US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Web Check-In

http://www.usairways.com/travel/webcheckin/index.htm

Anybody tried this yet? I just saw it today, and don't have a trip forthcoming for a week or so (and that's not domestic).

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Saving the world, one clue at a time.

Cool! I want to buy a refundable ticket just so I can use it today! I'll try it on Monday.

[This message has been edited by nawlinsdoc (edited 12-20-2002).]

That's Great! Too bad my trip next week is International.(Took advantage of the C sale a few weeks ago http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif)

Where is all this IT money coming from, anyway? They've actually rolled out a lot in the last few months. (Whether it works is another story...)

I also find it priceless that the example shows a flight on Express.

I have a flight at 7:45 pm (eastern). I'll try it in in another 2.5 hours and let you know if it works.

I don't have any flights to try it out, beems to ut from the demo, it seems to me that the system just asks for your name and flight number. Which means, if I knew he was flying, I could print boarding passes for flight 666 from DCA for Ben Baldanza, right? At the least it would cause some confusion when he goes to check in for real, at the most, if my ID was not checked, I could fly as him.

What do other airlines do to prevent this? Check some other piece of info (credit card number you bought with? FF number and PIN?)

At delta.com, you have to be logged in to do online checkin. If someone knew your SkyMiles # and PIN they coul dget your boarding passes. But with the umpteen ID checks at the airport chances are pretty slim they'd get on the plane.

This is great! My next flight isn't until 12/24, but I'll use it for sure.

As far as the $ to do all of this - one talented person could whip it up in no time at all. These new services are really just (hopefully) neatly tied into their backoffice stuff that is already in place.

Please someone post their findings after using it!

-Chris

The gate agents collecting the BPs are going to hate this. All kinds of non-standard paper.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by iflybos:
The gate agents collecting the BPs are going to hate this. All kinds of non-standard paper.</font>

That was my thought as well. If they made like a real airline, and got gate readers, this would not be a problem. Further, sabre integrated gate readers already exist (see AA).

As for the IT resources to roll this out--I'm sure a sabre module already exists (AA is doing it). Not much to gin up, really.

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Saving the world, one clue at a time.

I believe Northwest has been doing the web check-in thing for at least a year now. I had wished that US would have been doing this as well. Glad to see that they have now started.

[This message has been edited by Alysia (edited 12-20-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by iflybos:
The gate agents collecting the BPs are going to hate this. All kinds of non-standard paper.</font>

I was wondering this myself. Looking at the example on the website, it appears as if the web boarding passes have barcodes on them. I guess gates will eventually be equipped with barcode readers so agents can scan a passenger's boarding passes before they board the aircraft.

Haha... It's funny cuz the darn thing doesn't even work. I tried it on different computers and it's timing out or not getting a responce.

What else can one expect from the sole programmer at US?

Well people mentioning things about the Gate Agents not going to really love this, honestly, does it matter? I'm not trying to be a jerk but what's the big deal? If you have boarding passes that's one less person in line that needs to get them and it saves time and printing costs. This is a cost saving feature. If they want their jobs and I'm sure they do, then they'll understand it's there to help them and make the whole process more effiecent.

I've had problems too with their web site but I far, far, far prefer their web site over other airlines. I surf around just fine and am always able to do what I want. It's easier to use than say Uniteds which has 100's of links at the bottom of their homepage that all blend together.

As for the gate readers, maybe someday if we pull it out of BK but to me, I really don't care if we get them. Why? They cost money that we don't have and what real purpose do they serve? As a counter? Can't the gate agent do that and save a crap load of cash by not installing those all over the airports?

[This message has been edited by JetTroop (edited 12-20-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bfunkjeep:
Haha... It's funny cuz the darn thing doesn't even work. I tried it on different computers and it's timing out or not getting a responce.

What else can one expect from the sole programmer at US?</font>

I got there just fine. If you're at your work and trying from different computers, it's more than likely you and not them. But if you're trying from different phsyical locations that are using different Internet connections than it might be them. They are using port "7003" and a lot of work locations might block web traffic from going out that port and could be the reason you couldn't pull it up.

