AA Executive Platinum Check-In @ LAX
Jan 8, 2018, 2:25 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,236
It seems fairly deliberate to me. At my mid-sized outstation they lately staff the priority lane with one agent no matter how many people are in line. It's at the point where if there's anyone in line it's usually faster to check in on the kiosk and then wait in the bag drop line (which moves quickly because they have 5-6 agents working). It's pretty clear they really want you to use the kiosk.
I don't mind the kiosks terribly, I just wish there was a way to skip the game of 20 questions (do you have a lap child? are you checking sports equipment? are you a member of the military? would you like to buy extra miles?). It would be great to have something similar to the GE kiosk where there's a button you can press that says "No to all". It takes me 2-3 minutes to get through all those, I can only imagine how long it takes someone who isn't familiar with the process.
I don't mind the kiosks terribly, I just wish there was a way to skip the game of 20 questions (do you have a lap child? are you checking sports equipment? are you a member of the military? would you like to buy extra miles?). It would be great to have something similar to the GE kiosk where there's a button you can press that says "No to all". It takes me 2-3 minutes to get through all those, I can only imagine how long it takes someone who isn't familiar with the process.
to me, I use the agents because I want the boarding pass on cardstock. 800+ collected BPs later, no reason to stop now.
Jan 8, 2018, 2:28 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
I really don't understand this at all. Everything we hear is that AA wants us to buy premium cabin tickets and has oriented their whole FF program to rewarding those who purchase and fly in first or biz but then they turn around and make the whole check-in experience decidedly un-premium. Why would I spend my money on premium tickets at an airline that won't give me premium service at check-in?
Jan 31, 2018, 10:15 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,313
For a modest tip, a skycap will check your bags, and you can check in on line on domestic itineraries. That's why I didn't notice this change in my home airport.
Jan 31, 2018, 1:09 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 544
Totally agree. Turns out Skycap and a $10 tip is the new EXP check in for me. Forget the understaffed and often long Priority lines inside. Personally I think they messed up with this change for EXPs.
Feb 1, 2018, 10:30 am
#39
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
San Diego:
Two check-in queues:
1. ExPlat; Plat Pro; Plat; Gold; oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, First, Business, and AA credit card holders.
2. Everyone else.
Who in the world is everyone else? Seems like just about everyone is "Premium" in that algorithm to me.
When everyone is Premium, no one is.
I suspect we can attribute this nonsense to Kirby. He did the same stupid thing at UA. I now see that UA has a separate 1K queue at SFO again.
We have to fly how much and spend how much to make ExecPlat and this is how we are treated? I wonder if AA knows or cares how much of my travel, almost all of which is international to Asia, is on other oneworld carriers these days? I doubt it. I didn't use to avoid AA. It is a result of their own conduct.
AA seems reliant on hub-locked passengers and corporate contracts. Those of us who have choices, I suspect, don't usually choose AA. I certainly don't.
Two check-in queues:
1. ExPlat; Plat Pro; Plat; Gold; oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, First, Business, and AA credit card holders.
2. Everyone else.
Who in the world is everyone else? Seems like just about everyone is "Premium" in that algorithm to me.
When everyone is Premium, no one is.
I suspect we can attribute this nonsense to Kirby. He did the same stupid thing at UA. I now see that UA has a separate 1K queue at SFO again.
We have to fly how much and spend how much to make ExecPlat and this is how we are treated? I wonder if AA knows or cares how much of my travel, almost all of which is international to Asia, is on other oneworld carriers these days? I doubt it. I didn't use to avoid AA. It is a result of their own conduct.
AA seems reliant on hub-locked passengers and corporate contracts. Those of us who have choices, I suspect, don't usually choose AA. I certainly don't.
Feb 1, 2018, 10:45 am
#40
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,421
San Diego:
Two check-in queues:
1. ExPlat; Plat Pro; Plat; Gold; oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, First, Business, and AA credit card holders.
2. Everyone else.
Who in the world is everyone else? Seems like just about everyone is "Premium" in that algorithm to me.
When everyone is Premium, no one is.
I suspect we can attribute this nonsense to Kirby. He did the same stupid thing at UA. I now see that UA has a separate 1K queue at SFO again.
We have to fly how much and spend how much to make ExecPlat and this is how we are treated? I wonder if AA knows or cares how much of my travel, almost all of which is international to Asia, is on other oneworld carriers these days? I doubt it. I didn't use to avoid AA. It is a result of their own conduct.
AA seems reliant on hub-locked passengers and corporate contracts. Those of us who have choices, I suspect, don't usually choose AA. I certainly don't.
Two check-in queues:
1. ExPlat; Plat Pro; Plat; Gold; oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, First, Business, and AA credit card holders.
2. Everyone else.
Who in the world is everyone else? Seems like just about everyone is "Premium" in that algorithm to me.
When everyone is Premium, no one is.
I suspect we can attribute this nonsense to Kirby. He did the same stupid thing at UA. I now see that UA has a separate 1K queue at SFO again.
We have to fly how much and spend how much to make ExecPlat and this is how we are treated? I wonder if AA knows or cares how much of my travel, almost all of which is international to Asia, is on other oneworld carriers these days? I doubt it. I didn't use to avoid AA. It is a result of their own conduct.
AA seems reliant on hub-locked passengers and corporate contracts. Those of us who have choices, I suspect, don't usually choose AA. I certainly don't.
At least Marc is still in the lounge and he's awesome.
Feb 1, 2018, 1:17 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
To further expand on SAN: Everyone else is sent to the kiosks. If you haven't tried the kiosk they won't help. I always bypass the kiosks and go the the Premium line which has at maximum 1 other person in line and 2-3 AA people behind the desk typing away on their computers. The first question they always ask is "are you flying first class?" They never ask about elite status. If I'm checking in at the counter it's because I couldn't check in on my phone, so I need their help yet they always act like I'm bothering them. [/rant]
At least Marc is still in the lounge and he's awesome.
At least Marc is still in the lounge and he's awesome.
I more often use the kiosks because it is faster than waiting for the premium desk.
At MIA, I had to wait almost an hour in the premium line (there are two of them, but they were equally long and the agent at the entrance told everyone to pick whichever one they wanted).
AA couldn't care less.
Feb 1, 2018, 10:08 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745