An apparatus and method for an automatic check-in using radio-frequency (RF) identification cards are disclosed. Passengers who fly frequently are issued RF identification cards, which may be detected by detectors stationed in the lobby of an airport or at a boarding gate. When a card is detected, a computer checks the identification of the passenger against a passenger list for the flight that is presently boarding. If there is a match, the passenger is automatically checked in, a signal is given, and the passenger proceeds to board the flight. The method, and the RF check-in system, may also be used for other conveyances, such as cruise ships, railroad journeys, bus trips, or other modes of mass transit.