Pilgrims traveling by airplane to مكة for الحج or العمرة must enter الإحرام before their flight crosses the الميقات boundary أُسس by النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Since modern aircraft travel at high speed and cross the الميقات in seconds, scholars unanimously advise preparing in advance. الشيخ ابن باز and الشيخ ابن عثيمين both ruled that the الحاج should wear الإحرام garments either at home, at the departure airport, or on the plane before reaching the الميقات, and then make the intention (niyyah) and pronounce the talbiyah when the plane is about to cross or is crossing the الميقات line.
Many airlines flying to Jeddah announce when the aircraft is approaching the الميقات, and الحجاج should be ready at that point. As a precaution, ابن باز مستحب making the intention slightly before the الميقات if the exact point is uncertain, because entering الإحرام before the الميقات is جائز (though not ideal), while passing it without الإحرام is prohibited. If a الحاج passes the الميقات without entering الإحرام, the majority of scholars hold that they must either return to the الميقات to assume الإحرام or, if they cannot return, they must offer a dam (sacrifice of a sheep) as a penalty.
The اللجنة الدائمة for Scholarly Research and Ifta issued a fatwa confirming that the الميقات rulings apply equally to those traveling by land, sea, or air, and that there is no exemption for air travelers. Wearing the الإحرام garments before boarding is جائز and does not constitute entering الإحرام — the state of الإحرام begins only with the intention and talbiyah.