This is NOT a message I want to see when trying to check-in for spring break to Costa Rica. "Your reservation requires special handling. Please proceed to the airport for check-in". Really Frontier?

Even more frustrating is the fact that the Frontier telephone agent couldn't figure it out either. She said the system didn't even flag that I had tried to check-in online. She just kept saying "this is so weird". Wonderful.

MostlyAir... if you or other web developers happen across this message today, the error code at the end of the web address is /Error.aspx?code=2907. The telephone agent said she could see the same code, but had no idea what it referenced and had no one else to call within Frontier to investigate further.

Her advice? Get to the airport 3 hours before departure. Yeah. Right.

I wouldn't be too quick to blame F9.

This is similar to messages observed during OLCI on UA when you are going to be subjected to the Super Secret Security Screening (boarding pass shows SSSS on it once you get it, but you can only get it in person).

I don't know that I'd necessarily allow 3 hours, but I'd certainly add another 30 minutes to your usual for TSA plus whatever extra time that you think that you'll need to acquire your boarding pass at the airport.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

I have also seen similar text for pre merger CO. Sometimes it may bedue to the need to inspect your passport pre check in.

If that's the case, wouldn't they have to inspect everyone's passport and therefore, nobody traveling on an international flight would be able to check-in online?

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess maybe my family and I have a new experience waiting for us in the morning.

Considering Frontier's web-site says our luggage has to be checked in one hour prior to departure, I think your recommendation of an extra 30 minutes makes a lot of sense. I'm just not interested in providing Frontier an extra 120 minutes of my time when they can't even tell me what the original error message means.

SSSS really doesn't require extra time at TSA. At the point of showing a boarding pass to the 'check-in' TSA person you and your carry-ons will go to the front of the line and you will get special screening. At many airports, this will mean you get through TSA faster than others.

Where this takes extra time is 1) you cannot use elite lines 2) you must go to a ticket agent up front to get a boarding pass ( but if you are checking bags anyway this is no extra time ). I wouldn't worry about it to much.

I've had this happen with other carriers. Indeed, you do get a SSSS boarding pass. The agent told me a random number of passengers on any flight are subjected to SSSS.

Although I'm uncertain if this is or was true for all (or even any) airlines, but people have in the past reported not being able to check in when using a new passport and on an international itinerary. The implication was that once the airline has inspected your passport once then for future travel you could check in online with that passport.

Check in was uneventful today to Costa Rica other than the shear mass of people traveling for spring break. The Ascent/Summit lines were longer than I had ever seen them.

When we reached the kiosk to check-in, the system prompted us to see an agent when we entered our reservation code. Seemed like other international flyers were experiencing the same thing around us, which might have had something to do with the super long lines. After showing our passports to the agent, she printed out the boarding passes and we were on our merry way. No special screening was encountered with TSA and we used the premium line like always.

So, the question remains from my OP as I don't have any idea why we couldn't check-in online.

Glad to be here with temps in the mid-90's and relatively low humidity. Spring break is off to a great start.

P.S. No pancakes on the flight today. Was looking forward to trying them.

Apparently due to the International flight. I am guessing they checked your passport.

Don't feel special...lol. I got the same online response when checking-in for non-rev travel on my trip to Costa Rica a few weeks ago. The reservation system required an additional verification of travel documents on day of travel.

+1.

Maybe Frontier should update the error code message to be a little more clear.

Yes IMO they should. Something stating the international flying and it's passport requirements (please verify your expiration date) and minimum bag check all should be reiterated yet again.

Some airlines do offer online check in if passport info is already entered or they offer the ability to enter it.

Though that just mandates another check at the gate to verify the passport info rather than a quick BP scan.

All international passenger manifests have to be sent to APIS after boarding but prior to departure whether travelling from or to the US.

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...quirements.pdf

Received the same message today when trying to check-in for the return flight to DEN. For whatever reason, I don't remember being unable to check-in online for flights to Mexico, but it's been a couple of years since I've been there.