BA Print your own boarding pass??
 

Felt I had to ask you operations people about this - just did internet check-in for my domestic BA flight, and was offered the option to print my own boarding pass, on condition I bring photo ID to the airport. To me it raises three questions:

1. Why are they doing this when I can already get a boarding pass in 5 secs flat from the machine at the airport?

2. If I do this, is it my one and only boarding pass and I can't get another at the airport if I forget my ID?

3. Won't doing this slow things down at the gate if I hand over a sheet of A4 instead of a slip of cardboard that can go into the reader? (or am I meant to get out scissors and cut it neatly to the right shape a la Blue Peter:= ?)

Please don't suggest I ring the call centre to ask .... I already know my call is important to them, they've told me often enough!

Stockpicker. Do you still need a photo-ID on BA, if you get pass at airport?

How many UK airlines still do not require photo-ID for domestic flights? Was prevented from travelling Luton to Edinburgh yesterday, by Easyjet. Was unable to convince them that the flight confirmation, credit card used to pay for flight, and non-photographic driving licence were sufficient proof that I was who I said I was.

I tend less to believe their claim of enhanced security requirements, and more their desire to stop people making advance bookings, and then selling the ticket to someone else nearer the date!

And yes.....their Customer Service was just as unhelpful as on TV! :mad:

No, never yet needed photo-ID with BA - prolly because you get a boarding card using your crdeit card or frequent flyer card which ought to identify you.

newswatcher
 

Oh dear.

Fancy blaming easyjet customer services because you were at fault for forgetting photographic ID. Just what kind of help were you wanting from customer services? A free flight? Them to apologise to you for failing to read the terms and conditions?

I can understand the inconvenience of missing the flight, but at the end of the day, you didn't show photo ID, you weren't allowed to travel.

I know when i flew BA back in November, domestic, i was required to show photo ID.

Quite rightly so. After all this is a business they're running isnt it?

Printing your own boarding pass is a great idea.

Next time I get to do it, I will edit it in Photoshop first and give myself a nice free upgrade to first class:p

FIS.

Well thanks for your sympathy Stud3. :yuk:

What I was anticipating from Customer Service was something along the lines of - "I'm sorry you did not know we needed Photo-ID at check-in, unlike other airlines. Since this is your first flight with Easyjet, we will make an exception this time, seeing that you have provided documentation acceptable to other leading UK airlines, and because we want you to become a regular flier with us, but please don't do it again!"

BA does not require photo-ID at check-in for domestic flights. See extract from BA website So, why does Easyet think a photo-ID is essential, when other airlines, such as BA and bmi, don't require it. As far as I know it is not mandated by the CAA. They wouldn't tell me at Customer Services. I guess if I was intent on causing trouble during the flight, I would have made sure that I got on the flight without drawing attention to myself? Just a thought.

And as we know, it would of course be absolutely IMPOSSIBLE for any terrorist to obtain a false ID (photographic or otherwise!)

So, yes newswatcher, I entirely agree. Easyjet's policy may well be driven by reasons other than 'security'!

In the future, will you travel Easyjet, or will you check out many other airlines offering better value?

... erm ... I rather feel my thread's been hijacked! Can anyone answer my original questions? Still not sure whether it's worth while doing this thing. Can it really be just another costcutting measure by BA (provide your own paper for a boarding card!!!)

SP, I like the Blue Peter suggestion. "Sorry, you cut outside the lines..........no flight for you!!!"

Personally, I think it's going to cause a LOAD of hassle, especially when people print off the wrong page, turn up with a piece of paper that looks like it has been eaten by the dog (just like the old homework excuse!).................but they're going to demand to be let on the aircraft with what they've got!

Also, errors in boarding cards occur. In Brisbane last month, both boarding cards we were issued were for the same seat. I only happened to notice when I glanced at them when I showed them at the duty free!!! It's going to cause problems.

Apologies stockpicker, got carried away following a wasted day yesterday.

Interesting that what you describe is not yet shown on their website demonstration. This still alludes to the need to do self-service check-in at airport to get your boarding card. No doubt they will "catch-up" soon. I notice that, whilst it offers you a seat choice, it also cleverly says that this may change as others check-in.

No, you're right, newswatcher - it ws definitely presented as "on a trial basis" when it came up, so it's obviously just for selected flights and particularly gorgeous passengers like me:E . I was just hoping that one of the BA bods who frequents the board might have some background chat. Normally I love anything that helps me do my flying more efficiently, but not sure this fits that category.

Newswatcher
 

I do have sympathy for you missing your flight, my argument is what exactly do you want customer services to do about it?

Its in the terms and conditions that you need a photo ID, and if you miss read it, which is easily done, then fair enough, however the rules are, NO ID, NO TRAVEL. So unfortunately you couldnt travel.

It just annoys me when i hear of passengers complaining for something thats their own fault such as forgetting essentials at check in, or when their boarding cards tells them to be at the gate no later than 10minutes before departure or they'll be offloaded, then they turn up with 1 minute to go to find they cant travel and seem to think its the gate staffs fault, or the airport monitors not working, or they didnt hear an announcement etc.etc. :yuk: Anything to point the blame at others.

As for Ryanair not accepting Airport ID's well thats just taking the P*SS really :yuk: however if the t+c's say they dont accept certain ID's then there isnt much you can do about it.

And if you are 83 years old with neither a driving licence nor a passport, you really have a problem. Bus passes ,with photo, not accepted, therefore cannot fly. Discrimination methinks!

Regarding BA's Online check-in. If two tickets have been booked online will the system accept both passengers? Last time tried to do this in September it would only issue one seat for myself and my wife. Cosy, but not very practical!

I would like to know also
 

just what constitues a boarding card, what quality printer, and do they expect a bar code to be readable. A little play with photo shop too I think.

AA and other USA carriers have doing this for some time.

I am in USA this week, and will try to get back to blighty with a home made boarding card, a la blue peter.

Bakedwell:

Tried to do just that, and eventually phone the ever helpfull BA help desk, (using air miles as well), after booking on line and requesting the seats, she booked within seconds, and got the seat next to me. Then I phoned customer service, (remember you have a choice), who tied the bookings (PNR) together. How romantic.

Good luck chaps.

BA boarding card
 

The trial for printing your own boarding card after an internet checkin is only available on the Edinburgh-Gatwick route.

OK, JARoops , now you've got me worried - I'm pretty certain I'm headed for LHR, not LGW!

BA are way behind in this. Continental has had a "Print Your Own" facility for six months now!:{

Yes, I did this on my recent continental flight. Saves those long lines at Newark!

Stockpicker:

That's really interesting. I know at least one UK airport where apparently airport security have said that the only document they'll accept for passengers to gain airside access is something that is (a) personal and (b) printed at the airport. So a boarding pass with your name on it printed off at check-in downstairs is fine, but one you printed off in your office while logged on to the website (for example) is not acceptable to them (and similarly, a laminated card with a boarding number but no name is not acceptable either).

It seems therefore that there isn't as much consistency here as there could be... Where was your flight departing from? EDI?