Self Check-In Machines
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: U.S. East Cost and Europe (travelling too much, and at home in both)
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Originally Posted by TwinAisle
Why does it ask me every question in Christendom, including choosing my seat, before it decides that I am a European and therefore have to queue up to see an agent? Couldn't they put a note on them saying "US pax only?"
TA
TA
Just checked in SFO-EWR, online. Total time: Less than a minute incl. printout on a laser printer.I love it.
FC
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Must be an airline specific thing I guess - this was Alaskan.
Gave it my PNR.
Surname.
Confirmed the sector.
Confirmed that all passengers were present.
Input my BA Exec Club number.
Chose my seat.
Confirmed my credit card.
Told it how many bags I was checking.
Then: "What is your nationality - US, Canada, Mexico, Other"
Hit other. "Go see an agent".
Gave it my PNR.
Surname.
Confirmed the sector.
Confirmed that all passengers were present.
Input my BA Exec Club number.
Chose my seat.
Confirmed my credit card.
Told it how many bags I was checking.
Then: "What is your nationality - US, Canada, Mexico, Other"
Hit other. "Go see an agent".
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: U.S. East Cost and Europe (travelling too much, and at home in both)
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This really must be airline specific. I have never been asked that question on LH, American, United, or Continental check-in machines. Or any other that I can't remember 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: London,Bucharest...wherever...
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My only experience of self check in machines has been BA at both LGW-N and BCN recently - where at both places I was invited by a nice BA lady to check in by machine, but in both cases;
I had luggage to check in and there was no apparent provision for this
and,
anyway even if I didnt have luggage the machine requires either yr BA frequent flyer card, which I dont have or the credit card which was used to pay for the ticket, which I dont have either as it's either on account from a travel agent/airline and/or paid on my PA's card from the office - and there's going to be many business travellers just like me in this respect
I am not a fan and personally will be prepared to line up for a human interaction than mess around with a machine any day
I had luggage to check in and there was no apparent provision for this
and,
anyway even if I didnt have luggage the machine requires either yr BA frequent flyer card, which I dont have or the credit card which was used to pay for the ticket, which I dont have either as it's either on account from a travel agent/airline and/or paid on my PA's card from the office - and there's going to be many business travellers just like me in this respect
I am not a fan and personally will be prepared to line up for a human interaction than mess around with a machine any day
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Stafford England
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Love the automated check-in. Much better than waiting for ages while every person in front of me tells their whole life story to the check in agent.
Flew Zurich-Birmingham on Friday with a Swiss eticket, and the machine next to the rail station wouldn't issue a boarding card for me and a mate.
Went upstairs and tried again rather than queue and it failed a second time.
A helpful Swiss agent came up to me and apologised for the fact that they were having problems on certain flights, and bounced us to the front of a queue of about 20 waiting punters. She checked the computer and told me that while my flight had been confirmed she could see that no boarding pass had been issued. So she did the business, checked our bags (as the flight was full) issued the boarding cards and we were through in about a minute.
Isn't technology wonderful (with a little human help sometimes!)?
Flew Zurich-Birmingham on Friday with a Swiss eticket, and the machine next to the rail station wouldn't issue a boarding card for me and a mate.
Went upstairs and tried again rather than queue and it failed a second time.
A helpful Swiss agent came up to me and apologised for the fact that they were having problems on certain flights, and bounced us to the front of a queue of about 20 waiting punters. She checked the computer and told me that while my flight had been confirmed she could see that no boarding pass had been issued. So she did the business, checked our bags (as the flight was full) issued the boarding cards and we were through in about a minute.
Isn't technology wonderful (with a little human help sometimes!)?
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: SNA
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Ive been using online checking, kiosks for the past few years flying mostly on Continental and the process, weather I am up front or in the back, paid high or low, has been flawless. I expect quick in terminal service in any class of service and Continental online/kiosk have done a brilliant job of keeping lines short, especially with their elite security lines (using those ques makes quite a difference, very good idea for ff). I don't need the check in staff to make me feel special because I bought a first class ticket. I would rather they spend $/effort in air with better food, comfy seats, IFE and special treatment where it counts on long sectors. I think Continental understands this and is doing exactly that.
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Originally Posted by KATLPAX
I would rather they spend $/effort in air with better food, comfy seats, IFE and special treatment where it counts on long sectors. I think Continental understands this and is doing exactly that.
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I have no idea how they decide to spend dollars that are saved. Do I think they pour the savings, dollar for dollar to inflight sevices? No way. I do know that the service provided meets my expectations and then some. Ultimately, they are in business to make money for the shareholders, which in turn, if they do remain profitable will enable them to continue operating, hopefully safely, while giving us what they can/want during flight. Continental is one of the few US carriers not under or near bankruptcy.
Continental has done a stellar job making many of their premium flyers feel appreciated. Recently, Continental hosted a 2 day event at IAH for its premium flyers. There were tours of operations, behind the scenes at IAH, and for me the best part, flying the sims. I flew the 75 and 733/5, landing both with a great deal of help I'm sure. Most impressive of the two days was Larry Kelnor and virtually ALL of his top management team held a two hour Q&A answering all sorts of daft questions from why the seats don't recline enough to why they recline so far...but even operation questions were answered, how the wingletted 75s came to be, where Continental wants to be in the next few years, and how they have managed to remain solid considering how many of its competitors have fallen. The kiosks were certainly discussed as a cost saving mechanism as well as a customer relations improvement, and yes I think they can be both. Win - Win as far as I am concerned.
Continental has done a stellar job making many of their premium flyers feel appreciated. Recently, Continental hosted a 2 day event at IAH for its premium flyers. There were tours of operations, behind the scenes at IAH, and for me the best part, flying the sims. I flew the 75 and 733/5, landing both with a great deal of help I'm sure. Most impressive of the two days was Larry Kelnor and virtually ALL of his top management team held a two hour Q&A answering all sorts of daft questions from why the seats don't recline enough to why they recline so far...but even operation questions were answered, how the wingletted 75s came to be, where Continental wants to be in the next few years, and how they have managed to remain solid considering how many of its competitors have fallen. The kiosks were certainly discussed as a cost saving mechanism as well as a customer relations improvement, and yes I think they can be both. Win - Win as far as I am concerned.
Last edited by KATLPAX; 14th Feb 2006 at 18:35.
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KATL, thanks for your serious and patient answer to my message which was a bit ironic - this one is not (ironic). I can see indeed that Co has made a good job of reaching out to their best customers. For me, the biggest satisfaction is to see that everybody (no matter if people are flying Economy or Business) is given the best attention, in a natural way! When I see this I think, this is why I am flying this airline. It of course has to do with the crew (or ground staff) being happy doing what they are doing, and to me this is worth more than any FF program.
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Pax2908, I agree 100%, at the end of the day, the biggest impression I get when traveling, in any class of service, comes from the staff and how they treat us and if they respect the company they are working for (you can tell). Again, that is a big part of my decision to travel via CO.
