AA checkin at London Paddington
Mar 4, 2010, 8:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,261
AA checkin at London Paddington
AA has recently been added to the small list of airlines that use this:
http://www.heathrowexpress.com/Home/Checkinatpaddington
It's a pale shadow of the former checkin desks, which were actually staffed by employees who could even do ticketing transactions, and where you could check in and leave your bags to be taken to LHR by the airline...
...but it seems that you can get a boarding pass and then drag your bags on the train yourself and leave them at the checkin at LHR instead.
Has anyone used this?
http://www.heathrowexpress.com/Home/Checkinatpaddington
It's a pale shadow of the former checkin desks, which were actually staffed by employees who could even do ticketing transactions, and where you could check in and leave your bags to be taken to LHR by the airline...
...but it seems that you can get a boarding pass and then drag your bags on the train yourself and leave them at the checkin at LHR instead.
Has anyone used this?
Mar 4, 2010, 8:10 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Programs: AA-LTP, HH-DIA, Marriott-LT+AMB, Hyatt-Globalist, Hertz-PC, UA-GS
Posts: 6,828
I never have, but the Flagship check in for me is usually pretty quick.
Mar 4, 2010, 8:14 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Interesting. It looks like they've deployed a Common Use Self Service kiosk.
Not very interesting for those who do OLCI, and all the airlines listed allow for OLCI (except for AA, at least for now). However it can be very useful for a reprint of the boarding pass, change seats, add to standby/upgrade lists, and, of course, check in with AA until they fix their gaping OLCI shortcoming.
A bag drop would be sweet; that's one of my favorite aspects of taking the train to HKG airport.
Not very interesting for those who do OLCI, and all the airlines listed allow for OLCI (except for AA, at least for now). However it can be very useful for a reprint of the boarding pass, change seats, add to standby/upgrade lists, and, of course, check in with AA until they fix their gaping OLCI shortcoming.
A bag drop would be sweet; that's one of my favorite aspects of taking the train to HKG airport.
Mar 4, 2010, 8:16 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA: Plat, AF: Silver
Posts: 74
I tried using it once but it didn't work (neither did the machines at Terminal 3).. I suspect it was because I don't have a US passport and they needed to double check my documents were in order before checking me in.
That said the system is exactly the same as what you would encounter within the Terminal 3 so perfect for anyone on the way to LHR who has a few minutes before their next train.
That said the system is exactly the same as what you would encounter within the Terminal 3 so perfect for anyone on the way to LHR who has a few minutes before their next train.
Mar 4, 2010, 8:26 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,261
A bag drop would be sweet; that's one of my favorite aspects of taking the train to HKG airport.
Mar 4, 2010, 10:15 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: SEA, LHR
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 6
I used it a few weeks ago (on an AA flight) when I had a couple of minutes before the HX train left and it was fine (I had no checked luggage, though).
When I did get to T3, the check-in area looked to be quite swamped, so it turned out to save me a little bit of time.
When I did get to T3, the check-in area looked to be quite swamped, so it turned out to save me a little bit of time.
Mar 4, 2010, 5:17 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 609
Interesting. It looks like they've deployed a Common Use Self Service kiosk.
Not very interesting for those who do OLCI, and all the airlines listed allow for OLCI (except for AA, at least for now). However it can be very useful for a reprint of the boarding pass, change seats, add to standby/upgrade lists, and, of course, check in with AA until they fix their gaping OLCI shortcoming.
A bag drop would be sweet; that's one of my favorite aspects of taking the train to HKG airport.
Not very interesting for those who do OLCI, and all the airlines listed allow for OLCI (except for AA, at least for now). However it can be very useful for a reprint of the boarding pass, change seats, add to standby/upgrade lists, and, of course, check in with AA until they fix their gaping OLCI shortcoming.
A bag drop would be sweet; that's one of my favorite aspects of taking the train to HKG airport.
Mar 4, 2010, 5:37 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
Can you really do all these things from a non-AA-specific kiosk?
Indeed: that's what I miss most from the old Paddington check in (aside from the fact that, in the days before I had status, it was a wonderfully relaxing and empty place to check in since almost nobody else seemed to know about it).
Indeed: that's what I miss most from the old Paddington check in (aside from the fact that, in the days before I had status, it was a wonderfully relaxing and empty place to check in since almost nobody else seemed to know about it).
mike
May 23, 2011, 12:33 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,654
Check in @ Paddinton, London
I am reading on the Heathrow Express webpage that it is possible to check-in with AA at the Paddington train station.
Has anybody here used this service before?
I guess checking in there is more convenient than checking in at the airport?
Any insights you have are welcome.
Has anybody here used this service before?
I guess checking in there is more convenient than checking in at the airport?
Any insights you have are welcome.
May 23, 2011, 12:35 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK/USA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 830
I thought that they did away with this a long time ago (several years) but I may be wrong.
May 23, 2011, 12:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,703
Its no different than an online check-in but at a Kiosk you still have transport your own Baggage to Heathrow and check it in there.
May 23, 2011, 12:37 pm
#12
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
I stopped using Paddington since I moved to Richmond and started taking the Underground rather than HEX, but I believe they have kiosks at Paddington for printing your BP, although I'm almost certain they don't accept checked luggage there.
May 23, 2011, 12:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK/USA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 830
Looking into this further, on AA.com it says that there are self-service check in machined near the heathrow express ticket counter but nothing more.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/selfServ...le=selfservice
Look under London
http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/selfServ...le=selfservice
Look under London
May 23, 2011, 12:45 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,654
So there is no TA @ Paddington?
Unfortunately, I always have to check-in with a TA for international travel
[name mismatch in docs and nationality issues which will be resolved soon]
May 23, 2011, 1:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA PLT 3MM
Posts: 1,135
Given how ridiculously expensive the Heathrow Express is, it wouldn't hurt them to invest some of their no-doubt massive profits into providing real check-in facilities at Paddington. Something comparable to that offered on Hong Kong island and Kowloon for HKG would be great.