MSP Special Check In Area
 

Several years ago I found myself working for a large MN company. As such we has special privilages to a private check out room located near the first class check in. You go through a rather generic looking door and you find yourself a kind of lounge area with a check in counter. Usually there was no wait, you walked right up. If there was a wait, they had couches to sit on. I didn't have elite when I first started using it. I just flashed a company ID.

As I'm traveling more now I'm wondering if this is a bennie for any of the elite's?

I can't think of where such a room might exist at MSP anymore, but I'm not discounting your experiences. I would think I'd have come across something like this by now, but haven't. It could have been eliminated or moved in the last round of renovations. The best we've got is the Gold/Plat elite lines. There are several places at MSP that have MSP staffed counters, one of which is directly across the departures level drop-off (upper level) in the parking ramp complex. Hardly anyone ever uses it, but they have an agent there and full luggage check-in. Obviously it was designed for people that park in the ramps so they don't have to tote their luggage all the way across the skyway or under the roadway below, but people can just as easily be dropped-off there instead of the typical place across the street and check in. Also, MSP has NW e-kiosks in so many places before security, if you're not checking luggage, there should be no excuse for waiting in line to use a kiosk. ;)

This room is still there, but I have no idea who and what it is for. I just was in there a few weeks ago (I wasn't checking in...;) )

Where exactly is it? Which checkpoint? Snap a picture for me because, for the life of me, I can't picture it.

I have seen it before as well and know someone who used it a couple of years ago. I would have to look closely to even find it again. You would think at first that it is just a door to another office behind the check in counters. I will try to look when I am through MSP later this month.

Okay, it is down at the far end of the NW check in area, the last set of frosted doors, I will try to get a picture today and report back.

If you don't have luggage to check, why not just check in on-line -- that way you can go straight to security.

If you've got a lot of luggage, I suggest checking it at the new counter in the "tunnel" (it's near where the rental car counters used to be) or in the parking ramp. (When I'm staying in MSP I either pick up a rental car, or if I just need to be downtown take the light rail).

Bob H

Perhaps the room is now further evidence of the 2% club? ;)

The room holds the Corporate Services Desk, which is a benefit to certain companies that NW has an agreement with (3M, Medtronic, and Wells Fargo come to mind in MSP). Actually, I didn't know it still existed either but there was/is a similar one in DTW.

The 2% room is not to be mentioned.....ever.

;)

I'm not sure what advantages the desk gives you after the remodel and security changes. Maybe they can flag you for special treatment through security. Not sure. At the time I had access to the room basically let you bypass any kind of line there might been at check in. We were told to always check in there because they could "make things happen" if there was even an issue. I'm pretty sure the company I was working for had a Preferred Carrier Agreement and the room was many of the perks, and exceptions granted.

I work for the same 'large MN company', and though I've been told about this secret place, I've never used it.

As a non-elite, I could maybe see why it would be helpful, but as an elite and WC member, I've never felt a reason to take advantage of it.

Maybe I should check it out one of these days just to see what's up.

TD

Whenever I have been down there in the "tunnel" as you call it, it was fairly hectic at the check in lines there. I would much prefer to check in where the hotel shuttles drop you off, across the street from the departure level in the parking ramp complex, as SchmutzigMSP mentioned earlier.

I work for a large Minnesota company as well and use the PAF(Preferred Accounts Facility) room everytime I'm in MSP.

It is quiet, and I have never been worse than 2nd in line. It is almost impossible to find unless you know exactly where you are going.

These is one in DTW as well, but I've never originated out of there.

It was a lot more useful before the days of online checkin and before they had the manned bagdrop area for kiosks, as even elite lines could get long at MSP. And you always ran into someone you knew in line...I think my handle gives away the company I worked for.

Those were the days when I was silver elite, and batting nearly the same upgrade percentage as I do as a plat today. Near 90% in both cases....but a lot more flying to get it now. :confused: