Online Check-in. Whats the point?
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Depending on the airline they likely can shave 1-2 minutes off the process. Doesn't sound like a lot but when you are talking large numbers of passengers the time saving can be significant.
And this means you spend less time in the queue.
As technology improves we'll have baggage tags printed at home meaning you won't even need a human to take your bag. And this will mean even more flexibility on where you drop your bag. Why schlep it from the train station to the terminal, when you can leave it at the station, or even the station you left from?
And this means you spend less time in the queue.
As technology improves we'll have baggage tags printed at home meaning you won't even need a human to take your bag. And this will mean even more flexibility on where you drop your bag. Why schlep it from the train station to the terminal, when you can leave it at the station, or even the station you left from?
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Well, I remember you didn't need new technology to be able to check your bag at Paddington for several carriers across the Atlantic, and you could also do this at Victoria. Now its not possible, I suspect because of costs. The more that carriers can make passengers do for themselves what used to be done for them the more money they generate. So self printed tickets, seat selection, carry ons mean less staff and less paper, and more revenue per passenger. Simples.
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>>>>As technology improves we'll have baggage tags printed at home
And just how will we print the special, long, thin, self adhesive strips?
Boarding cards are easy - they are just "paper" or an "image". But when you need to securely attach the tag to the baggage, that's a slightly different issue!
Maybe when we use RFID tags "everywhere" so they are fitted by the manufacturer, as they cna be easily read, but we are a long way from that!
And just how will we print the special, long, thin, self adhesive strips?
Boarding cards are easy - they are just "paper" or an "image". But when you need to securely attach the tag to the baggage, that's a slightly different issue!
Maybe when we use RFID tags "everywhere" so they are fitted by the manufacturer, as they cna be easily read, but we are a long way from that!
I flew with Monarch last month.You have to pay,in effect, to check in on line.This is because to check in on line you have to choose a seat.If you choose a seat you have to pay for it.If you check in at the airport it's free and you are allocated a seat.This seems to be exactly the opposite to how the other Lo Cos do it.
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Not with Loco's but with mainstream operators one advantage of checking-in online could be that one could select one's seat, in the case of a F70/F100's somewhere near to the front 'cos there ain't no emergency exits down the back and/or in the case of an A330/A340's a two abreast bulkhead seat and so on.
What defeats this object though is when certain airlines pre-allocate all seats and expect, upon online check-in, the punters to play musical chairs with each other and often, by the time online check-in opens, the flight is nigh-on full then there ain't no empty seats to change one's pre-allocated cr@ppy seat to.
So what is the point?
What defeats this object though is when certain airlines pre-allocate all seats and expect, upon online check-in, the punters to play musical chairs with each other and often, by the time online check-in opens, the flight is nigh-on full then there ain't no empty seats to change one's pre-allocated cr@ppy seat to.
So what is the point?
Bag tags
The industry has been looking at RFID tags for some time. I can remember being shown (10 years ago?) a conventional looking bag tag with bar codes etc but embedded in it there was also an RFID tag. And therein lies the rub. There's a lot of money tied up in barcode systems and you're not going to get an overnight conversion.
I suspect that the solution to tagging bags won't be printing them at home or even from self service machines at the airport. I suspect we'll see some form of RFID or NFC chip built into suitcases. If you have an existing case you buy a new address label with the required chip in it and attach that to the bag. Then you'll checkin on your mobile device that has NFC and included in the data sent to your mobile device will be baggage data. Hold the mobile device against the suitcase and away you go. It definitely isn't that simple, what I've described has a number of security loopholes, but that's what I think is being looked at (and even trialled BA trials 'time-saving' electronic bag tag - Business Traveller).
On the other hand there's probably someone looking at being able to identify your case using visual techniques (photo analysis) and attaching that to your record so the bag never needs any form of tag. And if not that some equally implausible science fiction type solution which will arise just as RFID/NFC comes to fruition and throws us all into chaos again.
Me? I like to see a barcode attached with the correct city code and then it disappears into the bowels of the termnal. I understand that!
I suspect that the solution to tagging bags won't be printing them at home or even from self service machines at the airport. I suspect we'll see some form of RFID or NFC chip built into suitcases. If you have an existing case you buy a new address label with the required chip in it and attach that to the bag. Then you'll checkin on your mobile device that has NFC and included in the data sent to your mobile device will be baggage data. Hold the mobile device against the suitcase and away you go. It definitely isn't that simple, what I've described has a number of security loopholes, but that's what I think is being looked at (and even trialled BA trials 'time-saving' electronic bag tag - Business Traveller).
On the other hand there's probably someone looking at being able to identify your case using visual techniques (photo analysis) and attaching that to your record so the bag never needs any form of tag. And if not that some equally implausible science fiction type solution which will arise just as RFID/NFC comes to fruition and throws us all into chaos again.
Me? I like to see a barcode attached with the correct city code and then it disappears into the bowels of the termnal. I understand that!
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The airline gives you a bag-tag holder, which has a clear plastic window on both sides. You print your bag-tag on normal paper, fold appropriately and put it into the holder.
Looks just like a special, long, thin, self adhesive strip - text and barcodes the same.
