Way back when, perhaps 1990, often you would buy an airline ticket and the boarding passes were attached. If it was a domestic flight and you weren't checking bags, you could go straight to the gate and board without ever seeing an agent.

I guess that stopped when they started asking you those security questions (have your bags been in your control), and when they began to check ID's of all passengers.

This past weekend, I flew AA and used their "web check in". And just like the old days, I went straight to the gate, never seeing an agent. The only difference was that they checked my id when boarding; but, of course, they check everyone's ID when boarding.

So I got to wondering, what's the point of checking in? Why do I have to go through the extra step of logging onto the AA website and clicking the checkin button?

It doesn't tell them I'm at the airport, the way in-person check-in does. Yes, I printed a boarding pass, but they never scanned the bar code at the gate reader, only typed in the seat number. Sure, it serves as a needed document to get thru security, but if that's all, why restrict it to 12 or 24 hours before the flight? Why can't I print whatever is needed when I ticket it?

Just wondering...

[edited for spelling]

[This message has been edited by swag (edited 06-04-2003).]

I think the idea of checking-in is to deal with the possiblility of last-minute flyers.

Lets say an airplane has 100 seats on it. They've assigned 70 of those seats before the day of the flight. But they sold 103 tickets, thinking that there would be three no-shows. However, four people do not show up for their flight. 30 minutes before flight time, 99 people have checked in. That means they can say that at a specific moment in time, they have a single seat available for a last-minute customer and that anyone who has "checked-in" after the cutoff point, even if they have a confirmed reservation, is no longer guaranteed a seat. This make sense?

No, it doesn't work that way. If you haven't checked in before the cut-off time, clearly the gate agents can use your seat if they need it. However, if you have checked in but you aren't in the gate area or on the plane (10? 15?) minutes before departure, and the agent needs your seat, you will still lose your seat.

I have no idea why airlines still require check-in, other than the convenience factor for the gate agents needing seats. Checking in 24 hours or 30 hours prior, anywhere in the world, is about as meaningful as checking in 330 days prior. You still have to be ready to board on time in person, or it's bu-bye seat on an oversold flight.

I have not tried web checkin or kisok because I do mostly intl but what about luggage?

With the one-stop self check in machines, you check your bags with an agent right behind the machines. I think with web check-in, you can check bags at the same place.

Clearly there are some cases where check-in is necessary. I was just wondering about the rest...

I still like the personal touch.

I bank at a very small personal bank where I like to go inside and see the same friendly bank cashiers I have seen since the day the bank first opened.

And, as long as I am in the Bus/1st line, and there is hardly anyone in it, I would prefer to check in my luggage with that person who I feel has more time and can better help me if her screen pops up that I have a problem, rather than the kiosk person who is really there just to take your luggage and that of the person behind you and behind him, ... unless, of course, I can get another round of bonus points for using the kiosk

(1) Back in 1990, you still had to check-in with a live agent at the gate - even with a pre-issued boarding pass - so that the airline did not re-assign your seat.

(2) I assume that the reason for the 12/24 hour boarding pass rule is (a) to preclude issuance of passes to people who change their flight times after they book their trip(less likely as departure time approaches); (b) to permit the TSA carnivore program to scan the passenger list and designate security risks prior to the flight;
(c) to give the airline a more accurate idea of how many people will actually be boarding the plane, since so many of us make itinerary changes. I am not sure if the 12/24 rule really enhances security but it really makes little difference to me so long as i don't have to wait in another line -- and that rarely happens now that atm-style boarding pass machines are available.

You can print your own boarding pass with AA at home