Issues with no gatePass
#17
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ*S plus various hotel programs
Posts: 945
It should be straightforward for the app to notify people that if they are booked on a flight and haven't yet checked in say 30 minutes before the flight departs that they have 10 minutes to do so.
For Elites (and potentially other premium customers) this could also trigger a phone call / txt (set via a preference) for a reminder at the 25 minutes point.
There are lots of ways that Air NZ could make this less painful and avoid issues where customers, especially premium ones, get to a gate and are denied boarding.
For Elites (and potentially other premium customers) this could also trigger a phone call / txt (set via a preference) for a reminder at the 25 minutes point.
There are lots of ways that Air NZ could make this less painful and avoid issues where customers, especially premium ones, get to a gate and are denied boarding.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
Why? It's not a change of process. You've been supposed to check in for years. It's just that they never enforced it.
#20
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ*S plus various hotel programs
Posts: 945
Given how many times we see stories of people being denied boarding and similar, it is a wonder that this hasn't yet been in the media.
#21
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,497
Off the top of my head I can think of no other airline that issues you a "boarding pass" before you have checked in.
#23
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,497
Most passengers having generated a boarding pass, would not unreasonably assume they can use it to board the plane. Changing the button on the app to say something different would be an easy and simple fix.
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
True, but it doesn't pass the "Dom Post / NZ Herald" test, which is "will this change potentially result in stories appearing on the front page of the newspaper?".
Given how many times we see stories of people being denied boarding and similar, it is a wonder that this hasn't yet been in the media.
Given how many times we see stories of people being denied boarding and similar, it is a wonder that this hasn't yet been in the media.
As I've said I personally know a number of people who have been bumped on occasions in recent years because they hadn't checked in. For this reason I'd always checked in and was really surprised to see posts from people on here who didn't because I assume they'd be the type that would be fully aware of the risks.
Now you will be bumped, but can be loaded back on the flight if there is space (ie standby pax will get priority over you).
#25
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Silver
Posts: 1,816
~5-7 years ago NZ used to advertise that you didn't need to check-in if you didn't have bags. From memory on the e-ticket it stated something like "no bags? just be at the gate 20mins before departure".
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
Can you name any other airline that doesn't specifically state you must check-in?
~5-7 years ago NZ used to advertise that you didn't need to check-in if you didn't have bags. From memory on the e-ticket it stated something like "no bags? just be at the gate 20mins before departure".
~5-7 years ago NZ used to advertise that you didn't need to check-in if you didn't have bags. From memory on the e-ticket it stated something like "no bags? just be at the gate 20mins before departure".
Even before that you always ran the risk of being bumped if you didn't check in if there were cancellations or delays.
#29
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BLQ / TRG
Programs: NZ*E, UA*1K, QF Plat
Posts: 1,071
When I explained the change to my wife (Elite who travels a lot) this morning she was like "what? I have a boarding pass on my phone".
Air NZ have made a bad job of advising of this change when regular traveling Elites do not know.
The App should not show a boarding pass until check-in has happened. This is will mean travelers using the App will have it sorted before arriving to the gate.
#30
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ TPP7, NZ*E, HH Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 84
I agree - I travel WLG-AKL every week and have never checked in. Most often, I goto the Koru which does it automatically (although I never knew this either).
I was caught out last week when I did a same day change which gives you a new boarding pass, but does not sign a seat (and you can't assign one either). So i was unconcerned, did not goto the Koru as I arrived at the airport 20 ins prior to departure, at the gate 15 minutes prior. Luckily I was given a no-show seat - the gate staff (who I know) did not explain what happened. I assumed it was a glitch, but clearly not.
Some communication is required by Air NZ here.
I was caught out last week when I did a same day change which gives you a new boarding pass, but does not sign a seat (and you can't assign one either). So i was unconcerned, did not goto the Koru as I arrived at the airport 20 ins prior to departure, at the gate 15 minutes prior. Luckily I was given a no-show seat - the gate staff (who I know) did not explain what happened. I assumed it was a glitch, but clearly not.
Some communication is required by Air NZ here.
Last edited by SqKiwi; Sep 1, 2017 at 9:18 pm