I have used the standalone check-in kiosks in ATL to check in. Here's the scoop. You can't check any baggage, and you can't make any changes to your itinerary. You slide your Medallion or CRC card into a slot, ATM-style, and your record is retrieved and presented to you.

You use the touchscreen to answer the two standard security questions, and then you are asked if you want a receipt. If you do, then you receive your boarding pass and your receipt in the "cash" slot. If not, you get only the boarding pass.

Your departure gate will be shown clearly on the screen, as well as estimated boarding and departure time. Once, I also was notified of a delay onscreen, with new estimated boarding and departure time

Caveats: Your departure gate will be displayed on the screen, but won't print on your boarding pass.

The boarding pass and receipts print on some rather flimsy paper (not standard ticket stock), so business travelers might want to stash the receipts someplace they won't be crumpled.

You STILL have to show photo ID to the gate agent, since the kiosk has no way to ID you.

Finally, and most important, READ THE SECURITY QUESTIONS CLOSELY! The wording is a little tricky (a Redcoat told me they planned to reword the questions), and if you answer the questions incorrectly, your reservation will be locked. Then the only way to check in is face-to-face with a ticket or gate agent.

I haven't used the phone check-in, but on my new 2001 PM card (got it on 7 DEC), there's a toll-free number on the back for something called "Virtual Check-In." Is that what you're asking about? I could try it and get back to you.

BTW, there is a barcode on the backs of the 2001 PM cards. Anyone know what that's going to be used for? Russ?