A lot of people on the board are really critical of the rank and file workers at US when I think they really want that bitterness towards certain managers. I blame those certain managers or certain people. Not a blanket statement like the sole IS person is blah, blah, blah.

[This message has been edited by JetTroop (edited 12-20-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ClueByFour:
If they made like a real airline, and got gate readers, this would not be a problem. Further, sabre integrated gate readers already exist (see AA).
</font>

US has and uses gate readers in at least one airport (TPA).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JetTroop:
A lot of people on the board are really critical of the rank and file workers at US when I think they really want that bitterness towards certain managers. I blame those certain managers or certain people. Not a blanket statement like the sole IS person is blah, blah, blah.
</font>

I read (and make) comments about the lone prgrammer as an indictment of management. Not a criticism of the programmer.

It does work. I just printed out my boarding passes for my flight tonight. Let's see what happens when I try to use them. I'll report after I get on the ground.

[This message has been edited by andywreid (edited 12-20-2002).]

Printing boarding passes six hours ahead of time is always a good thing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021220/dcf039_1.html

Press Release Source: US Airways

US Airways Announces New Online Check-In Feature
Friday December 20, 4:29 pm ET
Customers Can Obtain Boarding Passes at usairways.com

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways announces a new convenience at usairways.com that enables customers to check-in for domestic flights and obtain boarding passes online.

Customers can access their reservations at usairways.com by entering personal and flight departure information. A link to Web check-in will be available on the US Airways homepage. Once in the reservation, customers can view the itinerary, select seats, and print boarding passes. Passengers needing to check baggage can do so at curbside check-in or at the airport ticket counter. Web check-in will be available beginning 6 hours, and up to 90 minutes, prior to domestic departures.

"Web check-in capability comes at a key time for our customers, as both the Christmas travel season and new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint access procedures get underway," said Al Crellin, US Airways executive vice president of operations. "This new online capability creates yet another check-in alternative, complementing e-ticket kiosks and ticket counters during this busy and transitional time."

As a result of recent TSA directives, many major airports now require boarding passes to proceed through security checkpoints. Airports that have made the shift to boarding pass requirements include US Airways' largest hub in Charlotte, New York LaGuardia, Boston, and nearly 30 others nationwide. A complete list is available at http://www.usairways.com . Previously, e-ticket itineraries or tickets, accompanied by valid government-issued identification, sufficed. Customers will continue to be required to present proper identification at security checkpoints and at the gate prior to boarding the aircraft. Visit http://www.usairways.com for more information.

US Airways has more than 240 Self-Service Check-In Kiosks at 46 airports across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. From the kiosks, customers can check-in for flights within the U.S., and between the U.S. and San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix. Customers can also select seat assignments and print boarding passes.

US Airways, the US Airways Express carriers and US Airways Shuttle provide service to 203 destinations worldwide, including 38 states in the U.S. In the Caribbean, US Airways serves Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cancun, Cozumel, Grand Bahama Island, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Nassau, Providenciales, Punta Cana, San Juan, Santo Domingo, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and St. Croix. US Airways Express also serves North Eleuthera, Governors Harbour, Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay from select cities in Florida. In Canada, US Airways serves Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. US Airways' European destinations are Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Manchester, Munich, Paris and Rome.


Source: US Airways

I for one will not use the web check-in. WHY?! because it is taking jobs away. We all may b1tch about waiting in long lines for our boarding passes and checking our luggage, but remember, this is taking jobs away from people.

I will also NEVER use a skycap. Again, this is taking a job away from those USAirways employees that keep treating me quite well at PIT and the other airports I fly out of on a daily basis.

This is just another attempt of the airlines to downsize their workforce not enhance it. Yes, the kiosks are useful, but they still have to me manned by an agent behind the counter. Albeit, not as many as there used to be.

It seems the TSA outnumber the airline employees in the airports lately. Take a look at PIT and see the ghosttown it has become.

What I want to know is how this affects a person's priority on the standby list for first class.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trvlr64:
I for one will not use the web check-in. WHY?! because it is taking jobs away. We all may b1tch about waiting in long lines for our boarding passes and checking our luggage, but remember, this is taking jobs away from people.

