Warning: This Is Not A Boarding Pass Cutoff Times

[UpstateEMS]

Hello all International Travelers,
If you receive the "This Is Not A Boarding Pass" warning message from continental.com while trying to check-in online ignore these two statements: "Your bags should be checked at least 30 minutes before departure" and "Your boarding passes should be printed at least 30 minutes before departure".

Even those these statements appear on the sheet, you must print your boarding pass 1 hour before departure at the check-in counter consistent with Continental's policies.

I am traveling on an international itinerary out of Newark tonight and have previously always been able to check-in online without any issue. I got to the airport about an hour and ten minutes prior to departure and waited in the Elite Access line. Upon reaching the kiosk it was just about an hour before departure and when I put in my confirmation code it informed me that I could only check-in at the desk. Once I finally found an available agent, it was 55 minutes before departure and she indicated she had to find a supervisor which took another 10 minutes.

Ulitmately, they were not able to put me on my original flight and I am now rerouted. They acknowledged that this was not my fault and kept the print out in order to make the management here at Newark aware of the problem. I intend on writing Houston as well with a copy of the online check-in print out in hopes that they can fix this immediately or in the next CO.com update.

Happy New Years everyone, safe travels!

[Bonehead]

Welcome to FlyerTalk! Thanks for pointing out the bogus warnings that CO provides.

Unfortunately, your experience appears to be another example of someone arriving at the airport too close to departure to have an adequate time buffer should something unexpected occur.

See this thread.

[UpstateEMS]

No worries Bonehead, you're spot on and I'm willing to take my licks for showing up an hour and ten minutes beforehand! I've been spoiled for the last two years with International Online Check-In.

Hopefully I can get Continental to fix my Continental.com login so this doesn't happen again. I rang CO.com last night attempting to resolve the issue and they told me that it's out of their hands and it's a OnePass department problem.

[craz]

Originally Posted by UpstateEMS

No worries Bonehead, you're spot on and I'm willing to take my licks for showing up an hour and ten minutes beforehand! I've been spoiled for the last two years with International Online Check-In.

Hopefully I can get Continental to fix my Continental.com login so this doesn't happen again. I rang CO.com last night attempting to resolve the issue and they told me that it's out of their hands and it's a OnePass department problem.

Where were you flying to?

I ask cause this past July I had the same problem, Only for Scott to explain that certain destinations We Can NOT do OLCI

[meFIRST]

CO is very strict about this - 59 minutes to the flight and an agent has to get a supervisior to overide it. Which you are right, usually takes another 10.

The cut off, for INTL is 60 minutes

[channa]

I would request IDB compensation. You followed the rules as they were presented to you, and you relied on CO's communication to your detriment.

If you do not get IDB compensation (or something that makes you happy from Customer Care), consider filing a DOT complaint about the issue.

[Bonehead]

Originally Posted by UpstateEMS

No worries Bonehead, you're spot on and I'm willing to take my licks for showing up an hour and ten minutes beforehand! I've been spoiled for the last two years with International Online Check-In....

Yea, I'm not so much bangin' on you...I keep making this point so that others won't have to go through what you went through. I usually learn these lessons exactly the same way...by getting burned.

[UpstateEMS]

Originally Posted by craz

Where were you flying to?

I ask cause this past July I had the same problem, Only for Scott to explain that certain destinations We Can NOT do OLCI

Dublin. It is a destination where OLCI works, I fly this route 6 to 7 times a year with no issue.