How about giving us poor BWI slobs a break. I am seeing the e-ticket kiosks popping up all over---BUF, PVD, ROC, etc. Why not BWI. It is depressing enough seeing all the gates and ticket counters going away how about installing something new for a change. No offense to the folks from the above cities, but I think there are still more pax flying from BWI than any of the cities listed above and certainly more elites who would benefit the most. Any idea what the criteria or thought process is on prioritizing the installation of the kiosks? I rather like them.

If you're trying to upgrade, the kiosks are essentially useless. it just burps and orders you over to one of the few remaining human beings. You also can't use them if your fare rules require you to use a specific credit card. I've given up on them.

I used the kiosk once at DCA to get the 1,000 mile bonus, but haven't used it since.

I tried to use it once when I bought two tickets on the same credit card -- one for me and one for a companion -- but it wouldn't let me check in because my companion wasn't at the airport yet.

It's just easier for me to use the preferred line.

They've introduced Kiosks on the left side of the RDU ticket counters. After waiting twenty minutes in the elite line on the right side of the counter, I went and used one, beating a couple of other elites to the security line. Although both coach and elite lines were long, no one was using them.

Anyone know whether the e-ticket machines can mark your boarding pass with the dreaded letter "S"?

When I became CP, I started using the kiosks whenever I could. Bottom line is that in the aiports where I have seen them installed, nobody is ever using them. Yet check-in lines are still long.

Which means that if I have upgraded my flight using a human being at the CP desk (a ridiculous waste of an automation opportunity if you ask me), check-in at the kiosk is a breeze, and I get 50 miles to boot.

The only problem I have with the kiosks is that they don't generate pax receipts (I need them for reimbursement). I always ask at the gate or, if they have one, at the club.

So, I haven't saved USAirways anything when I use the kisk. I still use "people" to handle my upgrades, and "people" to print up receipt documentation. I HAVE saved myself time. So, to that extent, the kiosks are good -- for me, anyways.

I will admit, though, that before I became CP I found them pretty much useless.

If you miss your original flight, and try to check in at the kiosk will it put you on standby or confirm you on a later flight? How about if you arrive very early, will the kiosk allow you to change to an earlier flight either stand-by or confirmed? I know the kiosk doesn't handle upgrade transactions where certs are needed, but in the BOS>LGA>DCA shuttle markets there is a lot of switching around flights, and I wonder if the kiosk can do that for you? Also how does the seat selection work on the kiosk particularly for shuttle flights. The times I have used the kiosk on the shuttle it assigns me a seat, but I don't know what process it uses to assign aisle/window, etc...as I don't recall such a seat preference prompt. Does anyone know, for instance, if the shuttle runs some kind of process to pre-assign seats. Does anyone specifically know in Sabre how they encode or differentiate shuttle flights especially re seat assignments? Do they just always keep the seat map under airport control or block all the seats in some particular way?

Yes..in res we can never see a seat map for a shuttle flight. It's weird when someone books on a plane that is a spare shuttle aircraft and we can then see rows 1-25? Off to work now....first day back after vacation...wish me luck!

Let us know how it turns out.

I have started to use the kiosk when I can because no need to worry about upgrades when I check in for my Dash 8. I have gotten some hard looks from some security personnel with the intro at RDU due to the flimsy paper compared to the card stock BP.

It took less than 30 seconds for the kiosk use at RDU and up to security and through in less than a minute. Coming back from DCA the lines for check in were long for everything, even the kiosk area, so I went down to the Shuttle check in and used the kiosks there which were unused. Got through in about a minute to wait for my packed Dash 8 flight.

Still trying to understand the criteria for placement of the Kiosks. Why BUF and PVD ahead of BWI?

We have them at PIT, and I use them on every outbound trip. Get an extra 50 miles for each use. As a CP, either I am already upgraded or I ask about it at the gate.

I used the kiosk last night at LGA for a Shuttle flight. It was easy. Plug in your DM card, confirm the flight, choose a seat (I was on a shuttle so no advance seats allowed), hit confirm and be on your way.... it took less than a minute.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by foodguy:
Still trying to understand the criteria for placement of the Kiosks. Why BUF and PVD ahead of BWI?</font>

Your wish is my command.....As of Today 3/26
6 kiosks at BWI located at ticket counter !