I will also NEVER use a skycap. Again, this is taking a job away from those USAirways employees that keep treating me quite well at PIT and the other airports I fly out of on a daily basis.

This is just another attempt of the airlines to downsize their workforce not enhance it. Yes, the kiosks are useful, but they still have to me manned by an agent behind the counter. Albeit, not as many as there used to be.

It seems the TSA outnumber the airline employees in the airports lately. Take a look at PIT and see the ghosttown it has become.

</font>

Tbe choice is easy for me. I'd rather lose gate agents then the airline in its entirety. If web check-in works right, then that might give them some cost savings that will help keep them afloat.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trvlr64:
I for one will not use the web check-in. WHY?! because it is taking jobs away. We all may b1tch about waiting in long lines for our boarding passes and checking our luggage, but remember, this is taking jobs away from people.
</font>

Keeping all those people while the competition gets more efficient, more price competitive, and leverages IT solutions like web checkin to improve operations just makes you more bloated and expensive. Keep that up to long and you will go bankr... Oooops, too late.

Continue to keep that up, and you get liquidated.

Keeping one or two jobs here and there at the cost of the downfall of the entire company makes no sense.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trvlr64:
...........It seems the TSA outnumber the airline employees in the airports lately. Take a look at PIT and see the ghosttown it has become.

</font>

I'll take this even a step further. The TSA personnel almost outnumber the PASSENGERS in some airports.

Yes, PIT is a shell of it's former self with regard to traffic. I guess downsizing PIT to an express hub is the master plan, but I can't believe that PIT was the source of US's fiscal woes.

In my biased opinion, shifting connections out of PHL would be much more productive versus PIT. PHL will always be a high cost, unproductive airport. It's a terrible hub airport.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by j_mee:
What I want to know is how this affects a person's priority on the standby list for first class.</font>

Exactly what I was thinking! Does your standby status go by your web check-in time, or would it require you to show up in person - even after you've web checked-in - to get on the list??

Should I wait until they provide a bonus for using web checkin? In the past early adopters have been penilized when only new users receive a bonus to encourage use.

Just checked in using the website...
it doesn't print my preferred status under my name.. (perhaps as I am flying on an award ticket?). I guess this means that I'll have to show my preferred card if I want to board early...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trvlr64:

I will also NEVER use a skycap. Again, this is taking a job away from those USAirways employees that keep treating me quite well at PIT and the other airports I fly out of on a daily basis.
</font>

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Certainly, it's not like skycaps are also people who have spouses and children and families and home payments and car payments. You're right. They're not nearly as worthy of a paycheck as a desk agent.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
US has and uses gate readers in at least one airport (TPA).</font>

Yep, Tampa's had these since early summer. They're not as big or fancy as those on AA, DL, and UA which are whole podiums. Rather, they're just a little scanner placed atop the podium countertop.

US Airways seems to really miss the point with the efficency of these. On Delta and American, the agent scans the boarding pass and hands it right back, so he/she doesn't have to spend more time ripping it. The Tampa US agents scan the boarding pass (there is a barcode at the top right corner of the part of the boarding pass they usually keep), then rip it and hand you the stub. So the passenger is actually standing there longer!

I'm sure it saves time for the agents because they don't have to enter the seat numbers of the boarded passengers into the computer. But why do they have to rip the boarding pass?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BizJet:
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Certainly, it's not like skycaps are also people who have spouses and children and families and home payments and car payments. You're right. They're not nearly as worthy of a paycheck as a desk agent.</font>


OH PLEASE!!

USAirways wants us to use the skycaps more because management doesn't pay them. Use the skycaps and take jobs away from the airline itself. That's CRAP!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BizJet:
Yep, Tampa's had these since early summer. They're not as big or fancy as those on AA, DL, and UA which are whole podiums. Rather, they're just a little scanner placed atop the podium countertop.

US Airways seems to really miss the point with the efficency of these. On Delta and American, the agent scans the boarding pass and hands it right back, so he/she doesn't have to spend more time ripping it. The Tampa US agents scan the boarding pass (there is a barcode at the top right corner of the part of the boarding pass they usually keep), then rip it and hand you the stub. So the passenger is actually standing there longer!

