online check-in links

Look up Southwest Airlines using its IATA code WN and read web_checkin_url. Use a returned URL to send travelers to the airline’s check-in page. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your assigned key.

Request · cURL

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'iata=WN'

Response · JSON excerpt

[
  {
    "iata": "WN",
    "icao": "SWA",
    "marketing_name": "Southwest Airlines",
    "web_checkin_url": "https://www.southwest.com/air/check-in/?clk=HP-CHKIN",
    ...
  }
]

Abbreviated response. The ellipsis (…) represents additional airline fields omitted here and is not part of the actual JSON response.

View the full Airline Database API reference →

Request parameters

Use the Airlines API to retrieve an airline or export the directory. web_checkin_url is a response field. The request identifies the airline; it does not submit a passenger booking for check-in.

ParameterRequiredDefaultDescription
apikey YesNoneYour assigned API key. Get a free test API key.
iata ConditionalNoneLook up an airline by its two-character IATA code, such as WN.
icao ConditionalNoneLook up an airline by its three-letter ICAO code, such as SWA.
name ConditionalNoneFind airline codes by airline name or partial name.
dump Conditional0Set to 1 to export the complete dataset, subject to the onlyscheduled filter.
response_type NoJSONResponse format: JSON, XML or CSV. CSV triggers a file download.
onlyscheduled No1Set to 1 for scheduled airlines only, or 0 for all airline types.

Provide at least one of iata, icao, name, or dump=1. Setting dump=1 overrides the other lookup parameters.

View all request parameters →

Available data

Match web_checkin_url to the airline identity before displaying it. This field links to the airline’s check-in page; it does not contain a passenger’s check-in status or boarding pass.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
airhex_id Identifier1046Permanent Airhex record identifier. Use it to associate future updates with the same record.
iata StringWNTwo-character IATA airline designator. Codes can contain letters and digits; store them as text.
icao StringSWAThree-letter ICAO airline designator, useful for mapping between code systems.
marketing_name StringSouthwest AirlinesCommonly used airline name for display in your application.
web_checkin_url String (URL)https://www.southwest.com/air/check-in/?clk=HP-CHKINURL for web-based passenger check-in.

View all available data →

Common implementation tasks

Download check-in links for your airline directory

Export the directory as CSV and retain web_checkin_url with the airline names, codes and airhex_id. Check that a URL is populated before displaying a check-in button. Use onlyscheduled=0 if you need carrier types beyond scheduled airlines, and select the relevant records in your application.

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'dump=1' \
  --data-urlencode 'onlyscheduled=0' \
  --data-urlencode 'response_type=CSV' \
  --output airline-check-in-links.csv

Find check-in links by airline name

Search with name, confirm the intended airline and read web_checkin_url. Name searches support partial matching, so review returned identities before associating a link with an itinerary.

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'name=Southwest'

Retrieve check-in links using an ICAO code

Use icao when your source supplies a three-letter ICAO airline designator. This example looks up Southwest Airlines using SWA and returns the same web_checkin_url field.

curl --get 'https://content.airhex.com/api/v3.7.10/airlines/' \
  --data-urlencode 'apikey=YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data-urlencode 'icao=SWA'

What you can build

Check-in buttons in itineraries

Give travelers a clearly labelled link to their airline’s check-in page from your trip-management screen.

Pre-trip check-in reminders

Add airline check-in links to reminders, using timing established by your booking or airline data.

Check-in guidance for support teams

Let agents retrieve the airline’s online check-in links from the carrier code on a booking.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Airline Online Check-in API return?

The Airlines API returns web_checkin_url alongside the airline identity. This field contains a link to the airline’s online passenger check-in page.

Does this API check in passengers or issue boarding passes?

No. It supplies airline check-in URLs. The passenger completes check-in with the airline, which handles booking verification, passenger details and boarding-pass issuance.

Does the response tell me when check-in opens?

No. The documented field provides a URL, not flight-specific opening times or passenger eligibility. Use the airline’s instructions or appropriate booking data to establish when check-in is available. Base reminders and availability messaging on that check-in window, rather than the presence of a URL.

Can I prefill a booking reference and passenger name?

The documented API returns check-in URLs and does not define passenger-prefill parameters. Do not assume you can append booking details to a returned URL. Follow an airline’s documented integration method if it offers one.

Which airline’s check-in link should I show for a codeshare?

Follow the check-in instructions associated with the booking to identify the appropriate carrier, then look up that airline. The reference API does not determine check-in responsibility for an individual itinerary.

What should I do if web_checkin_url is missing?

Omit the check-in button or provide another support path. Missing URL data does not establish that online check-in is unavailable for the passenger’s booking.

Can I store check-in links in my own database?

Yes, with an appropriate Airline Database license. Export the directory in JSON, XML or CSV and retain airline identities with the URLs. Refresh your copy periodically; Airhex reviews and updates airline data daily. Retain airhex_id and the updated timestamp from the full response to pick up URL changes.

How should I display a check-in link?

Use the populated web_checkin_url as the destination for a clearly labelled check-in button. Include the airline name so travelers know which airline’s page they will open.

Make airline check-in easier to find

Give travelers a direct route from your itinerary or reminder to their airline’s online check-in page, with maintained links matched to airline codes.

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Airline Database API →

Explore the complete airline dataset, including IATA and ICAO codes, names, operational status, carrier types, alliances, frequent flyer programs, check-in and baggage policy links, logos and brand colors. View all request parameters and response fields, with individual lookups and bulk exports in JSON, XML and CSV.

Airline Alliance API →

Look up airline alliance membership by IATA code, ICAO code or name. Build alliance filters and group airlines in your travel application with Airhex.

Airline Baggage Policy API →

Retrieve airline baggage policy links by IATA code, ICAO code or airline name. Add official baggage information to booking flows and itineraries with Airhex.

Airline Brand Colors API →

Retrieve airline brand colors as hex and RGB values by IATA code, ICAO code or name. Add airline color accents to travel interfaces with the Airhex API.

Airline Frequent Flyer Programs API →

Look up airline frequent flyer program names by IATA code, ICAO code or airline name. Build loyalty program directories and enrich airline profiles with Airhex.

Airline IATA Codes API →

Look up airline IATA codes, match codes to airline names and ICAO codes, or export the airline coding directory with the Airhex API.

Airline ICAO Codes API →

Look up three-letter ICAO airline codes, match them to airline names and IATA codes, and download the airline directory with the Airhex API.

Airline Metadata API →

Retrieve low-cost carrier flags and airline types, including scheduled, charter, cargo and ACMI. Look up airline metadata by code or name with Airhex.

Airline Status API →

Look up airline operational status: active, defunct or start-up. Retrieve status by airline code or name and filter your local airline directory with Airhex.