Inclusiveness of Premier Access?
Mar 8, 2017, 9:14 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA
Posts: 605
STL
I don't know if STL is considered an outstation or not. It rarely sees a mainline flight, but it does have a handful of gates and flights to several hubs.
Last time checking in there, they only had a small roped line for a single kiosk for Premier, barely longer than the rug. The remaining 4 or so kiosks had no roped lines at all, just an open free-for-all area. No problem at the time, just a couple of pax there.
Last time checking in there, they only had a small roped line for a single kiosk for Premier, barely longer than the rug. The remaining 4 or so kiosks had no roped lines at all, just an open free-for-all area. No problem at the time, just a couple of pax there.
Mar 8, 2017, 9:33 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
The UA check in process (even for Premiers) for those who don't require any special handling, is to check in at the kiosk, indicate the number of bags checking (and pay any applicable fee) and then the printer will spit out your tag(s) and an agent will stick a Priority tag on it (if applicable) and then verify your ID to the printed tag. Most of the time you start by checking in at the kiosk.
Mar 9, 2017, 7:40 am
#18
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
The UA check in process (even for Premiers) for those who don't require any special handling, is to check in at the kiosk, indicate the number of bags checking (and pay any applicable fee) and then the printer will spit out your tag(s) and an agent will stick a Priority tag on it (if applicable) and then verify your ID to the printed tag. Most of the time you start by checking in at the kiosk.
Mar 9, 2017, 7:40 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 46
It is important to note that just because their bags aren't being tagged as priority, does not necessarily mean they do not have Premier Access benefits. If you purchase Premier Access you're entitled to check in via the Premier line, however your bag will not be tagged as priority.
Mar 9, 2017, 7:58 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, BA, HHonors, Avis
Posts: 192
Is this one of the rarest of things, something that EWR wins at? We get an entire floor for Premier checkin. Same kiosks first approach, but they back onto the luggage belts so a step better than the kettles downstairs.
Mar 9, 2017, 6:02 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
Mar 9, 2017, 6:50 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 107
Mar 9, 2017, 7:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: COS/DEN
Programs: UA 1P (w/ no expectations whatsoever); Marriott Gold; Hilton Silver; Hertz Pres
Posts: 693
Would love to see this enforced and acted upon more. Especially at smaller outstations. Or at least folks standing at the Premier kiosk acknowledged and not ignored for the regular line.
MKE and VPS are my two most recent examples.
MKE and VPS are my two most recent examples.
Mar 9, 2017, 9:51 pm
#25
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 23
The Chase MP Club card gives you Premier Access. Best part was before I had status I'd even get Premier Access if a client paid for the flight.
Dec 26, 2018, 12:28 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
IAD has a separate premier/business/first check in area that is behind the regular check in area, and usually has someone manning the entry point (though I usually just say "business" and they let me by). It is very fast, and a good perk. Interestingly, the GS check in is in the front next to the economy check in. But I rarely see anyone at it as I walk by.
Dec 26, 2018, 12:49 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,752
if their amount of baggage is an actual concern, use an RPU so that they're in F and have legitimate premier access.
Dec 26, 2018, 3:40 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
Dec 26, 2018, 4:24 pm
#30
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
I have been to several small outstations where they have a separate line at check-in, but the agents keep pulling from the regular line and ignore the premier one (really annoying when it's flagged 1K/Polaris, and they are plucking pax after pax from the general line, too).
UA is not alone in having issues with this, of course. I've run into it on LH when they actually switched the desk to general while we were still in the *G/Business line, and wave for pax from the general line to come over. If I hadn't already been in line for 2 hours and resigned myself to being stuck in line hell forever, I would have lost it on that occasion...