Premier Checkin - who can use?
Aug 11, 2018, 10:33 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA
Posts: 19
Premier Checkin - who can use?
I'm sure this is a dumb question, but I have gotten told conflicting information on this so from airport personal so I'm looking for the final word and a link to where this is explicitly stated online.
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas? I am only UA Silver but I also have the MileagePlus Explorer. All of my boarding passes for years have said Premier Access which I assume means I can use the Premier Access security lane, but I've never tried since I have GlobalEntry.
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas? I am only UA Silver but I also have the MileagePlus Explorer. All of my boarding passes for years have said Premier Access which I assume means I can use the Premier Access security lane, but I've never tried since I have GlobalEntry.
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Aug 11, 2018, 10:56 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
I'm sure this is a dumb question, but I have gotten told conflicting information on this so from airport personal so I'm looking for the final word and a link to where this is explicitly stated online.
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas? I am only UA Silver but I also have the MileagePlus Explorer. All of my boarding passes for years have said Premier Access which I assume means I can use the Premier Access security lane, but I've never tried since I have GlobalEntry.
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas? I am only UA Silver but I also have the MileagePlus Explorer. All of my boarding passes for years have said Premier Access which I assume means I can use the Premier Access security lane, but I've never tried since I have GlobalEntry.
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
You're a Premier; you should be able to use any check-in that's marked Premier. This comes from your status, not the credit card.
Aug 11, 2018, 10:59 am
#3
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: 66,851
If you have Premier Access on your BP. it includes Premier Checkin
Premier Access benefits
and as a Silver, your companions, on the same PNR, are included
Premier Access benefits
and as a Silver, your companions, on the same PNR, are included
Aug 11, 2018, 12:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 215
I'm sure this is a dumb question, but I have gotten told conflicting information on this so from airport personal so I'm looking for the final word and a link to where this is explicitly stated online.
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas?
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas?
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Aug 11, 2018, 6:45 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Some hubs (and presumably other focus cities) have separate F/1K area and then a regular premier access line for other premiers. For example, ORD has this.
what I’ve been seeing now for some time at other airports is (and I can’t remeber the exact language, which may be somewhat different on signs but basically indicates the same thing) for Polaris and Premier 1K, but is actually open to all elites and is regular premier access. It’s the only premier line. YYZ, for example, is this way. As a gold until recently, and now a silver, I was specifically told by staff that all elites have access to this line, and have never even been questioned about doing so. Perhaps the signage is an attempt to keep the lines emptier, but I know im entitled to use these lines and do not have an issue doing so.
Aug 11, 2018, 7:20 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: CYYC/CYYZ
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Spire, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz P.C., GE/NEXUS
Posts: 140
As a Silver you can use any UA branded Premier lines for check in and security. Other carriers' Star Gold lines are of course only for Gold & above only.
Aug 11, 2018, 8:08 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
I'm sure this is a dumb question, but I have gotten told conflicting information on this so from airport personal so I'm looking for the final word and a link to where this is explicitly stated online.
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas? I am only UA Silver but I also have the MileagePlus Explorer. All of my boarding passes for years have said Premier Access which I assume means I can use the Premier Access security lane, but I've never tried since I have GlobalEntry.
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Who can use the Premier Checkin areas? I am only UA Silver but I also have the MileagePlus Explorer. All of my boarding passes for years have said Premier Access which I assume means I can use the Premier Access security lane, but I've never tried since I have GlobalEntry.
Can I also use the Premier checkin area? Or is this limited to passengers F / *G / UA Gold and above?
Aug 12, 2018, 12:33 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA
Posts: 19
Thank you for this!! I think this has been my confusion all along.
So to clarify...
There are:
1k/First Premier Checkin
Premier Checkin
Economy Checkin
At an airport with just 1k/First Premier Checkin lane it is actually for all Premiers and the signage is just misleading?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 12, 2018 at 1:46 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Aug 12, 2018, 1:27 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
However any time those lines exist, there will almost certainly be a separate Premier area, which is the one you can use.
Aug 12, 2018, 2:00 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA
Posts: 19
depends on the airport.
Some hubs (and presumably other focus cities) have separate F/1K area and then a regular premier access line for other premiers. For example, ORD has this.
what I’ve been seeing now for some time at other airports is (and I can’t remeber the exact language, which may be somewhat different on signs but basically indicates the same thing) for Polaris and Premier 1K, but is actually open to all elites and is regular premier access. It’s the only premier line. YYZ, for example, is this way. As a gold until recently, and now a silver, I was specifically told by staff that all elites have access to this line, and have never even been questioned about doing so. Perhaps the signage is an attempt to keep the lines emptier, but I know im entitled to use these lines and do not have an issue doing so.