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BWI2MCO97:
Your wish is my command.....As of Today 3/26
6 kiosks at BWI located at ticket counter !

</font>

Fabulous customer service!!

BWI2MCO97 Your powers never cease to amaze.

I really don't get how it is decided what cities get the kiosks. I'm pretty sure I noticed them in JAX recently.

Kiosks have arrived at GSO too.

Not having used a Kiosk since last June when I flew exclusively on Express flights, but are the kinks finally getting worked out such that they are actually reliable?

Printing out receipts?

Upgrading?

Permitting seat selection?

As long as I was flying wholly express where there was no upgrade issue, I thought that they were great.

Sorry, ITRADE....Kiosk still cannot do upgrade , you must check in at Preferred line.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ITRADE:
Not having used a Kiosk since last June when I flew exclusively on Express flights, but are the kinks finally getting worked out such that they are actually reliable?

Printing out receipts?

Upgrading?

Permitting seat selection?

As long as I was flying wholly express where there was no upgrade issue, I thought that they were great.</font>


Cannot speak to US2 or US3 coupon upgrade viability, as a US1 the machines are pretty good. Since I am 99% upgraded at the CP window I just grab my BP drop off my bags and go stand in the security line. The machines do not generate pax receipts, yet.

Kiosks showed up at BDL a week ago.

As for upgrading, I think you need to do it at the counter if using certs, but for CPs if already cleared into FC it will print out the correct seat assignment on the boarding pass. The counter agent at BDL asked me about whether I was able to used for my FC seat and I told him that if the CP desk had cleared it there was no problem.

I have changed seats on my Dash 8 flights. Don't know about receipts.

From L'Enfant Plaza to DCA by cab and cleared security in 15 minutes after using the kiosk today. Almost like the old days, of course the Dash 8 was late arriving and boarding. I think I have the kiosk routine down to 30 seconds. Confirm-0-confirm--no-no-confirm-confirm I think.

The kiosk location is great at PIT...up the escalator and make a left turn.

Now the bad news:

Anybody else peeved that Preferred checkin is at the far end now http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

HometoPit, thanks for pointing out about preferred check ins new location. Since using the kiosks I haven't had to stand in pref. line.

This weeks new Kiosk Locations
BNA, CMH, MEM, PBI.....23 Airports in all !
I was at MCO this evening and saw them in person for the first time. They look nice, but they were all closed. Has anyone else encountered the little closed sign on them?

Thing to be aware of: When using the kiosk, make sure that the name on your itinerary exactly matches the name on your credit card/FF card. I got hung up on some business travel last week when they didn't match exactly. Agent had no problem matching them, but the kiosk can't do it. . .

[This message has been edited by tvx (edited 04-08-2002).]

They arrived in IND around the time of the Olympics because wanted to use them then but the techs were just hooking them up. The extra push is nice when they give you miles for using them. I cannot believe IND got them before BWI. That's gotta be a first!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bowdenj:
They arrived in IND around the time of the Olympics because wanted to use them then but the techs were just hooking them up. The extra push is nice when they give you miles for using them. I cannot believe IND got them before BWI. That's gotta be a first!</font>

Good things come to those who wait--hows our old football team working out for you?

Just noticed that I am only get one kiosk bonus per day. I am not calling about 50 miles but am wondering if this is happening to others or is there some limitation. I did not see a restriction on the US website.

When I do a sameday RT i get both sets of boarding passes when I check in for my 1st flight of the day. Are you flying on different reservation #'s on the same day?

Same reservation number but check in going out and check in coming back. My usual run is RDU-DCA same day but I do have a 2 day trip that hasn't posted yet.

I have flown several LGA-BWI same day trips in the last several weeks, checking in at the kiosks both ways each time. I do not recall the kiosk at LGA prompting whether I wanted a boarding pass for the return leg or not. My 100 kiosk miles per trip posted, thus indicating no limitation.