Not perfect, but what is?
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For me, a distinct advantage of on-line check in is to avoid that BA strapline "Sorry Sir, our Club World cabin is overbooked this morning. As you were last to check in this morning, you've been downgraded. Have a nice day - all 13 hours of it stuck up the back."
Haven't used them since - till this coming November for unavoidable reasons. We'll be checking in on-line.
Haven't used them since - till this coming November for unavoidable reasons. We'll be checking in on-line.
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if you want pointless line ups try flying to the US from Toronto Pearson airport with Air Canada.
process is pretty much as follows:
1) attempt to check in on line the day before as AC claim you can, discover that it isn't possible when the web site returns a vague "this flight is not eligible for on line check in"
2) arrive at airport, get directed to the line up for the "self service check in kiosks" - said line is about 20 people deep at each kiosk, with no discernible system. When AC staff allow people to randomly shove in, have your protests met with a filthy look and a shrug of the shoulders.
3) check in using the kiosk, answer the usual inane questions, get boarding card printed
4) join the line up for the baggage drop off desks, this line up is 100+ people long and is for ALL AC flights. at some point the line up is arbitrarily split into two. there are seven desks available. the people marshalling the line ups allow the other half of the line up to use 5 of the desks. your half is relegated to the two remaining desks
5) answer the same inane questions you did using the kiosk, the person behind the desk then spends twice the amount of time entering stuff into their computer than you did using the crappy touch pad on the kiosk
6) get printed baggage tag wrapped around your case handle
7) discover that you don't actually drop off your bags here but have to schlep them around to US customs anyway
I have never been able to get a satisfactory answer as to what the freakin point of the self service kiosks are
they just provide somewhere else you have to line up.
process is pretty much as follows:
1) attempt to check in on line the day before as AC claim you can, discover that it isn't possible when the web site returns a vague "this flight is not eligible for on line check in"
2) arrive at airport, get directed to the line up for the "self service check in kiosks" - said line is about 20 people deep at each kiosk, with no discernible system. When AC staff allow people to randomly shove in, have your protests met with a filthy look and a shrug of the shoulders.
3) check in using the kiosk, answer the usual inane questions, get boarding card printed
4) join the line up for the baggage drop off desks, this line up is 100+ people long and is for ALL AC flights. at some point the line up is arbitrarily split into two. there are seven desks available. the people marshalling the line ups allow the other half of the line up to use 5 of the desks. your half is relegated to the two remaining desks
5) answer the same inane questions you did using the kiosk, the person behind the desk then spends twice the amount of time entering stuff into their computer than you did using the crappy touch pad on the kiosk
6) get printed baggage tag wrapped around your case handle
7) discover that you don't actually drop off your bags here but have to schlep them around to US customs anyway
I have never been able to get a satisfactory answer as to what the freakin point of the self service kiosks are
they just provide somewhere else you have to line up.
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Online check-in was a distinct advantage for my friend flying to Istanbul recently. When we got to the airport, the regular check-in lines were huge, but she was second in line for the baggage drop-off line, obviously avoiding a much longer wait.
I would imagine this advantage varies widely, depending on the departure airport. I'd suspect most people from the Silicon Valley area check in online, whereas those traveling from/to less technically oriented points probably don't. My friend's flight obviously was the latter case.
As others have said, online check-in also allows you to pick your own seat, and specify any special meal requirements/desires. I usually choose the Asian vegetarian option, which is like Indian food, as I usually feel better after eating it compared to the usual cabin fare, and special meals like that always get served first!
I would imagine this advantage varies widely, depending on the departure airport. I'd suspect most people from the Silicon Valley area check in online, whereas those traveling from/to less technically oriented points probably don't. My friend's flight obviously was the latter case.
As others have said, online check-in also allows you to pick your own seat, and specify any special meal requirements/desires. I usually choose the Asian vegetarian option, which is like Indian food, as I usually feel better after eating it compared to the usual cabin fare, and special meals like that always get served first!
Last edited by Mark in CA; 16th Aug 2013 at 12:52.
Generally, on-line check-in is simply the airline trying, (and often failing) to get you to do their job.
The only benefit I can see is that on some flights, on some days, I get to choose my seat.
Otherwise the queues at "bag drop" at T 5, (for instance) are just as bad as they used to be with "full service" check in.
The only benefit I can see is that on some flights, on some days, I get to choose my seat.
Otherwise the queues at "bag drop" at T 5, (for instance) are just as bad as they used to be with "full service" check in.
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For me, a distinct advantage of on-line check in is to avoid that BA
strapline "Sorry Sir, our Club World cabin is overbooked this morning. As you
were last to check in this morning, you've been downgraded. Have a nice day -
all 13 hours of it stuck up the back."
Haven't used them since - till this coming November for unavoidable reasons. We'll be checking in on-line.
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NorthernChappie, I can only guess that you didn't put up much of a fight and accepted the situation. As long as you checked-in within the mimimum specified time there was no reason to punish you for their own incompetence. Out of interest, did they not offer you a Business seat on the next flight, or with another carrier? Of course I realise that time may have been a factor for you but I'm just curious to know what they offered in terms of alternatives and compensation.
