If you’re traveling with boarding passes sent to your email, you may speculate if you can print passes at the airport. Printing tickets and other essential travel documents at the airport is convenient if you forget to do so or don’t own a printer. But can you print anything else at the airport?
You can print your documents at the airport’s fax and print kiosks. Some major airports have business centers that offer printing services for a heavy charge. However, not all airports have print services available for public use, so it’s best to check before you arrive at the airport.
Below, I’ll explain whether you can print your documents at the airport and how to locate these services before you arrive. You’ll also find out what to do when you urgently need to print documents for work or a copy of your ID at the airport.
Can I Print at the Airport?
Most major airports have printers available for public use, usually near the business center or customer service desk. A nearby internet cafe or copy shop might work if your airport doesn’t have printers.
Before you print, check with the business center or customer service desk staff to find out if there are additional charges. Some airports charge a small but more expensive fee than outside for printing, and others offer free printing for a limited number of pages.
Some airports like San Francisco, Tampa, and Kansai have printing services for public use, while others do not. It’s best to check ahead to see if any printers are available and their location at the airport. This will help you plan accordingly and arrive early to avoid stressful surprises.
Where Can You Print at the Airport?
Before printing your documents at the airport, find out where the print kiosks or shops are. Some airports might list these services in an online directory, but sometimes you may need to ask around.
Here is the best way to determine if your airport has a printer:
- Check with your airline. Many airlines have an app or website where you can check in and print your boarding pass before arriving at the airport. If your airline doesn’t have this option, they can tell you if a printer is available at the airport. Some major airlines have kiosks where you can print documents or boarding passes.
- Ask a staff member at the airport. All airports have information desks where you can ask a staff member if printing facilities are available. Staff can also direct you to the nearest print shop if the airport has no printers.
- Look for business printing centers. A handful of business centers or copy shops have printers for public use with the assistance of airport authorities.
Remember that you may have to pay a high per-page fee when you print at the airport, so you may want to use airport printers only as a last resort.
Can You Print Last Minute Boarding Passes at the Airport?
Flying can be a stressful experience, and one of the most stressful parts is ensuring you have all your documents in order. One document you need for air travel is your boarding pass, but if you forget your pass, can you print it at the airport?
You can print your boarding pass at the airport, as most airports have check-in kiosks that print your boarding pass during check-in. All you need is your ticket confirmation number or flight number.
If you’re having trouble finding a kiosk, ask a member of the airport staff for help. They’ll be able to point you in the direction of the airline’s ticket counter, where they’ll reprint your boarding pass for you.
Can I Print Work Stuff at the Airport?
You can print your work stuff at the airport at the printing service kiosks or business centers located at the main terminal. You can email your documents to the printing-specific mail ID or provide them access to your cloud storage device or USB drive.
Here are a few tips for using airport printers for your work stuff:
- Arrive at the airport 3-4 hours before your boarding time. If you need to print at the airport, give yourself plenty of time. Not all airports are open 24/7, so check in way ahead of time if you need to print at the airport.
- Have your documents ready. The lines at the Kiosks can get intolerably long, especially during busy travel periods. Have your documents saved on a USB drive or in your email so you can easily access them when it’s time to print.
- Ask the staff about the per-page fee. Per-page printouts at the airport usually cost a little more than outside, so always ask the price before using their service. The cost will be pretty high if you need to print multiple pages.
- Have your bank cards or cash ready at hand. Most airport printers accept cash or credit cards, so be sure to have one of those handy.
- Delete scanned documents from the machine. Before leaving the printing counter, ask the operator to delete your scanned documents from the device to avoid the risks of theft.
You need to use the following methods if you’re going to print your work-related documents at the airport:
- Printing from a USB drive: Many airport kiosks and business centers have printers that accept documents from USB drives if you don’t have Wi-Fi access.
- Printing from an email: Some printers can connect to email accounts, which means you can send documents to the printer quickly and efficiently.
- Printing from a cloud service: Cloud-based printing services like Google Cloud Print or Apple AirPrint allow you to send documents to a printer wirelessly.
The best time to print at the airport is typically early in the morning or late at night. This is because fewer people are at the airport during these times, so you won’t have to wait as long in line or be scared of safety for your work-related documents.
Can I Use a Printer To Prove My ID?
You can use a printer meant for printing documents at the airport to get a copy of your ID using your smartphone, laptop, or tablet. Ensure you have the file on your email, USB drive, or a cloud storage service.
If a customer at the airport is panicking because they lost their ID, the only way to prove their identity is to print out a copy of their ID at the airport.
To print out a copy of an ID at the airport, follow these steps:
- Find an available printer.
- Connect to the printer using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
- Select the document or image that you want to print.
- Print out the document or image on plain paper. Be sure to include your name and contact information on the printed copy in case it gets lost.
- Show the printed copy of your ID to the airport security personnel.
Conclusion
Many airports now have public printers if you need to print documents before your flight. However, it’s still best to check with the airline before you leave the house.
Here are some tips for printing at the airport:
- Before you print, check with your airline to see if there are any restrictions on bringing printed materials onboard.
- Airport printers typically charge high per-page prices for prints and do not allow for bulk orders.
- Find out the location of the print facilities to save time searching for them before your departure.