I realize that for those using paper upgrades that the kiosks are not useable. However, what if you used miles for a confirmed upgrade - and as the mileage based upgrade is noted in the record, and no certs needed - can you use the kiosk? Has anyone tried this?

Have the kiosk machines made it over to IAD yet. I am ususally out of DCA all the time, but have a couple of trips going out of IAD next week- Just wondering


[This message has been edited by RMINIONE (edited 04-25-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CLTFlyer:
I realize that for those using paper upgrades that the kiosks are not useable. However, what if you used miles for a confirmed upgrade - and as the mileage based upgrade is noted in the record, and no certs needed - can you use the kiosk? Has anyone tried this? </font>

As of the middle of Feb., you could not. I tried. Note that when you do a mileage based upgrade, half the time the US agent will ask you for certs, until they read the record notes to find the upgrade number. Then, they have to write out an upgrade cert to attach to the BP.



------------------
Saving the world, one clue at a time.

If I recall...new Kiosks added thur/fri 4/25 4/26 in RSW, ORD, DTW....more coming soon !

Word of warning on getting Kiosk bonuses ...

Based on my personal experience, do not do your first ever kiosk check in on an award ticket, which I did not receive the 1,000 mile bonus for even though it was the first time I used them. Then when I did finally have the opportunity to check in at the kiosk on a revenue ticket, I only got 50 miles instead of 1,000 since it was not my first time.

The problem is as a Gold Preferred I can hardly ever use the kiosks since I usually upgrade ...

True. I usually only use the kiosks for Shuttle flights.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Word of warning on getting Kiosk bonuses ...

Based on my personal experience, do not do your first ever kiosk check in on an award ticket, which I did not receive the 1,000 mile bonus for even though it was the first time I used them. Then when I did finally have the opportunity to check in at the kiosk on a revenue ticket, I only got 50 miles instead of 1,000 since it was not my first time.

The problem is as a Gold Preferred I can hardly ever use the kiosks since I usually upgrade ...</font>


Since it is not stated anywhere , to my knowledge, I would call the DMSC and let them know that you didn't receive the 1000
mile bonus. They will probably update your account. Send and email or call, but give the dates of the transaction.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BWI2MCO97:
Since it is not stated anywhere , to my knowledge, I would call the DMSC and let them know that you didn't receive the 1000
mile bonus. They will probably update your account. Send and email or call, but give the dates of the transaction.</font>

Yeah ... ummm, the nice folks at DMSC would fix it I'm sure, but considering I have no idea where many of the miles in my account come from, it's just not worth it for 1,000 miles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Now, the 5,000 mile Transatlantic bonus is another story, that I did call for when it didn't post. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
The problem is as a Gold Preferred I can hardly ever use the kiosks since I usually upgrade ...</font>

Well, as a CP I do not have to worry about that on my Dash 8 flights. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW, the bonuses for my flights have shown up except for a 1 day trip where I am missing 50 miles.

I was behind a pax who tried to use the kiosk and she couldn't because upon questioning, the agent learned she was international. Does anyone know if the Caribbean is international for kiosk checkin? I know for res it is.

IIRC, even Canada is considered international for kiosk purposes. I'm sure that the Caribbean is.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by biggs:
Kiosks showed up at BDL a week ago.</font>Cruising through here on sunday I saw people getting frustrated using the machines.

I notice some people seem to be stumped by the system.

I just used the AA kiosk and it prints out receipts. It has changed from the requirement to enter your AA number. Now the Advantage number is automatic but you have to have your PNR, flight number or destinition city to get your BP. Seems to be more steps and presses of the screen than US. It prints "CLR" on the BP. I like the US system for my purposes and for the 50 miles sometimes.

BTW, the pax in front took about 5 minutes until an agent assisted so the pilot in front of me gave up and went to checkin elsewhere. Maybe he was trying to locate his plane? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by biggs:
Does anyone know if the Caribbean is international for kiosk checkin? I know for res it is.
</font>

I'm not sure about the rest of the Caribbean flights, but flights to SJU are OK to be checked in via the kiosks. I've done it myself at least three or four times already on flights out of PHL.