I'm sure it saves time for the agents because they don't have to enter the seat numbers of the boarded passengers into the computer. But why do they have to rip the boarding pass? </font>

BizJet - dont forget the efficiency of then having the agent walk back to the main counter every 5 minutes to handover the checked-in passengers for the other agents to enter back into the system! All the activity you see at the counter prior to takeoff is the agents entering seat assignments into SABRE so they know who has checked in or not.

AA/etc use the scanners to do that for them.

I agree, the scanners are more efficient because the agent doesn't have to enter the seat numbers of boarded passengers into the system.

But why not make them even more efficient by not ripping them. After all, I always thought the agents ripped them so they could go back and enter them into the computer as boarded.

The ripping of boarding passes is probably just a habit thing. Once someone points out that it is less work and goes faster to just hand the pass back they will. US front line people aren't stupid!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Feamom:
US front line people aren't stupid! </font>

Relative to US management, NO ONE is stupid. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Feamom:
The ripping of boarding passes is probably just a habit thing. Once someone points out that it is less work and goes faster to just hand the pass back they will. US front line people aren't stupid! </font>

They may still be required to keep a boarding pass section in case the reader doesn't work, etc. I bet there's a strong probability that the boarding pass stubs also get sent back to CCY for audit.

UA's magstripe readers actually chop the pass internally, saving the large portion, and then feed you the small piece back. I've seen agents on UAas late as a few months ago retrieving them after a flight and putting them in an audit envelope to send back to WHQ.

I wouldn't expect them to change the audit requirements at this point, especially if TPA's the only site with scanners.

hamburgler

I just checked in for a flight, but the boarding pass doesn't have my CP status OR my dividend miles number either. Has this happened to anyone else?

I didn't know that United's keeps a stub. If they have to keep a stub, that's a smart way to do it. (However, United's machines are big, long, permanent structures installed in the gate areas, while US Airways right now uses handheld scanners...so it is kind of an apples/oranges comparison).

American feeds the boarding pass through their machine and hands the whole thing back to you. Delta just scans it and hands it back to you (very fast).

That said, this leaves us with two comments:

1. I am very pleased with how quickly US Airways is improving its technology to benefit customers (kiosks in almost every airport, E-Upgrades, web check-in, etc.).

2. Since scanners are only in use in one airport and even at that one airport (TPA) they still rip the boarding passes, isn't it going to be a pain for the agents to rip the 8.5 X 11 paper? Are the agents handling this in a special way? Please report back if you have traveled with a web boarding pass!! (P.S.: The other airlines using webcheck-in, DL, NW, AS, just scan the barcode, so they don't have the same problem US has).

I used the new web check in yesterday and I'll recount my tale here:

Printed it off at the office a few hours ahead of time (This to me opens up a security concern since it isn't verified that you still have a valid boarding pass until after security.)

I also noticed it didn't have my FF # in it or my CP status on it, so I had my card out just in case, but the security line was empty so it didn't matter, but it will in the future I'm sure.

Got to CLT and learned that not everyone has been informed on these new boarding passes, as the non TSA security line entrance checker said I still needed to get a boarding pass, then I politely informed him of the new boarding passes and he let me by. This is also the only place at which my ID was checked against my ticket, no more gate checking. This again raises security concerns.

Then I got to the head of the security line, where they looked at my ticket again, new process they said, and again they were baffled by what I presented, and a few comments back and forth between a couple of the TSA guys and they didn't know any better and someone decided to give me the special yellow card indicating I was "randomly" selected for extra screening. (the new process since CLT doesn't do gate screenings anymore) So I got the extra special check, I found the extra bag checking to be a little better than they have been at the gate, but still as cursory in my mind.

After that 10 minute security screening, I grab a cone and sit in a rocking chair for a while watching all the Christmas rush go on. Then I wander down to the gate and just for fun decide to check at the gate counter to see if they would know what my boarding pass was. Luckily I did as I was informed that "We can't handle these, so here is a regular bp". So I tuck my web bp into my pocket and keep the good ol' card stock bp out to board with.


So, I didn't try boarding with just the print out, but I might try Thursday as I am in Tampa and see if they can do it down here or not. But, so far I'm not overly impressed with the process. I'm sure it'll get better as the TSA people learn what it is and what to do with the people who have them. And hopefully CLT will soon be able to handle these without having to get a regular BP.

