AirCanada Atlanta check in
Jun 21, 2019, 4:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
AirCanada Atlanta check in
so been awhile since I have been through Atlanta but heads up for others who are not aware.
i could not print boarding pass today-no printer available. So head to airport and united (even with united ticket) cannot print AC boarding pass so can’t use sky train.
Must use bus outside to take trip to international terminal and when you get there make sure AC agents are around as terminal has nothing to do while you wait. Frustrating that 90 minutes after arriving at airport finally getting my boarding pass.
Would have been faster in hindsight to go to staples and print it there.
i could not print boarding pass today-no printer available. So head to airport and united (even with united ticket) cannot print AC boarding pass so can’t use sky train.
Must use bus outside to take trip to international terminal and when you get there make sure AC agents are around as terminal has nothing to do while you wait. Frustrating that 90 minutes after arriving at airport finally getting my boarding pass.
Would have been faster in hindsight to go to staples and print it there.
Jun 21, 2019, 4:49 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
Touché!
it gets worse. AC check in opens at 6 pm it pre check closes at International terminal at 5:30pm
and lounge is back in terminal T almost all the way back to domestic terminal.
ugh.
it gets worse. AC check in opens at 6 pm it pre check closes at International terminal at 5:30pm
and lounge is back in terminal T almost all the way back to domestic terminal.
ugh.
Jun 21, 2019, 6:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,568
I don't remember the issues OP describes, and I tend to paper BPs as a preference. But always OLCI and have the QR.
The underground trains are pretty quick, and if one had 90 minutes to be annoyed in the intl terminal, one had time to get to the UA lounge.
The underground trains are pretty quick, and if one had 90 minutes to be annoyed in the intl terminal, one had time to get to the UA lounge.
Jun 22, 2019, 12:08 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
You were required to have a paper boarding pass.
Any frequent flyer would have tried the mobile app - which I did - and it required printing.
I agree trains are fast but you need a boarding pass to get to them.
The 90 minutes wasn’t all at international terminal. It was arriving at domestic terminal with rental car. Going to check in, united saying they could not give me boarding pass, required to go back outside and wait for bus to international terminal. Taking bus ride there and then getting to international terminal at 5:15 and told AC agents wouldn’t be there until 6 pm.
Only option would be back to domestic on bus. Not sure how you expected me to get to lounge until I had BP
Finally when got BP go to security and pre check line closed at 5:30 pm. So go through regular line but got to keep shoes on at least.
At that point not worth going to lounge way back at T
bottom line have access to printer if flying AC in Atlanta. (And don’t check bags) Could gave been so much easier as I could have just went through domestic security and been in lounge in a short while.
Any frequent flyer would have tried the mobile app - which I did - and it required printing.
I agree trains are fast but you need a boarding pass to get to them.
The 90 minutes wasn’t all at international terminal. It was arriving at domestic terminal with rental car. Going to check in, united saying they could not give me boarding pass, required to go back outside and wait for bus to international terminal. Taking bus ride there and then getting to international terminal at 5:15 and told AC agents wouldn’t be there until 6 pm.
Only option would be back to domestic on bus. Not sure how you expected me to get to lounge until I had BP
Finally when got BP go to security and pre check line closed at 5:30 pm. So go through regular line but got to keep shoes on at least.
At that point not worth going to lounge way back at T
bottom line have access to printer if flying AC in Atlanta. (And don’t check bags) Could gave been so much easier as I could have just went through domestic security and been in lounge in a short while.
Jun 22, 2019, 6:19 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,161
ATL can be a pain like that ... but for the record, a mobile BP is absolutely accepted there, I did it just a couple of weeks ago. It works even if you have TSA-pre.
If you didn't register for an online BP when you checked in, you're correct that you can't use an online copy of the printable BP. That's ok - go back to the system and checkin again. The system will know that you've already checked in, and ask you if you want to reprint your BP and you can then get an electronic BP. Even if you don't have the app on your phone, you can choose a mobile BP and they will either email or SMS a link to you.
If you didn't register for an online BP when you checked in, you're correct that you can't use an online copy of the printable BP. That's ok - go back to the system and checkin again. The system will know that you've already checked in, and ask you if you want to reprint your BP and you can then get an electronic BP. Even if you don't have the app on your phone, you can choose a mobile BP and they will either email or SMS a link to you.
