"This is not a Boarding Pass" - What is required for international online checkin?
Oct 23, 2013, 3:13 am
#241
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Alas pre-check does not seem to obviate SSSS. I've gotten in twice leaving YYZ, using the trusted traveler GE/Nexus machines, then getting the thorough patdown.
And, of course it goes without saying, if you have SSSS you'll find no point in going to the pre-check line.
And, of course it goes without saying, if you have SSSS you'll find no point in going to the pre-check line.
Oct 23, 2013, 3:30 am
#242
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
UA's doing this thing is rather ridiculous.
I infrequently fly VS, but I have no problem doing PYOB on a computer when flying VS from IAD-LHR on a DL ticket and having what looks like a 10-month visit to the UK. Nor do I hit a UA type stumbling block when flying on one-way VS tickers from LHR to the US. This all as a US citizen traveling only on US passports without ILR/visas for stays in the UK longer than 6 months.
I infrequently fly VS, but I have no problem doing PYOB on a computer when flying VS from IAD-LHR on a DL ticket and having what looks like a 10-month visit to the UK. Nor do I hit a UA type stumbling block when flying on one-way VS tickers from LHR to the US. This all as a US citizen traveling only on US passports without ILR/visas for stays in the UK longer than 6 months.
Oct 23, 2013, 12:34 pm
#243
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL & EWR
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA Plat/2MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 34
Annoying, have this problem today in NRT for flight tomorrow. The two funny things are 1) I just flew outbound to NRT 5 days ago so they have my doc. 2). 1K desk can't tell me why I can't get a BP. You'd think if they needed docs the 1K desk could see that and say "they need to see your docs"
My boarding pass at the counter printed the dreaded SSSS, and bag tag (since I was already at the counter) printed PPBM (positive passenger bag match). Which btw i thought all international flights required PPBM for everyone, but that's a different thread perhaps.
The funny thing is:
1) counter agent still couldn't explain why I could not do OLCI, even with PPBM and SSSS appearing.
2) *Never* had to show my passport to *any* UA personnel, including counter person who took my bag. Didn't have to scan it.
3) No difference in main NRT security line, went right through with absolustely no hassles.
4) Club agent couldn't explain why I could not do OLCI
5) The ONLY place SSSS had any impact was at boarding. After scanning BP, there is another security person who directed me off to the side. All they did was the swab test of hands, shoes, and bag. 45 seconds total.
Pretty non-eventful. I suggested to UA that they should at least return a reason if OLCI is not available. And don't send me reminder emails that OLCI is available, if you know I am not able to.
Ah well, done ranting. Sorry.
Oct 23, 2013, 2:35 pm
#244
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Alas pre-check does not seem to obviate SSSS. I've gotten in twice leaving YYZ, using the trusted traveler GE/Nexus machines, then getting the thorough patdown.
And, of course it goes without saying, if you have SSSS you'll find no point in going to the pre-check line.
And, of course it goes without saying, if you have SSSS you'll find no point in going to the pre-check line.
Just an update on what finally happened at NRT.... I never was able to complete OLCI (though I did appear on the upgrade list and did get the upgrade, ahead of reaching the airport).
My boarding pass at the counter printed the dreaded SSSS, and bag tag (since I was already at the counter) printed PPBM (positive passenger bag match). Which btw i thought all international flights required PPBM for everyone, but that's a different thread perhaps.
The funny thing is:
1) counter agent still couldn't explain why I could not do OLCI, even with PPBM and SSSS appearing.
2) *Never* had to show my passport to *any* UA personnel, including counter person who took my bag. Didn't have to scan it.
3) No difference in main NRT security line, went right through with absolustely no hassles.
4) Club agent couldn't explain why I could not do OLCI
5) The ONLY place SSSS had any impact was at boarding. After scanning BP, there is another security person who directed me off to the side. All they did was the swab test of hands, shoes, and bag. 45 seconds total.
Pretty non-eventful. I suggested to UA that they should at least return a reason if OLCI is not available. And don't send me reminder emails that OLCI is available, if you know I am not able to.
Ah well, done ranting. Sorry.
My boarding pass at the counter printed the dreaded SSSS, and bag tag (since I was already at the counter) printed PPBM (positive passenger bag match). Which btw i thought all international flights required PPBM for everyone, but that's a different thread perhaps.
The funny thing is:
1) counter agent still couldn't explain why I could not do OLCI, even with PPBM and SSSS appearing.
2) *Never* had to show my passport to *any* UA personnel, including counter person who took my bag. Didn't have to scan it.
3) No difference in main NRT security line, went right through with absolustely no hassles.
4) Club agent couldn't explain why I could not do OLCI
5) The ONLY place SSSS had any impact was at boarding. After scanning BP, there is another security person who directed me off to the side. All they did was the swab test of hands, shoes, and bag. 45 seconds total.
Pretty non-eventful. I suggested to UA that they should at least return a reason if OLCI is not available. And don't send me reminder emails that OLCI is available, if you know I am not able to.
Ah well, done ranting. Sorry.
Oct 23, 2013, 4:11 pm
#245
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,373
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.3; en-us; Galaxy Nexus Build/JWR66Y) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)
Hasn't it always been true that you can't OLCI with SSSS? I think the concern is that it would be too easy to Photoshop the SSSS out...
Hasn't it always been true that you can't OLCI with SSSS? I think the concern is that it would be too easy to Photoshop the SSSS out...