(I still have my BP in a pdf format, might come in handy if I need to meet someone behind security, after a few edits that is.......)

[This message has been edited by Storm1n (edited 12-24-2002).]

But how does the upgrade process work if you haven't gotten a confirmed 1st class when you check in?

This could be very handy for the Shuttle where I often arrive late and get a crappy seat.

Last week I left the house (12 miles away from DCA) at 09:58 for a 10:30 Shuttle and made it -- even had time for the "treatment at the gate" probably because I was so late.

I just wanted to share my story:

Flying Philly to Bangor, Maine, the system returned multiple errors about 4AM, so checked in using the Kiosk.

On the way back it worked, and I checked in about 11am for a 4:45pm Flight. Upon arriving at Bangor, which is incredibly small, the woman looked at my paper boarding pass and exclaimed, "so your the one!" and called all of the other USAIR Express people over to show them the pass. Because there are only 2 flights in and out, they had noticed that someone had checked in for the flight, but none of them had done it.

The boarding pass of course worked to get through security, because the checking in agent also doubled as the person checking boarding passes. The guy at the gate upon boarding however took the whole pass, which leaves customers without any sort of receipt. I also noticed my DM number wasn't on the pass either.

Chris

Well.....I tried using it in TPA today and they don't seem to like them either.

Checked at the counter to see if I would need a real BP or not before I headed for the tram, and the agent said yes. So I got a real pass and went to the gate. At the gate I asked an agent what was up with not being able to actually use the print out. He said something to the effect that they (US) was ready for them, but that TSA wasn't letting them use them......which is a little odd since I made it through CLT security with just the web BP.

I was unable to use the web check-in for my flight on 12/24 (kept getting weird error message) but I was successful in checking-in for my cancelled 12/25 flight!

In fact, I was already at the airport and through security when my flight was cancelled - so the web boarding pass got me through check-in and security. I used curbside check-in for my bag (which was later lost and hasn't yet been found) to avoid the long PHL inside check-in line.

Give them a few weeks and I bet we'll see the system working a lot more smoothly.

Good story. I once lived in Bangor, and worked at Bangor "International." (When we were feeling particularly cosmopolitain, we would even accent the last syllable of "International"...) I can almost guarantee you that you were the talk of the town for at least the next week!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by catwood:
Upon arriving at Bangor, which is incredibly small, the woman looked at my paper boarding pass and exclaimed, "so your the one!" and called all of the other USAIR Express people over to show them the pass. Because there are only 2 flights in and out, they had noticed that someone had checked in for the flight, but none of them had done it...</font>

Tried to check in my parents for their flight from PHL just now....

(More than one booking found with same name)
Please Check in at the Airport to Receive Boarding Pass.

{HOME button}


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hmmmm not sure what the problem was with the web check-in but a similar problem at the self service kiosk:

used dad's check card (the one used to pay for the tix) in the kiosk but it wouldn't work...got the more than one booking message.

But then he used a real Visa card and viola! up came their information...check-in was uneventful after that.


[This message has been edited by jonesing (edited 01-01-2003).]

I used the web check in and the gate agent was familiar with the process, and quickly cut out part of the boarding pass for me to keep. There was a little question about getting in to the secured gate area with the web boarding process, but after conferring with colleagues, the person did let us in with these new boarding passes. I intend to try to use this feature whenever I can. I wish they would mail out at least to Preferred members some kind of special paper that we could use to print boarding passes on. This is much like shipping companies mail out labels for web self-service shipping applications. It would be neat if US developed cardboard boarding pass labels with the perpherated line already in them at the appropriate spot. Also are the bar code scanners going to make their way to more stations?

I've used NW's internet check-in twice now, and it's flawless. You checked in and print out your boarding pass on the internet, use curbside luggage (if you have any, plus in the middle of winter it gets very very cold, especially at 5 or 6 am), skip normal check-in lines (possibly the best part), pass through security, no questions about the boarding pass from security people, and get it scanned upon entry to the jetway. They just mark the piece of paper with a pen to show that it's been used. Now I only have to be there in, say, an hour/ hour and a quarter in advance! Even got bonus miles for using it the first time. Oh and they sometimes they inform you if first class seats are available for upgrade while you're checking in on the internet. Sometimes it costs money to upgrade, but thats only if you bought a cheap ticket and virtually no one is in first, and at a steep discount (I think less than a $100 at times)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bk42:boarding pass.

