Dec 22, 2017, 8:39 am
Last edit by: EsherFlyer
This thread is dedicated to explaining some of the reasons why OLCI (Online Check-in) doesn't work on British Airways' website BA.com and / or its App software. The first post give the main reasons, and subsequent posts give more background. By all means reach out in this thread if you are still unsure. If you are new to the BA Forum - perhaps Google brought you here - have a look in the forum's stickies and Dashboard for more reference material.
Note that there is a HTML typo in the first link of the first thread. Try this instead: https://classic.checkmytrip.com/plne...&SITE=XCMTXXNS
Note that there is a HTML typo in the first link of the first thread. Try this instead: https://classic.checkmytrip.com/plne...&SITE=XCMTXXNS
FAQ : Why can't I check in online? OLCI and boarding pass difficulties
May 17, 2019, 8:34 am
#166
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
Can’t check in online; should I call?
We are flying SEA to LHR today in Club World; fortunately I paid to choose our seats on the upper deck long time ago. But the website will not let me check in; I get the “sorry we cannot check you in at this time, please proceed to the airport” message. I have tried several different computers with the same result. Should I call BA? Or is this a common problem with the website today? We have flown with BA many times before and never had this issue.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
May 17, 2019, 8:40 am
#168
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,158
There could be quite a few reasons why. See this thread which outlines the possible reasons why and I suspect your post may be merged into there.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ficulties.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ficulties.html
May 17, 2019, 8:43 am
#169
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Call.
While there are many reasons for this and almost all are both benign and can be fixed at the counter in 5-10 minutes at the most, the only way to be assured that there is no ticket issue which will require time to fix is to call.
Put another way, it is much easier to fix anything while you are sitting at home or in the office and can hold on mute and multi-task than it is to go 3 hours early and find out that it takes 5 minutes.
While there are many reasons for this and almost all are both benign and can be fixed at the counter in 5-10 minutes at the most, the only way to be assured that there is no ticket issue which will require time to fix is to call.
Put another way, it is much easier to fix anything while you are sitting at home or in the office and can hold on mute and multi-task than it is to go 3 hours early and find out that it takes 5 minutes.
May 17, 2019, 9:09 am
#171
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,907
It does happen even on simple point to point bookings. For me over the last year I'd suspect it's been 5-10% of my sectors.
Most of the time for me it just needed a passport swipe at the airport. Once it was SSSS, flying to JFK. Once it was to be given an "important message" at checkin (which wasn't important!). Only once there was that my ticket hadn't been re-issued when it should have been - and even then it took about 5 minutes at the airport.
By all means call if you think you will get through quickly - but I'm not sure I would call if I had to wait 30 mins for a reply.
<Edit> - as you mentioned Upper Deck, I suspect you're on the BA 48? It's very busy in the premium cabins, with the only remaining available fare buckets being in Economy. All seats are allocated on the UD (including yours, I assume!) and only one seat (1K) is showing as available in F
Most of the time for me it just needed a passport swipe at the airport. Once it was SSSS, flying to JFK. Once it was to be given an "important message" at checkin (which wasn't important!). Only once there was that my ticket hadn't been re-issued when it should have been - and even then it took about 5 minutes at the airport.
By all means call if you think you will get through quickly - but I'm not sure I would call if I had to wait 30 mins for a reply.
<Edit> - as you mentioned Upper Deck, I suspect you're on the BA 48? It's very busy in the premium cabins, with the only remaining available fare buckets being in Economy. All seats are allocated on the UD (including yours, I assume!) and only one seat (1K) is showing as available in F
May 17, 2019, 9:13 am
#172
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
Thanks. That OLCI thread helped. We do fall in the category of “ticketed amended after booking” as I added a flight from LHR to BCN on the same ticket (all booked with Avios). I assumed it was properly ticketed as I was able to choose (and pay for) our seats on the second leg.
When I call (to the USA number) which option do I choose to reach an agent who can actually handle this? I have not had good experiences with the “customer service” line.
