My wife is flying to LHR this afternoon at 1745. On-line check-in didn't work last night but, as we usually do, we would stop by the airport on the way to work to check-in her bag. We could check her in and get her seat then. She's got an important call scheduled for 0800 but her office is only 15 mins or so from the airport.

So at 0730 this morning we arrived and headed for the 'Checky' kiosks. "Flight not available for check-in - go to the British Airways check-in desks". Turn around and head for the desks - but they are all closed. Roped off, but no signs. We then head for the BA ticket desk. Two ladies there, but both sitting to the side and not behind their desks.

"I'd like to check-in please" I say.
"Go to the check-in desks"
"They're closed"
"They open at 0800"
"We can't wait until 0800, can't you help us now"
"You'll have to wait"
"(hating to do this, but)I'm an executive club member (showing my gold card) can't you please help we can't wait until 0800"
"[sigh](obviously not happy) Ticket please? Oh, I can give you the boarding card, but you can't check that bag until this afternoon (looks at something scotched to the wall) 3:15 at the earliest".
[small explosive rumble from the direction of my 'better half'] WHAT!!!!
"Sorry, I can't change THAT rule [mumbles something like "the flight is closed, wonder why?"][she goes off to another desk][more mumbling, but indistinct now]
[comes back with boarding card]"Here you go"

So I am sitting in my office with my wife's suitcase. I'll have to take a bus or an [expensive] taxi to the airport around 3:15 to check in my wife's bag. I've got her boarding card and passport, because I'll need it. After the check-in will be another bus or taxi to my wife's office to give her her papers. I'll probably lose two productive hours because of this rule change.

For years we've been checking in the morning for afternoon / early evening flights as it's convenient for us. The airport is between our home and our offices and it gives us a lot of flexibility to do so. But they've changed the rules (and forgot to tell us - nothing on the Switzerland pages of their web-site either)

I've just managed to reach my tier-point requirement to keep gold for another year, but if they keep up with this happy-crappy, I suspect this may be the last.

[Before someone says "This is for security reasons" I will point out that Swiss, and others at GVA, allow check-in 24 hours in advance. On Bank-holiday weekends they even encourage passengers to do so]