The 'online' boarding passes are still kinda new and the agents arn't used to them yet.

If I can ask a favor of all of you..
Please cut them to 'size' so we don't have to do it at the door,where it holds up the boarding line...thanks! And I think they are way cool!...

Does anyone on the board work in the apper business, and would you know how easily an appropriate boarding pass sized/perpherated sheet could be made? Somehow given US's condition, I don't see them sending all Prefs nice pre-cut bpasses like Fedex or Airborne.

A couple of other questions:
1. Does anyone know if web check in will allow a pax to put themselves on the upgrade standby list? If not, can you be added easily at the ato after web check in; and
2. How does web check in work under the hood? Do gate agents have a special field in Sabre that tells them how many web check in pax there are. Is there a point when web check in seats are released before a flight if a pax is not on board, and is this different than ato check ins? Any other interesting details on what happens systems wise with these transactions?
3. Are the procedures different that a gate agent uses to process and store/send in a web bp as opposed to a conventional/kiosk bp?

Web Check-in Enhancement

With TSA security requirements and customer flow considerations in mind, US Airways is enhancing Web Check-In, which enables customers to check in and print boarding passes up to 12 hours prior to departure via usairways.com. This extends the window of time by six hours and makes Web Check-In more competitive and user-friendly for business travelers. With the change, customers have more flexibility in obtaining boarding passes required to clear security checkpoints, freeing agents to better assist customers with other critical travel needs.

US Airways Web Check-In allows customers with e-ticketed, domestic itineraries to check-in and print boarding passes through usairways.com up to 90 minutes prior to departure, regardless of where the reservation purchase originated -- i.e. US Airways Reservations, usairways.com, or travel agency.




Last updated: March 14, 2003


Copyright © 2002, US Airways, Inc.

Have been using it for over a month. So far, every gate agent has collected the whole thing, meaning you have to remember your seat number, and if there is a dispute (so far, none), you have no backup. At one Express station (New Haven) the agent in the gate area kept insisting you can't use them. Eventually, another agent succeeded in convincing her it was OK. That was several weeks ago. I also had a printer jam (my problem), which left me checked in, but with no boarding card. Took some time at the airport to fix. That's when I learned the software won't allow you to print a duplicate (although you probably can run multiples the first time). Last issue was getting a call from the CP desk after I had done the check in, telling me the originating flight was late, and I'd misconnect. Since I am in the NYC area, and have a choice of 6 airports, I arranged to reroute out of LGA. It took some work to undo the check in. Biggest thing that needs changing. Status does not show on the boarding pass. I firmly bleieve when they see that, you get handled diferently, especially US1 and 2. Conclusion. It's fun, but not quite ready for primetime with a hub and spoke carrier.

Print two copies and carry your US1 card http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

In all seriousness, that's what I've been doing, and have had no problems.

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

[This message has been edited by ClueByFour (edited 03-15-2003).]

Anyone figure out if the web check-in gets you on the upgrade wait list?

Print multiple copies, just in case.

However, last time I used the web check-in, the gate agent took the printed receipt, tore off the right stub and handed that back to me, just as if it were a normal boarding pass. Good idea, actually, and what I THINK was intended.

Isn't consistency grand?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by woody1173:
Anyone figure out if the web check-in gets you on the upgrade wait list?</font>

Nope.

But that doesn't matter -- what counts is check-in time. When you get to the airport go to either the ticket counter, the club or the gate and ask to be put on the UG queue. If you checked-in at the 6 hour (now 12 hour!) prior point you'll pretty much skip right to the head of the line for your grouping. You still might be trumped by people who started earlier than you and who are connecting -- original check-in time is what counts and a west-coast redeye customer who checked-in 12 hours early the day before has the best possible position http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

For a 6am flight, I can now check in at 6pm the night before, then go to bed. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Sweet.

