There are three ways to check-in for a flight (that I know of) - 1) see CO agent; 2) use the kiosk machine or 3) on-line at co.com. #1 and #2 get you CO paper stock, and #3 you get from your printer or fax.

When boarding the plane, the gate agent either runs the Bording Pass from method #1 or #2 through a machine or scans #3. Sometimes they manually enter at their terminal some information, which I thought was the check-in sequence number, or rip off the top half of the printed BP generated through #3.

Today, I gave the gate agent my BP done by #3. She looked at it and said "OK" without scanning or any type of manual entry. I asked will I still get segment credit and she said "Yes". This is the first time an agent did not record the BP somewhere.

The question is how in the heck do they actually know I boarded the plane? Will I get segment credit automatically?

I think I've often seen CO GAs keeping track of seat numbers and entering boarding information in that way. If the GA saw your seat number and let you board, all (s)he'd have to do is go punch it in to the computer and you'd be all set. It's easy enough to remember a seat that (s)he wouldn't have to type it in immediately and still be able to do it accurately a few minutes later. It definitely has to be entered into the computer some way and I think this is the easiest "manual" way to do it. I believe I've seen it done this way for BPs that the machine refuses to read as well.

She definately looked at it but they did not record it. This segment happened to be the last for this year and the one I need for Plat!

I've had two G/A's doing the boarding. One checking boarding passes and saying the sequence number to the other at the computer. Never missed a credited segment.

I've seen the GA (one and only one, the other was out of earshot) look at my BP and then check my name off on a list that she had printed out and that was sitting on her kiosk.

1 Keep the BP, just in case.

2 I've seen GA's entering this data long after passengers boarded.

Unless the GA checks off your name - you are not going to show up on the flight. Usually if the GA's are not logging you in as you board, they will tear off the top part of the co.com printed sheet. They have got to record it some way, check you off, etc.

The only other option would be to compare the number of people who have checked in and count the number of people on the aircraft and if the two agree - then they say everyone is on board. I suspect the FA - in your case - likely saw your sequence # and keyed it in right after you walked on board. Many times the computer printer boarding passes do not read very well - they are not scaled the same as the kiosk printed pass.

A situation I observed at SAN a few weeks ago, was that as FC boarding was announced - a woman just walked on board - not through the elite access line and the GA did not see her - since she was collecting Elite access boarding passes.. She (a Spanish speaking woman - who spoke English) was seated one row behind me in F - so I mentioned as I was ready to sit down, that she should let the FA know that she is on board. Otherwise her seat may be given up. She let the FA know, but apparently he did not do anything about it - just told her - it was OK. With the flight running late - because of the usual delayed boarding at SAN (eventhough the inbound was there with plenty of time) - already 15 minutes pass departure time - an announcement was made if the following 5 passengers were on board and they came around and checked. Sure enough - this woman - was not logged as being on the flight - since she just walked on (great security at SAN). Again all this delayed the flight even more.

I was waiting for them to do an onboard count but they did not (flight was only about 3/4 full). Also, after gate agent looked at my BP she seemed to move right on to the next person. I guess I'm paranoid I have ticket number and actual BP if I don't get mileage/segment credit automatically.

OK.....segment just posted.... made Platinum...2005 Elite Mileage: 40,942 ....
2005 Elite Points: 90......case closed.....Happy Holidays to all