Article: The Airports Offering Convenient In-Town Check-in

[AFF Editor]

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https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/in-town-check-in/

The Airports Offering Convenient In-Town Check-in is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

The Airports Offering Convenient In-Town Check-in

21 February, 2026

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Aeryn]

In Fiji a number of hotels offer in-hotel check in for FJ flights, you can for example drop your bags and get boarding pass at Sofitel Denaru then continue to enjoy the beachclub post checkout before heading to NAN HLO much later.

 

[aspro2]

There are some useful caveats/notes that could be added to the article:

Kuala Lumpur: you have to be in possession of a KLIA Ekspres ticket (Transit or Ekspres service) but you do not have to take the train immediately - you can enter the actual ticketed area of the station anytime later that day.

Taipei A1: This generally works very well, but there are two unexpected issues to be aware of:

• there is a length restriction on suitcases which you might not think of if your bag is not usually classed as oversized: "(Oversized Baggage: the bag’s dimensions add up to more than 158cm or the length is over 70cm)". My not-so-big soft roller duffel is 75cm long. I actually asked at the station when walking past last time I was there and showed the lady a picture. She was of the opinion it would be ok, but not having tried it, YMMV!
• any direct flight to Canada is excluded from In-Town Check-In.

 

[Rayesfeg]

I don't know why I have never bothered to use this in Hong Kong before. Great tip that this is a good way to maximise lounge time.
Am Flying Cathay later in the month. Wonder if there is a separate bag drop/check in line for J pax like there would be at the airport?

 

[Warragul]

I don't know why I have never bothered to use this in Hong Kong before. Great tip that this is a good way to maximise lounge time.
Am Flying Cathay later in the month. Wonder if there is a separate bag drop/check in line for J pax like there would be at the airport?

My experience last May, no, but there was no waiting. By the same token there was about half a dozen people checking in on any airline at that time (around midday).

 

[auriga]

Taipei A1: This generally works very well, but there are two unexpected issues to be aware of:

• there is a length restriction on suitcases which you might not think of if your bag is not usually classed as oversized: "(Oversized Baggage: the bag’s dimensions add up to more than 158cm or the length is over 70cm)". My not-so-big soft roller duffel is 75cm long. I actually asked at the station when walking past last time I was there and showed the lady a picture. She was of the opinion it would be ok, but not having tried it, YMMV!
• any direct flight to Canada is excluded from In-Town Check-In.

I tried once with a medium size duffle/gym bag, and was refused. Only suitcases or similar

 

[AuSammy]

Ah triggering the nostalgia. Recalling staying at the excellent Ansett Gateway hotel in Adelaide, going downstairs to the Ansett Airlines checkin counter, leaving my luggage, getting a boarding pass and being transported to the airport in their Ansett coach. Those were the days of real service.

 

[daft009]

In Fiji a number of hotels offer in-hotel check in for FJ flights, you can for example drop your bags and get boarding pass at Sofitel Denaru then continue to enjoy the beachclub post checkout before heading to NAN HLO much later.

I saw Hilton Denarau also had a FJ counter

We used the Sofitel FJ counter last month. Was very handy. breakfast at the hotel, back to the room for another shower and then left in a cab

 

[aversion]

We used this in KL. It was super handy to be able to leave our carry on in a locker at the station so we didn't need to lug it around while doing some last minute sightseeing.

 

[Warks]

I can recall being able to check in bags at Victoria Station in London for the Gatwick Express. The bags left your hands at the station and showed up magically at your destination... usually. Haven't been to London in decades though so not sure if it still exists.

 

[Rayesfeg]

I do wonder if there have been any stories of luggage incidents from using the in-town check ins or if there have been errors in transporting the luggage from the train station to the plane.
I’m going to give it a go next time I’m in Hong Kong but as a first time user my initial thought is “will this work?”.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have never used KLIA check in at KL Sentral.
Easy enough to leave luggage at hotel after checkout.

When in KL I usually stay at One World Hotel which is on the MRT line (Bandar Utama) but it requires a line change to get to KL Sentral - no point. Easier to just get a Grab from the hotel.

 

[jase05]

I have never used KLIA check in at KL Sentral.
Easy enough to leave luggage at hotel after checkout.

When in KL I usually stay at One World Hotel which is on the MRT line (Bandar Utama) but it requires a line change to get to KL Sentral - no point. Easier to just get a Grab from the hotel.

Yes, Grabs being so cheap just makes it an easy option.
A Grab 6 seat van from the BT costs me around $40-45 as a rule
To take the KLIA Ekspres is $17-18pp and would require me schlepp luggage and change lines. Simply not worth it as a couple

 

[Quickstatus]

A Grab 6 seat van from the BT costs me around $40-45 as a rule

From One World Hotel to KLIA usually costs me about RM80-90 with a Standard plus Grab but agree with the luggage issues

 

[cwd]

I don't know why I have never bothered to use this in Hong Kong before. Great tip that this is a good way to maximise lounge time.
Am Flying Cathay later in the month. Wonder if there is a separate bag drop/check in line for J pax like there would be at the airport?

There's not a separate priority queue, but there's usually only a small queue if any. All check-in is via kiosks, but staff will usually come over and assist, and attach the appropriate colour CX priority tag. Then you just need to use one of the self-service bag drops. If I just miss a train I go straight here and have never missed the next train (they're every 10 minutes).

Oh, and for CX at least, and probably the others, you can drop your bags up to 24 hours before, it doesn't have to be a same day departure. Handy if you have a flight the next morning.

It's worth noting the Taipei in town checkin doesn't require you to use (or pay for) the train.

 

[jpp42]

One could also amass a list of defunct, train related in-town check-ins. Gatwick Express was mentioned above, another was JFK's Airtrain in New York City. That was a bit less useful as the "in town" was only at Jamaica Station, you still had to lug your bags that far. Any others? (Not counting hotel valet services which are a bit different in nature.)