Oct 23, 2013, 4:59 pm
#246
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The TSA became aware of photoshopping out the SSSS quite some time after SSSS was already being photoshopped out or names were photoshopped on non-SSSS boarding passes. TSA at its usual.
Oct 23, 2013, 5:13 pm
#247
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
Small data point: I just did OLCI for SAT-SFO-NRT tomorrow and it went through just fine even though I haven't flown internationally with UA since 9/2012.
I do have my TTN number from GE in my profile though, not sure if that might have something to do with it.
I do have my TTN number from GE in my profile though, not sure if that might have something to do with it.
Oct 23, 2013, 5:20 pm
#248
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
It seems to work ok LEAVING USA but not when coming back to the USA (from Asia).
Oct 23, 2013, 8:53 pm
#249
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Aha...I didn't know what PPBM was...I got that along with SSSS last time. I was surprised to find that on a YYZ-DEN-NRT itinerary, my checked bag was opened and searched by the TSA in DEN. You would think they would trust CATSA (the Canadian TSA), since they're definitely more professional.
Last edited by astroflyer; Oct 23, 2013 at 8:54 pm Reason: fixed quote tags
Oct 23, 2013, 10:49 pm
#250
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,373
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.3; en-us; Galaxy Nexus Build/JWR66Y) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)
It's mostly been true that you can't OLCI when SSSSed, but none of my situations of OLCI failing with CO/COdbaUA have anything to do with being selected for haraSSSSment.
The TSA became aware of photoshopping out the SSSS quite some time after SSSS was already being photoshopped out or names were photoshopped on non-SSSS boarding passes. TSA at its usual.
Really? I can't be sure for absolutely every.airline, but I'm pretty sure SSSS has always resulted in OLCI locked out in every situation I've seen. I don't think there has been at any point any airline that will issue an SSSS boarding pass online (maybe that's even in the rules, that an agent has to check ID in person or something?)
Photoshopping names is obviously a different and well-known issue (http://www.dubfire.net/boarding_pass/)...
I do believe the most direct answer to phl_flyer's question as to why they were unable to check in is that they were (for whatever silly reason) an SSSS selectee, and you can't check in online when you have been flagged for secondary.
Originally Posted by GUWonder
The TSA became aware of photoshopping out the SSSS quite some time after SSSS was already being photoshopped out or names were photoshopped on non-SSSS boarding passes. TSA at its usual.
Photoshopping names is obviously a different and well-known issue (http://www.dubfire.net/boarding_pass/)...
I do believe the most direct answer to phl_flyer's question as to why they were unable to check in is that they were (for whatever silly reason) an SSSS selectee, and you can't check in online when you have been flagged for secondary.
Dec 13, 2013, 10:53 am
#251
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I have a trip next year that is BUR-SFO-JFK // EWR-YUL (separate reservations). I'll have about seven hours in NY during the interstitial period, and I'd like to spend as much of that in the city as possible. Trouble is that by that time I'll have a new passport that UA has never seen before, and I'm worried that I'm gonna get the dreaded "NOT A BOARDING PASS" and have to head to EWR obnoxiously early (read: arriving, god forbid, before my flight is actually boarding). My question is: if I am unable to check in online, will a kiosk or agent at BUR, SFO, or JFK be able to check me in for the EWR-YUL reservation?
Dec 13, 2013, 11:22 am
#252
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
I have a trip next year that is BUR-SFO-JFK // EWR-YUL (separate reservations). I'll have about seven hours in NY during the interstitial period, and I'd like to spend as much of that in the city as possible. Trouble is that by that time I'll have a new passport that UA has never seen before, and I'm worried that I'm gonna get the dreaded "NOT A BOARDING PASS" and have to head to EWR obnoxiously early (read: arriving, god forbid, before my flight is actually boarding). My question is: if I am unable to check in online, will a kiosk or agent at BUR, SFO, or JFK be able to check me in for the EWR-YUL reservation?
Maybe they were right, maybe they were just being lazy and said that.
Dec 26, 2013, 8:50 pm
#253
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,606
Flying MCI-KWI tomorrow and I am unable to complete OLCI/iPhone check-in. I figured this was because of it being intl, and needing a visa (or VoA in my case), so I grabbed the BPs when I flew out of DEN earlier this evening.
Just tried to do OLCI and still receive the message about needing to check-in at the airport. Shouldn't the agent verification of the passport have allowed me to OLCI? If not, I'm guessing I will never be able to OLCI?
Just tried to do OLCI and still receive the message about needing to check-in at the airport. Shouldn't the agent verification of the passport have allowed me to OLCI? If not, I'm guessing I will never be able to OLCI?
Jan 4, 2014, 8:14 am
#254
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: UA 1/MM SPG gold, CEO: Grandmother of 4
Posts: 557
OLCI QUESTION
When I do OLCI, I am always asked if I wanted auto-check in for return flight ........any
advantage or disadvantage? Thanks, Ms. Steppie
When I do OLCI, I am always asked if I wanted auto-check in for return flight ........any
advantage or disadvantage? Thanks, Ms. Steppie
Last edited by steppie; Jan 4, 2014 at 8:30 am Reason: wrong place for post......talking about domestic ,sorry
Jan 4, 2014, 10:36 am
#255
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
Once checked-in some travel changes are hardier to make. So if considering return changes you may not want auto-check in.