Jun 22, 2019, 1:59 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
thanks for the info.
I certainly used mobile boarding pass with united at Atlanta no problem
With air Canada I did try that (re doing check in) and had no luck. Not sure why
i thought it might have been due to international but I saw other passengers with other international airlines doing mobile.
oh well.
final comment regarding AC a machine to print BP would have been a great solution. Like all the other airlines.
In the end it is really too bad AC got stuck out at international terminal for check in. I would have hated to have to check a bag.
I certainly used mobile boarding pass with united at Atlanta no problem
With air Canada I did try that (re doing check in) and had no luck. Not sure why
i thought it might have been due to international but I saw other passengers with other international airlines doing mobile.
oh well.
final comment regarding AC a machine to print BP would have been a great solution. Like all the other airlines.
In the end it is really too bad AC got stuck out at international terminal for check in. I would have hated to have to check a bag.
Jun 23, 2019, 5:55 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: YYZ
Programs: Presto
Posts: 638
Adding that upon arrival at ATL on AC, when you have checked luggage you have no choice but to take the shuttle bus, as the baggage carousel is landside at F (International).
Don't make my mistake and think that since you pre-cleared customs in YYZ the flight is domestic and your baggage would be too! Upon arrival I hopped on the train in F, went to the the main terminal to get my bag only to have to take the bus back to F to get my bag and then bus back to the main terminal to catch MARTA into town. My bad, but the folks in the F unclaimed baggage shop said it happens all the time.
Don't make my mistake and think that since you pre-cleared customs in YYZ the flight is domestic and your baggage would be too! Upon arrival I hopped on the train in F, went to the the main terminal to get my bag only to have to take the bus back to F to get my bag and then bus back to the main terminal to catch MARTA into town. My bad, but the folks in the F unclaimed baggage shop said it happens all the time.
Last edited by NoahVail; Jun 25, 2019 at 5:24 am Reason: clarity
Jun 23, 2019, 11:50 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
A word of caution for those departing ATL on AC 7541 at 6:10 AM to YYZ. I returned a rental car at the ATL rental car centre on a Saturday morning. The centre is connected to the regular terminal by elevated train. The international terminal is supposed to be connected by bus; that wasn't running with more than a 45 minute frequency. I ended up having to take an Uber; who got lost getting to the international terminal. If you're using a rental, and taking the early flight; allow extra time. I was only able to get onto the flight thanks to OLCI, no checked baggage and no line at security.
I did reach out to the airport authorities who acknowledged the issue but just offered the usual "apologies"
I did reach out to the airport authorities who acknowledged the issue but just offered the usual "apologies"
Jun 23, 2019, 4:26 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, hhonors Gold
Posts: 3,421
A word of caution for those departing ATL on AC 7541 at 6:10 AM to YYZ. I returned a rental car at the ATL rental car centre on a Saturday morning. The centre is connected to the regular terminal by elevated train. The international terminal is supposed to be connected by bus; that wasn't running with more than a 45 minute frequency. I ended up having to take an Uber; who got lost getting to the international terminal. If you're using a rental, and taking the early flight; allow extra time. I was only able to get onto the flight thanks to OLCI, no checked baggage and no line at security.
I did reach out to the airport authorities who acknowledged the issue but just offered the usual "apologies"
I did reach out to the airport authorities who acknowledged the issue but just offered the usual "apologies"
Jun 23, 2019, 6:13 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
Agreed if you have a boarding pass your are all set to use domestic terminal. Assuming you have no checked bags too. With a checked bag you are really in trouble.
Btw funny but sad, when you come out of rental car stop or domestic terminal the international terminal bus drops off passengers there but you are not allowed to get on there. You have to walk a ways and wait for the bus to cone there to get on. The funny sad part is being about to get on bus and am told I need to walk down to the other stop, it was only for disembarking and then while walking to the other stop the bus passes me. And fortunately the driver waited for me
Btw funny but sad, when you come out of rental car stop or domestic terminal the international terminal bus drops off passengers there but you are not allowed to get on there. You have to walk a ways and wait for the bus to cone there to get on. The funny sad part is being about to get on bus and am told I need to walk down to the other stop, it was only for disembarking and then while walking to the other stop the bus passes me. And fortunately the driver waited for me
Jun 23, 2019, 11:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
This may work for you as a frequent visitor, but its really the long way around.