Aug 12, 2018, 2:42 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
And to clarify some ORD statements:
At ORD there is no First/1K line these days. There is:
-GS area (GS only)
-1K/Polaris (GS, 1K, Polaris First, Polaris Business)
-Premier Access (GS, 1K, *G, first, business [non-polaris], silver, gold, plat)
-Economy (anyone)
If no bags are being checked and no in-person document checks are required, self check-in kiosks are located almost everywhere. They do not care what your status is (except if you're BE without bags, then find an agent).
At ORD there is no First/1K line these days. There is:
-GS area (GS only)
-1K/Polaris (GS, 1K, Polaris First, Polaris Business)
-Premier Access (GS, 1K, *G, first, business [non-polaris], silver, gold, plat)
-Economy (anyone)
If no bags are being checked and no in-person document checks are required, self check-in kiosks are located almost everywhere. They do not care what your status is (except if you're BE without bags, then find an agent).
Aug 12, 2018, 4:03 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
Oct 22, 2020, 9:04 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
Having recently had an outstanding experience (September 2020) with the MSY Premier checkin, my experience on Tuesday was the exact opposite for me and others that followed.
Walked up to the 1K/Premier line and there were no customers but three agents behind the counter all talking. I finally started to walk towards them to ask about checking my luggage to be told I MUST use the kiosk. I said I am 1K and went to the line. They were insistent on the kiosks. They then did the touch screen for the kiosk for me.
A line was forming for the 1K/Premier checkin and no one went near them, no one told them to use the kiosk, the customers just stood there while the other two gate agents stood doing nothing.
As I was walking past I commented to the customers in the line they would need to use the kiosk and one of them responded i am GS and will wait in line. I said i was only 1K but they made me use the kiosk.
Not sure if an aberration or a new process. Definitely was not my experience in SAN the previous week, but for an airline needing flyers not the way to treat GS and 1K customers.
Walked up to the 1K/Premier line and there were no customers but three agents behind the counter all talking. I finally started to walk towards them to ask about checking my luggage to be told I MUST use the kiosk. I said I am 1K and went to the line. They were insistent on the kiosks. They then did the touch screen for the kiosk for me.
A line was forming for the 1K/Premier checkin and no one went near them, no one told them to use the kiosk, the customers just stood there while the other two gate agents stood doing nothing.
As I was walking past I commented to the customers in the line they would need to use the kiosk and one of them responded i am GS and will wait in line. I said i was only 1K but they made me use the kiosk.
Not sure if an aberration or a new process. Definitely was not my experience in SAN the previous week, but for an airline needing flyers not the way to treat GS and 1K customers.
Oct 22, 2020, 9:11 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Having recently had an outstanding experience (September 2020) with the MSY Premier checkin, my experience on Tuesday was the exact opposite for me and others that followed.
Walked up to the 1K/Premier line and there were no customers but three agents behind the counter all talking. I finally started to walk towards them to ask about checking my luggage to be told I MUST use the kiosk. I said I am 1K and went to the line. They were insistent on the kiosks. They then did the touch screen for the kiosk for me.
A line was forming for the 1K/Premier checkin and no one went near them, no one told them to use the kiosk, the customers just stood there while the other two gate agents stood doing nothing.
As I was walking past I commented to the customers in the line they would need to use the kiosk and one of them responded i am GS and will wait in line. I said i was only 1K but they made me use the kiosk.
Not sure if an aberration or a new process. Definitely was not my experience in SAN the previous week, but for an airline needing flyers not the way to treat GS and 1K customers.
Walked up to the 1K/Premier line and there were no customers but three agents behind the counter all talking. I finally started to walk towards them to ask about checking my luggage to be told I MUST use the kiosk. I said I am 1K and went to the line. They were insistent on the kiosks. They then did the touch screen for the kiosk for me.
A line was forming for the 1K/Premier checkin and no one went near them, no one told them to use the kiosk, the customers just stood there while the other two gate agents stood doing nothing.
As I was walking past I commented to the customers in the line they would need to use the kiosk and one of them responded i am GS and will wait in line. I said i was only 1K but they made me use the kiosk.
Not sure if an aberration or a new process. Definitely was not my experience in SAN the previous week, but for an airline needing flyers not the way to treat GS and 1K customers.
David