Early Gate Control -> IDB?
Apr 1, 2013, 3:32 pm
#31
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"Check-in and baggage check completed: 60 minutes" for international flights.
The OP got there with 6 minutes to spare which obviously wasn't enough. To me this makes whether it's an IDB or not quite dubious. It's interesting the OP was able to get a mobile BP, because that would mean he was already checked in for the flight and probably could have traveled. It's not likely the OP's seat had been given away if he had a seat assignment..only the friend's. It's also possible the OP was able to check in because his passport info was already stored with UA from a previous trip.
Apr 1, 2013, 4:29 pm
#32
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Ottawa is a preclearance airport. I cannot imagine that T-60 is practical for U.S. bound flights. Does Ottawa still require U.S. bound pax to hand carry checked bags through U.S. customs and then bag drop, or is it like Vancouver and Dublin where the bags are checked at the airline check-in counter? If the former, there is simply no way T-60 is workable. I always allow 3 hours at preclearance airports.
Apr 1, 2013, 8:36 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
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Ottawa is a preclearance airport. I cannot imagine that T-60 is practical for U.S. bound flights. Does Ottawa still require U.S. bound pax to hand carry checked bags through U.S. customs and then bag drop, or is it like Vancouver and Dublin where the bags are checked at the airline check-in counter? If the former, there is simply no way T-60 is workable. I always allow 3 hours at preclearance airports.
Apr 2, 2013, 12:24 pm
#34
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Ottawa is a preclearance airport. I cannot imagine that T-60 is practical for U.S. bound flights. Does Ottawa still require U.S. bound pax to hand carry checked bags through U.S. customs and then bag drop, or is it like Vancouver and Dublin where the bags are checked at the airline check-in counter? If the former, there is simply no way T-60 is workable. I always allow 3 hours at preclearance airports.
I've once gone from the east end of Ottawa to Gate is less than 30 minutes, including a 20m drive.
In terms of the SFO story, which started this thread, I don't agree with Often1 and the others that say this is NOT IDB. Clearly, the OP stated that an agent saw him/her arrive prior to the cutoff and thus, received an apology from the UA supervisor and a voucher. Therefore, I consider this to be an admission of IDB. United can clearly see that passengers were accommodated prior to the 60-minute cutoff (since the OP and the friend's seats were given away when they arrived), so it's obvious they jumped the gun. Now, whether accepting the $200 vouchers means they won't get anything else is another matter.
In terms of the Ottawa story, there things get tricky. No one saw the passenger arrive (or probably wouldn't admit to it) and when he/she was processed, it was beyond the cutoff point, so out of luck. The fact that the flight was closed at 6:35, which is after the poster admittedly made it to check-in area really means nothing as if it was after the cutoff point, the agents are not required to do anything. By denying boarding and adding 2 more displaced AC passengers resulting in an oversold situation by 1, United clearly showed they considered this late arrival. However, they did re-route to YYZ and promised a hotel, so I'm not sure any further compensation is warranted but I would give it a shot.
I have been in this situation many times over the past 6 months. As a non-US citizen (EU citizen), I always get the "This is Not a Boarding Pass" PDF in my e-mail. And even though I've gone through the Check In steps, I still see the Check In option on my reservation in the United app. Also, I didn't appear on the Upgrade list. Thus, I never thought this PDF meant I checked in. Unless I get an actual boarding pass, I won't consider myself checked in. And since I always check luggage when I fly to Europe, I try to get at the airport around hour-and-a-half before the flight despite having access to the much faster Premier line. I really hate this about United's OLCI because no other airline does that. I've flown LH, BA, US, etc. and I've always gotten a BP after going through OLCI. As a Premier Gold, I have my passport added to MP and it's valid until 2015 and thus far, it has been verified by United 4 times over the past year. What more could they possibly want? Unfortunately, this is the way their process works, so we have to work with it. Luckily, since I get lounge access, I can justify getting to the airport earlier and using it until boarding starts. In the past, when I didn't have status, I would always try to get to the airport as late as possible as I hated hanging out in the gate area.
Good Luck to both in getting everything resolved!
In terms of the Ottawa story, there things get tricky. No one saw the passenger arrive (or probably wouldn't admit to it) and when he/she was processed, it was beyond the cutoff point, so out of luck. The fact that the flight was closed at 6:35, which is after the poster admittedly made it to check-in area really means nothing as if it was after the cutoff point, the agents are not required to do anything. By denying boarding and adding 2 more displaced AC passengers resulting in an oversold situation by 1, United clearly showed they considered this late arrival. However, they did re-route to YYZ and promised a hotel, so I'm not sure any further compensation is warranted but I would give it a shot.
I have been in this situation many times over the past 6 months. As a non-US citizen (EU citizen), I always get the "This is Not a Boarding Pass" PDF in my e-mail. And even though I've gone through the Check In steps, I still see the Check In option on my reservation in the United app. Also, I didn't appear on the Upgrade list. Thus, I never thought this PDF meant I checked in. Unless I get an actual boarding pass, I won't consider myself checked in. And since I always check luggage when I fly to Europe, I try to get at the airport around hour-and-a-half before the flight despite having access to the much faster Premier line. I really hate this about United's OLCI because no other airline does that. I've flown LH, BA, US, etc. and I've always gotten a BP after going through OLCI. As a Premier Gold, I have my passport added to MP and it's valid until 2015 and thus far, it has been verified by United 4 times over the past year. What more could they possibly want? Unfortunately, this is the way their process works, so we have to work with it. Luckily, since I get lounge access, I can justify getting to the airport earlier and using it until boarding starts. In the past, when I didn't have status, I would always try to get to the airport as late as possible as I hated hanging out in the gate area.
Good Luck to both in getting everything resolved!
Last edited by iluv2fly; Apr 2, 2013 at 12:33 pm Reason: merge
Apr 2, 2013, 2:37 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,187
+1 I do not understand those that do not arrive early. Airports are cool places to be. I even arrive early at very small airports such as ITH. Have been doing so for decades, even during those weeks where every day is flight day.
Apr 2, 2013, 3:13 pm
#36
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Not everyone has the time/ability to arrive super early...
Last edited by weirdlyndon; Apr 2, 2013 at 3:13 pm Reason: add