12 hour check-in is huge.

The six hour did a bit for me when traveling home, but this is fantastic for my Monday mornings. I don't have to worry about checking in at all on Monday mornings because I can now do it on Sunday night. Instead of printing out my itinerary and checking in 20 minutes prior to the flight, I can check in on Sunday and not worry about a thing!

On the same note, I was only successful checking in about 50% of the time via web check-in. When it didn't work, I'd just go to the airport and worry about it when i got there. Since we now have 12 hour web check-in, when check-in isn't successful, I can call and fix it on Sunday night rather than having to worry about check-in at the airport. Good deal US!!!

Web Check In : Zero Div. Miles for use - my ink used to print BP
Kiosk Check In: 1,000 first time, 50 after that - US ink used to print BP

Sticking with the kiosk out of DCA http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

First check in (1k miles) was worth it. After that, I could care less. So if I use the kiosk 100 times, I get 5,000 miles??? WOW?!?!?!? That's alot of miles. 50 miles isn't worth going to the kiosk, no matter how many times you are at the airport.

Now it's all about convience. Especially when PHL starts to make you have a BP prior to going through security. The 12 hour web check in is fantastic and it's going to save me a ton of time. If it costs me 12 cents to print out the bp, I'm not too worried about it. To me, the 12 cents are worth more than the waste that it's going to be to walk down the stairs at PHL at 5am to get 50 DM points at the check-in kiosk.

Web Check is sounds great until you try to use it. 18 minutes on hold for a help desk person only to be told me, "The System is down, there is nothing I can do to help you"

Trying on Friday Morning and it didn't work then either. Nice Idea, Poor Execution, another of the US Airways other mine management ideas done half-azzed. Thank God they still have employees to cover for the highers up

"Now it's all about convience. Especially when PHL starts to make you have a BP prior to going through security. The 12 hour web check in is fantastic and it's going to save me a ton of time. If it costs me 12 cents to print out the bp, I'm not too worried about it. To me, the 12 cents are worth more than the waste that it's going to be to walk down the stairs at PHL at 5am to get 50 DM points at the check-in kiosk."

You're right - it's all about convenience. And at DCA it's simply more convenient to use the kiosks. Judging from experience, NOTHING about PHL is convenient.

As for the miles - they may seem like small potatoes - but they add up. Web ck in gets you zip.

The reliability is an issue if you are using it to cut time. I web checked on the Shuttle and got an error. I went to the machine at the airport, which told me to go to the counter.

The machines on the other hand appear to be 99.9% reliable.

By the way, your status and dividend miles number now appears on your web check-in boarding pass. Also, you can find your flight by dividend miles number instead of your flight number.

Very exciting...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RSMC:
By the way, your status and dividend miles number now appears on your web check-in boarding pass. Also, you can find your flight by dividend miles number instead of your flight number.

Very exciting...</font>

It would be except that now the 24 hour advance checking seems broken -- the error message says 12.

And once you try and fail you can't try again unless you close your browser.

Just printed out my and Dr. nawlinsdoc's BP's for our trip tomorrow to RDU. It says Chairman's Preferred, and just like the previous gentleman said, you can check in with your DM number.

If I use on-line check-in for the Shuttle, can I choose seats? What about emergency exit row seats?

I flew DCA-DEN with a stopover in PIT yesterday. The system prompted me to print an "itinerary card" after printing the BP. When I disembarked at PIT I asked if I could reboard with it since I didn't have a BP stub. The GA said no and printed out a BP.

Does this "itinerary card" appear for other flights as well now or does it have anything to do with the stopover flight?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TWA Guy:
If I use on-line check-in for the Shuttle, can I choose seats? What about emergency exit row seats?</font>

i used online checkin for a shuttle flight. i was never given the opportunity to select seats--the button just wasn't there in its usual spot. however, the assignment i got online (11D) was a whole lot better than the middle seats they were handing out when i got to logan 30 minutes before the flight...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TWA Guy:
If I use on-line check-in for the Shuttle, can I choose seats? What about emergency exit row seats?</font>

I selected seats on shuttle flights in Jan and Feb. However, my recent attempts to check-in ran into error codes.