Originally Posted by
SunLover
I checked in at T-24 for the first segments of my trip, and at that time selected auto check-in for the remaining segments. Situation normal - I always select that option so as to check in as soon as possible; for the best placement in the CPU upgrade queue. Well today for the first time I got the following email:
Unable to provide boarding passes for confirmation XXXXXXX
Thank you for choosing Auto Check-in for your upcoming United Airlines flight. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide your boarding passes at this time.
Please complete your check-in at the airport on your day of departure. We apologize for this inconvenience.
So I went to the flight status to check my place in the upgrade queue. Sure enough - I was not on the list. So not only was the system unable to provide my boarding passes, it also failed to check me into the flight(s) as well.
I did the manual check-in for the remaining flight segments, but feel I dropped some in the CPU queue because of the couple of hours delay checking in. Not really upset about that, but it was sub-optimal.
Has this happened to other people recently? Is it a new anomoly in the system, or a one time glitch? I guess the offshoot for me is what while auto check-in is convenient and has always worked in the past, I will have to transition to
Trust but Verify mode...
SunLover
Is it possibly a trip where they need to verify docs for the return. i.e. coming back to the US and you have a green card, or going to an international destination requiring Visa, or just that it wants to check your passport. Sounds like it could resemble this issue.
Originally Posted by
RobOnLI
I personally can't stand the auto check-in option and it really pisses me off that it's on my default and even when I uncheck it I still get auto checked-in.
-RM
+1. I absolutely detest this "feature", and if it has to be an option, why they can't at least have it unchecked by default is beyond me.
Originally Posted by
caiken
I agree -- a bug in the mobile app basically makes it impossible to NOT use auto-check-in. I don't like that, as I frequently change flights or seats at the last minute and don't want to be boxed in to my original return flight.
I definitely saw this issue in the first few months after the system merge, but more recently, at least at the in the last few months of 2012, it seems to have been fixed for me - if I uncheck the box before going to see my mobile BP, it seems to not auto-check me in. Maybe it broke again? Also don't know why this box isn't an option prior to actually agreeing to check in - perhaps that checkbox can be part of the same screen asking if you want to be added to the airport upgrade waitlist.
Originally Posted by
Baze
Just out of curiosity for those that don't use or want the auto check in for return flights, what is you reasoning? Seems to me it takes the pressure off of having to be at a computer or get on you phone app right at the 24 hour mark to check in. I use it and have had no problems with it. Only time it fails if if there is a change made by me or UA to the return flight from the original itinerary.
There are several potential reasons for me, but the real thing is, I want control over when and how I check in, not have the airline have this. I sometimes want to see the options that might be available when I do so. Sometimes, I have a bag to check, and since it requires a visit to the check in desk anyway, checking in beforehand is virtually useless. Often, if I'm traveling with my wife back to the states from another country, including Canada, check in needs to be done at the desk, since she has a green card which, in United language, disqualifies her from checking in until the airport.
I don't mind there being an option to have this or not, I understand some people like it. But to presume every pax wants it is a bit ridiculous.