When I call (to the USA number) which option do I choose to reach an agent who can actually handle this? I have not had good experiences with the “customer service” line.
May 17, 2019, 9:19 am
#173
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,158
I can't advise which option to choose but do you have ticket numbers showing in the BA App?
If it's showing as -- then looks like it has to be re-issued/revalidated. If the ticket number is there it may also be that as it's under airport control it's not possible to check in temporarily so keep trying.
Your doing the right thing though in confirming things now and I wouldn't imagine it is anything major at all.
Good luck and let us know how things go if possible! ^
If it's showing as -- then looks like it has to be re-issued/revalidated. If the ticket number is there it may also be that as it's under airport control it's not possible to check in temporarily so keep trying.
Your doing the right thing though in confirming things now and I wouldn't imagine it is anything major at all.
Good luck and let us know how things go if possible! ^
May 17, 2019, 9:47 am
#174
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
OK, I called and reached a very helpful gentleman. He said everything is in order with our tickets and Advanced Passenger Information, but there is some kind of security restriction for the on-line check-in for this flight—-for everyone. He suggested trying again 4-5 hours before the flight, so I will do that, and then head to the airport.
May 17, 2019, 11:28 am
#175
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
My last 4 flights with BA I haven't been able to check in online and had message check in at the airport (or similar) and when I got to the airport checked in no problem at all. My theory is because I'm seated in exit row seats and they want to check I'm fit enough to operate the door in the case of an emergency. You state your are on the upper deck are you in an exit row? my next flights are in F so it will be interesting to see if I can check in online (no exit seat)
John
John
May 17, 2019, 12:02 pm
#176
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
Is the exit row 62 or 63?
That may be the answer but I always book the same seats (I am a creature of habit) and have never had trouble checking in online before. They always re-issue the boarding passes at the airport, but we can at least check in.
That may be the answer but I always book the same seats (I am a creature of habit) and have never had trouble checking in online before. They always re-issue the boarding passes at the airport, but we can at least check in.
May 17, 2019, 12:09 pm
#177
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,158
Seats 62 A and K are classed as official exit seats as are 63 B and J.
14F86J30W145Y | The BA Source
May 17, 2019, 12:23 pm
#178
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,937
My last 4 flights with BA I haven't been able to check in online and had message check in at the airport (or similar) and when I got to the airport checked in no problem at all. My theory is because I'm seated in exit row seats and they want to check I'm fit enough to operate the door in the case of an emergency. You state your are on the upper deck are you in an exit row? my next flights are in F so it will be interesting to see if I can check in online (no exit seat)
John
John
I know that for me the reason is that there is a us passport reported lost /stolen that shares a number with my uk passport.
you may have a similar problem
May 17, 2019, 1:50 pm
#179
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
i have a similar problem,i can pick my seats but on line checkin from the uk flags up a problem with my travel docs. I also always get stopped at egates in germany.
I know that for me the reason is that there is a us passport reported lost /stolen that shares a number with my uk passport.
you may have a similar problem
I know that for me the reason is that there is a us passport reported lost /stolen that shares a number with my uk passport.
you may have a similar problem
John
May 17, 2019, 6:54 pm
#180
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
We are now happily ensconced in the lounge awaiting boarding. Check-in was uneventful, and the agent was not surprised that we could not check in online. She did not know the reason, but agreed it could be either (a) the exit row seat for my husband (just turned 75 since our last BA flight 8 months ago) or (b) attributed to a “buggy” website.
Or maybe because the flight was oversold. Sign at check-in said they were offering $800 to people willing to be re-booked on tomorrow’s flight. Apparently Economy pax got this offer in an email. But that wouldn’t apply to Club World, would it? I can’t imagine they would overbook business class.
Or maybe because the flight was oversold. Sign at check-in said they were offering $800 to people willing to be re-booked on tomorrow’s flight. Apparently Economy pax got this offer in an email. But that wouldn’t apply to Club World, would it? I can’t imagine they would overbook business class.