OnLine Check-In--What's the Point?
Oct 1, 2007, 9:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: VPS
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OnLine Check-In--What's the Point?
If a pax has bags to check, is there any point in OLCI? I don't see one. If I am traveling light, I will use OLCI, but with bags to check, I just wait until I arrive at the airport.
Does anyone know of a benefit to OLCI when you have bags to check?
Does anyone know of a benefit to OLCI when you have bags to check?
Oct 1, 2007, 9:32 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Programs: AA,HP,MP,DL,SPG, MR
Posts: 2,092
I had the same thought in my mind. I am flying AA tomorrow morning, but realized I am checking luggage so why bother?????
Oct 1, 2007, 9:35 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Florida
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 117
As far as I can tell, the primary purpose of online checkin is to shift the burden of paying for all that ink & paper from the airline to the passengers...
Oct 1, 2007, 9:38 am
#4
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At some airports, DL has a dedicated agent for checking baggage for OLCI pax. Sometimes, that may be more expeditious than checking in at the airport. Less likely if you're a Medallion, though.
Oct 1, 2007, 9:42 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
Programs: DL 2MM DM & My Wife is a DL 3MM DM
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My wife and I just like being "in the system" as having checked in. I don't see any great advantage, but not really any downside either. I'd be on delta.com the day before anyway (actually I'm on most days, but that's another story) so checking in takes virtually no effort at all.
so checking in takes virtually no effort at all.
Oct 1, 2007, 9:42 am
#6
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I was always wondering the same thing. With luggage there doesn't seem to be much of a point (unless, for some reason, I was never given an assigned seat, which happens occasionally). And honestly, I hate having BP's printed on plain old computer paper - there's just something about having the BP's printed on that traditional boarding pass paper.
I use OLCI only if I know I will be rushing to the airport, and will have less time to go through the formailities there. I will definitely not use OLCI when going internationally - much easier to have my passport scanned at the Kiosk (at least UA, where I do most of my travel does this), rather than have to type it in on my computer.
I use OLCI only if I know I will be rushing to the airport, and will have less time to go through the formailities there. I will definitely not use OLCI when going internationally - much easier to have my passport scanned at the Kiosk (at least UA, where I do most of my travel does this), rather than have to type it in on my computer.
Oct 1, 2007, 10:39 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: CVG
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 276
Actually, there is new technology that will be coming out to assist with OLCI. At CVG, where the kiosk check in is, you will see silver "arms" coming out of the counter where we take your bags. These are not hooked up yet..but will be soon. When you check in online, it will ask you how many bags you want
to check. Then when you arrive at the airport, just walk up to the agent, bypassing the kiosks, and use that "arm" to scan your boarding pass. Your bag tag will print right out for you.
Unfortunately, it just took some time to get moving on this techonology. My guess is, they were waiting for us to come out of bankruptcy before implenting anything new.
I'm not sure what cities will have this available. But we're pretty excited here.
to check. Then when you arrive at the airport, just walk up to the agent, bypassing the kiosks, and use that "arm" to scan your boarding pass. Your bag tag will print right out for you.
Unfortunately, it just took some time to get moving on this techonology. My guess is, they were waiting for us to come out of bankruptcy before implenting anything new.
I'm not sure what cities will have this available. But we're pretty excited here.
Oct 1, 2007, 10:46 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
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One advantage I can see... if you're at the airport after the check-in cut-off time, and you OLCI'ed you can still make the flight.
Oct 1, 2007, 11:25 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
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Actually, there is new technology that will be coming out to assist with OLCI. At CVG, where the kiosk check in is, you will see silver "arms" coming out of the counter where we take your bags. These are not hooked up yet..but will be soon. When you check in online, it will ask you how many bags you want
to check. Then when you arrive at the airport, just walk up to the agent, bypassing the kiosks, and use that "arm" to scan your boarding pass. Your bag tag will print right out for you.
Unfortunately, it just took some time to get moving on this techonology. My guess is, they were waiting for us to come out of bankruptcy before implenting anything new.
I'm not sure what cities will have this available. But we're pretty excited here.
to check. Then when you arrive at the airport, just walk up to the agent, bypassing the kiosks, and use that "arm" to scan your boarding pass. Your bag tag will print right out for you.
Unfortunately, it just took some time to get moving on this techonology. My guess is, they were waiting for us to come out of bankruptcy before implenting anything new.
I'm not sure what cities will have this available. But we're pretty excited here.
), Alaska and BA come to mind.Update: I see DL has added some mainline service back into MKE.^
Last edited by atl runner; Oct 1, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Oct 1, 2007, 11:50 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Posts: 914
I was always wondering the same thing. With luggage there doesn't seem to be much of a point (unless, for some reason, I was never given an assigned seat, which happens occasionally). And honestly, I hate having BP's printed on plain old computer paper - there's just something about having the BP's printed on that traditional boarding pass paper.
Oct 1, 2007, 11:53 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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On their end, if you had to stand in line to do this previously, then it will free up an agent to assist customers in other ways. On our end, if you're running tight on time, it's one less thing to do at the airport.
Since it also doubles as a confirmation that you intend to fly, perhaps the airlines use this as a means to determine how many seats will be available to re-sell or use as upgrades...
Since it also doubles as a confirmation that you intend to fly, perhaps the airlines use this as a means to determine how many seats will be available to re-sell or use as upgrades...
Oct 1, 2007, 1:08 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Right here
Posts: 2,940
Even if you've OLCId, you can get BPs printed at the airport. By default, the kiosks will ask if you want duplicate BPs printed, all you have to do is pick 'yes'. If checking in with an agent, just say you couldn't get them to print, and they'll issue new ones.
Oct 1, 2007, 1:15 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,739
Absolutely! Also if there were crowds such that you would miss the bag check deadline, you might use the BP to go directly through security and deal with gate checking there.
Oct 1, 2007, 1:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
Programs: DL 2MM DM & My Wife is a DL 3MM DM
Posts: 2,784
Actually, there are times where we'll do OLCI, but don't have printer access, so we would have to get the BPs at the airport anyway. If dealing with an agent or sky cap, they usually just give you a new one anyway. And, as you say, you can request one from a kiosk or CRC.
