What is the point of check-in?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 177
What is the point of check-in?
Why do airlines require you to check in?
It can't be to see that you've arrived at the airport ... because you can do it online when you haven't left home.
It can't be to make sure you're really intending to fly ... because you can do it right at the gate at the last minute.
It can't be so that they know what seat you're in ... because they will allocate that anyway.
It can't be to confirm allocation for upgrades etc ... because they already know who is flying.
So what does "check-in" even mean these days?
It can't be to see that you've arrived at the airport ... because you can do it online when you haven't left home.
It can't be to make sure you're really intending to fly ... because you can do it right at the gate at the last minute.
It can't be so that they know what seat you're in ... because they will allocate that anyway.
It can't be to confirm allocation for upgrades etc ... because they already know who is flying.
So what does "check-in" even mean these days?
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wonderful Weald of kent
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It tells the airline that you are actually intending to fly as booked.
A lot of airlines maximise revenue by overbooking, and checking in helps them deal with potential no shows and/ or too many passengers showing up for a flight. With online check in, they can be pretty sure that you will show up so they can worry about getting everyone on board.
Common sense really - and there are a lot of folk who book a flight and simply don't show up for it for whatever reason
A lot of airlines maximise revenue by overbooking, and checking in helps them deal with potential no shows and/ or too many passengers showing up for a flight. With online check in, they can be pretty sure that you will show up so they can worry about getting everyone on board.
Common sense really - and there are a lot of folk who book a flight and simply don't show up for it for whatever reason
#3
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It's a good question and I'm not sure that CarolynUK's answer relates to all circumstances. Certainly, for legacy carriers which sell a good proportion of refundable tickets, check in does act as a quasi check on whether customers are intending to use them. But it's not a perfect check since you can still cancel after check in - and you can still be off-loaded if you don't turn up at the gate on time.
But, at the back of the plane, where most people have non-refundable tickets, a far greater proportion of people actually use the tickets.
I suspect the reality is that no one has taken the step of eliminating it yet. EZ has got close, permitting it up to 30 days prior to the flight. As I always book within that window, it has simply become another step within the booking process and I can see that it could easily be eliminated altogether.
But, at the back of the plane, where most people have non-refundable tickets, a far greater proportion of people actually use the tickets.
I suspect the reality is that no one has taken the step of eliminating it yet. EZ has got close, permitting it up to 30 days prior to the flight. As I always book within that window, it has simply become another step within the booking process and I can see that it could easily be eliminated altogether.
#5
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Why do airlines require you to check in?
It can't be to see that you've arrived at the airport ... because you can do it online when you haven't left home.
It can't be to make sure you're really intending to fly ... because you can do it right at the gate at the last minute.
It can't be so that they know what seat you're in ... because they will allocate that anyway.
It can't be to confirm allocation for upgrades etc ... because they already know who is flying.
So what does "check-in" even mean these days?
It can't be to see that you've arrived at the airport ... because you can do it online when you haven't left home.
It can't be to make sure you're really intending to fly ... because you can do it right at the gate at the last minute.
It can't be so that they know what seat you're in ... because they will allocate that anyway.
It can't be to confirm allocation for upgrades etc ... because they already know who is flying.
So what does "check-in" even mean these days?
Another, bags. Can't drag all your bags to the gate and check them in there.
Another, you make an assumption that the airline knows who is flying. Check all the threads about "overbooking". The reason that they overbook is that a percentage of passengers don't show up for their flights.
Another. Load and weight distribution. Particularly for small planes. If people don't show up for their flight then the airline can load more cargo.
#6
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"Check-in" is the legal definition which the airline industry -- and many governmental bodies -- give to the process of committing to the ticketed flight. Therefore, the purpose it serves, in the different ways airlines allow check in, is to set the standard for the legal duties and responsibilities to carry ticketed passengers (and checked baggage) on that flight.
There may be added steps airlines can require (i.e., presentment at the boarding gate by a specified time) in order to set a standard of eligibility for other benefits (i.e., denied boarding compensation).
There may be added steps airlines can require (i.e., presentment at the boarding gate by a specified time) in order to set a standard of eligibility for other benefits (i.e., denied boarding compensation).
#7
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#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 177
I appreciate international flights, and US domestic, have different requirements.
The pole is handy because it sends you an SMS with the flight details and seat number, but you can skip that part and just swipe at the gate if you already know your flight details.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Apr 27, 2015 at 9:00 pm Reason: Combine consecutive posts of same member; suggest using multi-quote feature.
#11
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"Check-in" is the legal definition which the airline industry -- and many governmental bodies -- give to the process of committing to the ticketed flight. Therefore, the purpose it serves, in the different ways airlines allow check in, is to set the standard for the legal duties and responsibilities to carry ticketed passengers (and checked baggage) on that flight.
There may be added steps airlines can require (i.e., presentment at the boarding gate by a specified time) in order to set a standard of eligibility for other benefits (i.e., denied boarding compensation).
There may be added steps airlines can require (i.e., presentment at the boarding gate by a specified time) in order to set a standard of eligibility for other benefits (i.e., denied boarding compensation).
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Posts: 226
The point of check-in is now different than it used to be, but it's very important. The new purpose is to make sure all of the non-frequent fliers aren't confused.
Think about it - there are occasional fliers out there that still don't know how to handle TSA. You've all seen them.. you know the people that aren't sure what to put in their quart-sized baggie or are unsure of whether to take off their shoes. If we eliminated check-in, these guys would have no idea of what to do! It would be chaos, so I say, let's keep it - it's easy for us anyhow and perhaps it helps a few people out there from getting too confused and somehow slowing down the security line more than they already do!
Think about it - there are occasional fliers out there that still don't know how to handle TSA. You've all seen them.. you know the people that aren't sure what to put in their quart-sized baggie or are unsure of whether to take off their shoes. If we eliminated check-in, these guys would have no idea of what to do! It would be chaos, so I say, let's keep it - it's easy for us anyhow and perhaps it helps a few people out there from getting too confused and somehow slowing down the security line more than they already do!
#13
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
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The check in is a legacy dating back to times when almost all tickets were unrestricted. An "are you coming or not" procedure was very necessary. Now that most tickets are non refundable and void if you don't cancel, the checkin process is just for distribution of boarding docs.
Do people really check in if they have no intention of flying?
Do people really check in if they have no intention of flying?
Last edited by TravelerMSY; Apr 28, 2015 at 1:18 pm