Automated Check In Question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: Miles & More / Virgin Velocity-Gold
Posts: 392
Automated Check In Question
I have an itinerary business class SYD-LAX (United) LAX - ZRH--BUD (Swiss) BUD - ZRH-HKG (Swiss) HKG-SYD (Cathay Pacific)
In my profile (Swiss) it shows Automated check in for all segments except SYD-LAX
What I do not understand is that I normally check in over the counter,I do not want boarding passes emailed to me and I cannot edit the automated check in option to turn it off.
Will I be able to check in at LAX for the - LAX - ZRH--BUD segment and receive my boarding passes as I usually do?
Same as on the return leg from BUD-ZRH-HKG-SYD can I not check in at BUD & receive the boarding passes over the counter.
In my profile (Swiss) it shows Automated check in for all segments except SYD-LAX
What I do not understand is that I normally check in over the counter,I do not want boarding passes emailed to me and I cannot edit the automated check in option to turn it off.
Will I be able to check in at LAX for the - LAX - ZRH--BUD segment and receive my boarding passes as I usually do?
Same as on the return leg from BUD-ZRH-HKG-SYD can I not check in at BUD & receive the boarding passes over the counter.
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
You can alsways checkin at the counter. The automated checkin is primarily meant for regional flights in Europe, not for longhaul.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: LH, BA
Posts: 93
What's the reason for this automated check-in we now see at LX and LH. Why is it so important for them to have everybody checked-in. Assuming some people decide last-minute not to fly on nonrefundable tickets, they wouldn't check-in.
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
I've had the automated checkin working on mid/long-haul flights too..
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: CPH
Posts: 106
For me it seems the that one of the major points of the automated check-in is to make people pay for seat reservations (if not included in the booking). My experience is that even if I manually do the check-in within the first minute a Swiss flight opens for check in - the major part of the seat is assigned already, meaning you have much fewer (if any) options to change your seat to one you prefer, meaning I am more tempted to book a seat reservation for a Swiss flight with automatic check-in than for a Lufthansa/Austrian flight without, because I know I can get a good seat there without a reservation.
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
For me it seems the that one of the major points of the automated check-in is to make people pay for seat reservations (if not included in the booking). My experience is that even if I manually do the check-in within the first minute a Swiss flight opens for check in - the major part of the seat is assigned already, meaning you have much fewer (if any) options to change your seat to one you prefer, meaning I am more tempted to book a seat reservation for a Swiss flight with automatic check-in than for a Lufthansa/Austrian flight without, because I know I can get a good seat there without a reservation.
Well, I don't complain about it, since for the time being, as SEN, the system is mostly beneficial to me. More op-up's are never something I'd mind (and apparently, not much people do their "bidding" which is their weapon of choice against overbookings..)
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ZRH, Switzerland
Programs: M&M, Fan of MO, Shangri-La.
Posts: 687
I wonder how they do it for overbooked flights.
Do all reservations qualify for automated check-in, or are some reservations excluded from it? - Those would then likely be at a higher risk of denied boarding (assuming the "volunteers game" is not perfect).
All right. so that might create an incentive to use a booking channel which qualifies for automated checkin.
If all reservations qualify for automated check-in, and if this works 100%, then how and especially when do they figure out the no shows?
It could only be in the last minute before they close the gate door that they could find out who's not taking the flight and then release that seat to someone else.
Doesn't appear to add much value to me, rather the contrary.
Do all reservations qualify for automated check-in, or are some reservations excluded from it? - Those would then likely be at a higher risk of denied boarding (assuming the "volunteers game" is not perfect).
All right. so that might create an incentive to use a booking channel which qualifies for automated checkin.
If all reservations qualify for automated check-in, and if this works 100%, then how and especially when do they figure out the no shows?
It could only be in the last minute before they close the gate door that they could find out who's not taking the flight and then release that seat to someone else.
Doesn't appear to add much value to me, rather the contrary.
#9
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
Considering they won't get your email address (or actually anything but your name..) when you book via a (O)TA, I think those channels can't really be properly checked in automatically.
Anyway, LH pushed the "electronic" Rimowa's quite hard, just to retire that kind of service pretty fast. Guess the airlines really like to play with new technologies and attempts..
Nothing beats a proper paper boarding pass, especially if you need some retro credits
Anyway, LH pushed the "electronic" Rimowa's quite hard, just to retire that kind of service pretty fast. Guess the airlines really like to play with new technologies and attempts..
Nothing beats a proper paper boarding pass, especially if you need some retro credits
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Programs: LH HON, SQ QPPS, QR Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 228
#11
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
For me it seems the that one of the major points of the automated check-in is to make people pay for seat reservations (if not included in the booking). My experience is that even if I manually do the check-in within the first minute a Swiss flight opens for check in - the major part of the seat is assigned already, meaning you have much fewer (if any) options to change your seat to one you prefer, meaning I am more tempted to book a seat reservation for a Swiss flight with automatic check-in than for a Lufthansa/Austrian flight without, because I know I can get a good seat there without a reservation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47N5...ature=youtu.be
#12
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: CPH
Posts: 106
Your seat is assigned using theoretical seating anyway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47N5...ature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47N5...ature=youtu.be
It actually also explains my point when it talks about Ms Smith at minute 1:42. Even though she automatically gets assigned a seat 27C, she can still change it to 29A, which is a a seat pre-assigned via theoretical seating to another passenger. With the Swiss automatic check-in all the seats get actually assigned, meaning 29A would not be available anymore, meaning that Ms Smith can only change her seat to one that has not been automatically assigned due to the check-in.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Is OP flying SYD-BUD with connections at LAX & ZRH or is he flying SYD-LAX and then stopping over at LAX and/or ZRH? If the former, UA should hand him BP's for both LAX-ZRH and ZRH-BUD at SYD and should check any bag he may have through to BUD (although he will nonetheless have to reclaim the bag at LAX and then drop it post-Customs).
If OP does receive e-BP's and doesn't want them, he may disregard them. Any agent of his relevant onward carrier can print paper copies for him.
If OP does receive e-BP's and doesn't want them, he may disregard them. Any agent of his relevant onward carrier can print paper copies for him.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: Miles & More / Virgin Velocity-Gold
Posts: 392
Is OP flying SYD-BUD with connections at LAX & ZRH or is he flying SYD-LAX and then stopping over at LAX and/or ZRH? If the former, UA should hand him BP's for both LAX-ZRH and ZRH-BUD at SYD and should check any bag he may have through to BUD (although he will nonetheless have to reclaim the bag at LAX and then drop it post-Customs).
If OP does receive e-BP's and doesn't want them, he may disregard them. Any agent of his relevant onward carrier can print paper copies for him.
If OP does receive e-BP's and doesn't want them, he may disregard them. Any agent of his relevant onward carrier can print paper copies for him.