Can I Web Check In via Yatra, Goibibo, or MakeMyTrip?
You booked your flight on an OTA but can't find the check-in button. Here's the deal: OTAs don't check you in themselves. They redirect you to the airline. And you'll need your airline PNR, not the OTA booking reference.
You booked a flight on MakeMyTrip, Yatra, or Goibibo. Now it's time to check in. You open the OTA's app, look for a "check in" button, and... you can't find one. Or you find something, but it asks for a PNR you don't recognize.
This is one of the most common points of confusion for Indian travelers, and it has a simple explanation.
The Short Answer
OTAs don't check you in. The airline does.
When you book a flight through Yatra, Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, Ixigo, or Cleartrip, the OTA handles the booking and ticketing. But the actual check-in process is controlled entirely by the airline. The OTA has no access to the airline's departure control system.
Some OTAs (like Yatra and MakeMyTrip) have web check-in pages on their sites, but those pages just redirect you to the airline's own check-in page. You're not checking in "on Yatra." Yatra is just sending you to IndiGo or Air India's website to do it there.
The One Thing You Need: Your Airline PNR
Here's where most people get stuck. When you book through an OTA, you get a booking confirmation with a reference number. But that's the OTA's booking reference, not your airline PNR. They're two different things.
The airline PNR (also called the airline confirmation number) is what you need for web check-in. It's a 6-character alphanumeric code, and it's what the airline uses to identify your reservation in their system.
Where to Find Your Airline PNR
Each OTA shows it in a slightly different place:
| OTA | Where to Find Airline PNR |
|---|---|
| MakeMyTrip | Booking confirmation email, under "Airline PNR" or "Airline Booking ID." Also visible in the app under My Trips > flight details. |
| Goibibo | Booking confirmation email, labeled "Airline PNR." In the app, go to My Trips and tap on the booking. |
| Yatra | Confirmation email, listed as "Airline PNR" or "Airline Confirmation No." Also available on yatra.com under "Know Your Booking Status." |
| Ixigo | Booking confirmation email, under "Airline Reference." In the app, check your trip details. |
| Cleartrip | Confirmation email, labeled "Airline PNR." Also visible in the app under your trip. |
If you can't find the PNR in your email, search your inbox for the airline name (like "IndiGo" or "Air India") plus words like "e-ticket" or "booking confirmation." The PNR is almost always in the first few lines.
How to Actually Check In
Once you have your airline PNR, go directly to the airline's web check-in page:
| Airline | Check-in Link | Window |
|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | goindigo.in/web-check-in | 48 hrs to 60 min before (domestic) |
| Air India | airindia.com/web-checkin | 48 hrs to 2 hrs before |
| SpiceJet | book.spicejet.com/WebCheckin | 48 hrs to 2 hrs before |
| Akasa Air | akasaair.com/check-in | 48 hrs to 60 min before |
| Air India Express | airindiaexpress.com/web-check-in | 48 hrs to 2 hrs before |
Enter your airline PNR and last name (or email), and you'll be able to select your seat and download your boarding pass.
"My OTA Booking Isn't Showing Up on the Airline Site"
This happens. When you book through an OTA, the airline's system sometimes takes a few hours to sync. If your booking doesn't show up on the airline's web check-in page, here's what to do:
Wait 4 to 6 hours. Most OTA bookings sync with the airline within this window. If you booked the flight just a few hours ago and departure is tomorrow, give it time.
Check your PNR, not the OTA reference. Make sure you're entering the 6-character airline PNR, not the longer OTA booking reference. This is the most common mistake.
Try the airline's app. Sometimes the airline's mobile app picks up the booking before the website does.
Call the airline. If it's been more than 24 hours and the booking still doesn't show, call the airline directly with your passenger name and travel date. They can look up the PNR even if the OTA reference is all you have.
Are You Earning Miles on This Flight?
Here's something worth thinking about while you're checking in: are you earning loyalty points for this flight?
If you flew Air India and didn't add your Maharaja Club number, you can retro claim those miles for up to 12 months after the flight. If you flew IndiGo, the BluChip retro claim window is 90 days.
And if you're not part of any loyalty program yet, our beginner's guide to airline miles in India explains how the whole thing works. You don't need a premium credit card. You can earn miles through everyday spending on the Magnify app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check in on the OTA's app itself?
Some OTAs like Goibibo and Yatra have check-in features in their apps, but these just redirect you to the airline's check-in system. You still need your airline PNR and the check-in happens on the airline's end.
What if I booked a multi-city trip on the OTA and have different PNRs?
Each leg of a multi-city booking may have a separate PNR, especially if the OTA combined flights from different airlines. Check your confirmation email for each PNR and check in separately for each leg on the respective airline's site.
Does it matter if I check in on the OTA's redirect page or go directly to the airline?
No difference. The OTA redirect pages just take you to the same airline check-in page. Going directly is often faster since you skip the OTA's loading steps.
I can't find my airline PNR anywhere. What now?
Contact the OTA's customer support and ask them for the airline PNR specifically. You can also call the airline with your full name, travel date, and route. They can look it up.