I had a wonderful experience at an e-kiosk last week--NOT! I showed up at PHL last Thursday evening for a flight to Chicago and the lines were long-ish at the Preferred check-in, so I thought I'd try the e-kiosk (already upgraded). So I check in and it prints out my boarding pass, no problemo. I give the lovely agent behind the counter my bags, then I ask the agent for a receipt: she is clearly irritated by my request but unsmilingly gives me the requested receipt. Then I ask her whether the flight is on-time and whether the equipment is there. She glares at me and says, "Sir, I don't remember where you're going to. Go look at the monitors behind you."

Whoa! There was NO ONE in line behind me, so what's the deal with the hostility? A (thankfully rare) example of the best of Philly.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kv99:
I had a wonderful experience at an e-kiosk last week--NOT! I showed up at PHL last Thursday evening for a flight to Chicago and the lines were long-ish at the Preferred check-in, so I thought I'd try the e-kiosk (already upgraded). So I check in and it prints out my boarding pass, no problemo. I give the lovely agent behind the counter my bags, then I ask the agent for a receipt: she is clearly irritated by my request but unsmilingly gives me the requested receipt. Then I ask her whether the flight is on-time and whether the equipment is there. She glares at me and says, "Sir, I don't remember where you're going to. Go look at the monitors behind you."

Whoa! There was NO ONE in line behind me, so what's the deal with the hostility? A (thankfully rare) example of the best of Philly. </font>

Wow!! Surly, rude, unhelpful people in PHL--Who would have thought?

I checked in at ORD yesterday, and the kiosk asked if I wanted an itinerary and receipt for my flight--which it promptly printed!! Someone must be listening..

They don't have them by me (express only city), but once I flew out of LGA. I couldn't use them because i was upgrading (paper certs). I complained to the DMSC that I tried to use them but it wouldn't because i upgraded and they gave me 1000 miles out of curtosey.

DEN has 2 kiosks now

LAX was to have theirs installed Monday night.

MHT had them last weekend. Two problems that I noticed:

1) The signage obviously confused people.

a) They put the kiosks were the preferred line used to be.
b) The entrance to the kiosk line was off to the side and not at all obvious.
c) The people in the line weren't trying to use the kiosks -- they were waiting for check-in, effectively forming 2 "ordinary" check-in lines.

2) The kiosks were pretending to work but after people punched in their stuff they'd either go into "out of service" mode or otherwise kick the customer into the ordinary line.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Word of warning on getting Kiosk bonuses ...

Based on my personal experience, do not do your first ever kiosk check in on an award ticket, which I did not receive the 1,000 mile bonus for even though it was the first time I used them. Then when I did finally have the opportunity to check in at the kiosk on a revenue ticket, I only got 50 miles instead of 1,000 since it was not my first time.

The problem is as a Gold Preferred I can hardly ever use the kiosks since I usually upgrade ...</font>

Well, something odd happened ... it turns out about three weeks after the 50 points posted for using the kiosk on my first revenue ticket (I had assumed I didn't get 1,000 because I used it on an award ticket previously), I also got the 1,000 point first time bonus, so I in fact got 1,050 points the first time I used it ... didn't really expect it to work that way, but I'm not complaining! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

SJU now has 2 Kiosk's and PHX was slated yesterday as well but apparently have been delayed.

I ADORE Kiosks! Thank you so much US Air. There are always lines everwhere I see them. EVERYWHERE and for good reason. Waiting behind 5 people in E-Kiosk is faster than having an agent help you--though more E-kiosks, esp at CLT would be great. I have NEVER missed a flight due to an e-kiosk, but I'm missed several due to slow agents. It's a great cost cutting measure that increases service!

I agree that I love them. The only problems I've experienced with them have been due to pax who can't figure out how to work them. I think they are the same people who take 10 mins. to pull 20 bucks from the ATM.

Anyway, I take the shuttle a lot, and I love that I can reserve the car service with the machine. Half the time the agents take forever to process the transaction.