Web Check-In - No Printer
 

Yet another question. This is my first time flying on AS.

They have web check-in. I did that for my flight tomorrow from SMF-SEA and printed a boarding pass. I do need to check luggage. Is there a special line where I do this? Has the web check-in really saved me any time if I am checking a bag anyway?

On the way back from SEA on Monday I will have my laptop but no access to a printer so will not be able to print the boarding pass. Does it make any sense for me to do a web check-in (checking a bag again? Will I be able to check-in at a special line?

I just don't understand the process here and the advantage for anyone other than those with no checked bags.

If you want the 500 mi, just do the web checkin and then once complete, if you cant print (just like the instructions say) go see an agent. Your 500 mi will post.

I don't care about the miles. All I care about is speeding up the check-in process. Does web check-in help (with or without the printed boarding pass)?? Is there a separate baggage check-in line?

yikes, can it really be true ...you don't care about the miles???

Web checkin does not help if you can't print the boarding pass. Also most airports have very quick instant checkin machines everywhere and your checkin will be very quick. I don't know about SMF but some airports have luggage check counters when you have already checked in (either web or airport machine).

If you dont care about the miles but want to check in quickly..use the Instant Travel Kiosks. They have them AT the ticket counter in Seattle, and just about everywhere else you turn in that airport. If you have bags, its best to use the ones at the counter. You go through the check in process on the machine, then an agent will come to tag your bags. The line is much much shorter, if there is even a line at all. You can also check in at the curbside Kiosk and leave your bags with the skycap.

I don't know if this works for you or not... but if I don't have access to a printer, I use my laptop's fax software or efax.com to fax my boarding pass to myself at the hotel's fax number or a fax at my client's site.

It's always worked great, it's especially nice when someone from the hotel personally delivers your boarding pass to your room http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

-Robert

Web check-in only saves time if you are not checking luggage. If you have only carry-ons, all you have to do is show your ID when boarding, and the agent will scan the bar code your web check-in confirmation.

Thanks to all. Went through SEA today and indeed there is no advantage to printing the BP's ahead of time if you are checking luggage. There was a line of about 35 people for the automated check-in machines, but we weren't in line more than 10 minutes. The line for those who wanted "personal service" was very long and I would estimate a 35-45 minute wait there.

Wow! That's amazing. As an MVP Gold who has a home in SEA, I have never had to wait for a machine in SEA at the ticket counter. While there may be 10-20 people in line, they all seem to just stand there, leaving 4-5 machines open at any given time. They seem to think that since all the agents are helping people, there are no available machines. I just go around all of them and to a free machine. I gave up a long time ago trying to "encourage" people to use a open machine.


(Edited for a stupid typo)

[This message has been edited by jeffreyt (edited 06-25-2002).]

I guess more people were using the machines. They had an agent out in front calling people to machines as they opened up. All machines were constantly in use. They had 3 agents checking bags and they seemed a bit hectic. This was on a Monday afternoon. I can only imagine what a Friday afternoon would look like ! I liked the system. Was fast and simple.

FWIW,
There are a bunch of it machines as you go over the sky bridge into the terminal. No one ever uses those and one by island 1 of shuttle drop off.

I heart web check in, not just for those extra 500 miles http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. In fact, I heart AS. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


lala

Those machines on the skybridge were all shut down yesterday afternoon and no one around. Maybe that's why the tkt counter machines were so busy.