On the ticket, you will see the reference number, flight number, airline, check-in time and your flight's departure time.
With some airlines, you can smoothly check in with your reference number on vending machines located at the airport, so you will not have to queue for the manual check-in. Vending machines are available at Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. After you have received your boarding pass and luggage tags, you have to leave your luggage at the desks where it says "luggage drop".
You can check in at the airport not earlier than 2 hours before your departure and no later than 1 hour before the flight departure.
In some cases, you can check in online 30 hours before departure. With most airlines, you can also choose a seat on board and in some cases print your boarding pass in advance. By logging in with the airline's reference number, you can see which benefits apply to your particular airline. You will find your reference number for the airline on your confirmation and travel documents.
Nowadays, only electronic tickets are used for scheduled flights. This means that you can travel with your passport if you don't have a printed ticket with you.
Note: If you fly with Ryanair, Air Baltic or Wizzair, you will have to check in & print your boarding pass before departure. This is to avoid high fees at the airport. You log in to your booking on the airline's website by stating the airline's reference number. Ryanair and Wizzair also have an app that you can use to check in online. You don't have to print your boarding passes; it is enough to show them on mobile.