Skip the Line and Check a Bag in a Minute or Less: UA Debuts New 'Bag Drop Shortcut'
Jun 15, 2022, 11:23 am
#31
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
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On the day of departure, the UA app should prompt you with the location/door number of the express bag drop. At least it did for me departing ORD which was outside curbside at a dedicated skycap stand...
That when fine --- TSA was a total zoo, 40 mins for PreCheck -- line when back to the bag check area and had to flight across those lines to get to the bag check area.
Jun 27, 2022, 9:08 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold, PF Chang's Warrior, Wine Century 100
Posts: 1,105
To my surprise yesterday, there actually is an express purple Bag Drop and Premier Access baggage lane at MCO, but you'd never know it unless you looked to the left as you approached the United counter. I did the self-tagging at the regular checkin desk then swiveled around to get in line with the plebes and saw the signage across the hallway, walked over and dropped my bag there. (nobody in line)
They need way better signage to direct the Premiers and shortcut people to the correct area.
They need way better signage to direct the Premiers and shortcut people to the correct area.
Last edited by paule123; Jun 27, 2022 at 9:15 pm
Jun 27, 2022, 9:25 pm
#33
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,856
Jun 27, 2022, 9:43 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
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Posts: 1,105
Jun 27, 2022, 9:53 pm
#35
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,856
Jun 28, 2022, 11:21 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: ORD, MCO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 271
To my surprise yesterday, there actually is an express purple Bag Drop and Premier Access baggage lane at MCO, but you'd never know it unless you looked to the left as you approached the United counter. I did the self-tagging at the regular checkin desk then swiveled around to get in line with the plebes and saw the signage across the hallway, walked over and dropped my bag there. (nobody in line)
They need way better signage to direct the Premiers and shortcut people to the correct area.
They need way better signage to direct the Premiers and shortcut people to the correct area.
Jun 28, 2022, 1:05 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
Jun 28, 2022, 9:13 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2022
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 65
DTW finally ditched their awful check-in setup, and there was a sign for skip the line bag drop when I was there on 6/27. However, I didn't get a notice as I do at other airports, so it's either being rolled out or they're no longer notifying in the app during check-in.
Aug 23, 2022, 11:06 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 213
I've never done online check-in before for an international flight, and the bag drop shortcut is new for me, so perhaps someone could tell me if I'm eligible?
I am flying on a US passport from SFO to MUC this Sunday. I'll arrive around 10am. I am all-green on the United website pre-flight checklist.
Is there a bag drop also at SFO G Intl? Also having Clear and Pre-Check, it would be nice to not have to wait in any lines at all.
Thanks!
-- Ethan
I am flying on a US passport from SFO to MUC this Sunday. I'll arrive around 10am. I am all-green on the United website pre-flight checklist.
Is there a bag drop also at SFO G Intl? Also having Clear and Pre-Check, it would be nice to not have to wait in any lines at all.
Thanks!
-- Ethan
Aug 24, 2022, 9:26 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold, PF Chang's Warrior, Wine Century 100
Posts: 1,105
Great experience at ORD Friday afternoon - curbside stand at door 1E. There were about 4 very friendly staff there handling the checkin. No line, no wait.
However at CLE it's a bit of a mess. On a Saturday morning, the regular baggage check line was running past the express bag drop entrance, obscuring the signage, and just looked like confusion all around with a mob of people in line in the narrow lobby. Skipped the express bag drop and went to the Premier counter.
However at CLE it's a bit of a mess. On a Saturday morning, the regular baggage check line was running past the express bag drop entrance, obscuring the signage, and just looked like confusion all around with a mob of people in line in the narrow lobby. Skipped the express bag drop and went to the Premier counter.
Aug 25, 2022, 12:37 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Aug 25, 2022, 12:42 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
I've never done online check-in before for an international flight, and the bag drop shortcut is new for me, so perhaps someone could tell me if I'm eligible?
I am flying on a US passport from SFO to MUC this Sunday. I'll arrive around 10am. I am all-green on the United website pre-flight checklist.
Is there a bag drop also at SFO G Intl? Also having Clear and Pre-Check, it would be nice to not have to wait in any lines at all.
Thanks!
-- Ethan
I am flying on a US passport from SFO to MUC this Sunday. I'll arrive around 10am. I am all-green on the United website pre-flight checklist.
Is there a bag drop also at SFO G Intl? Also having Clear and Pre-Check, it would be nice to not have to wait in any lines at all.
Thanks!
-- Ethan
I'm unsure if SFO G has it. Often it is not that busy there, so maybe not needed. Though sometimes they also understaff, so maybe needed actually.
If you're going to use a United Club before departure, it might be worth going to T3 anyway and dropping off there, since the G UC is quite small.
Aug 25, 2022, 12:45 am
#44
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Posts: 19,901
There's no eligibility limitation to use the bag drop, other than completing check in.
I'm unsure if SFO G has it. Often it is not that busy there, so maybe not needed. Though sometimes they also understaff, so maybe needed actually.
If you're going to use a United Club before departure, it might be worth going to T3 anyway and dropping off there, since the G UC is quite small.
I'm unsure if SFO G has it. Often it is not that busy there, so maybe not needed. Though sometimes they also understaff, so maybe needed actually.
If you're going to use a United Club before departure, it might be worth going to T3 anyway and dropping off there, since the G UC is quite small.
Dec 15, 2022, 11:07 pm
#45
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: HHonors:Gold,Marriot:Silver,United:Gold, Delta:Gold
Posts: 94
UA Ripping out Premier Checkin Desks at Ohare
They converted a huge row of the checkin desks at Ohare T1 into bag drop only places for Preimire and they're pushing people to do OCI/the machines instead. This is a really disappointing thing to see if you have a business class ticket and/or status. (That was the only thing that I valued with Silver) This feels like it's economy. (Also, my experience, it's nearly always better with a paper ticket)
Yes, I'll do a mobile ticket when I'm not checking a bag.
Yes, I'll do a mobile ticket when I'm not checking a bag.