Skip the Line and Check a Bag in a Minute or Less: UA Debuts New 'Bag Drop Shortcut'
Dec 15, 2022, 11:40 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
Disappointing but not surprising. UA seems to have strange allergy for offering Premium Check-in experience. Premium Check-in much better at non-hub airports (as are the agents generally as well). As for ORD, they have limited the amount of actual agents at the T-1 check in to a maximum of two, with the rest being contract agents that are only able to verify ID and tag bags. It's sorta a slap to Premiers in their home-hub airport but they know they'll keep us. Every time I've needed to speak to an agent at ORD Check-in, there is generally a line (I'm 1K but there is no differentiation) and the agents as of recent have been largely untrained and often have to call a help desk to get anything beyond the basics done (I've observed this for myself as well as others while I've been standing there). I now often wait for the Club if I need agent assistance because those agents actually are trained to provide more premium service. But UA also has a war on offering agent assistance at clubs too. Sigh.
Dec 16, 2022, 12:22 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
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.
Dec 16, 2022, 12:57 am
#48
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: HHonors:Gold,Marriot:Silver,United:Gold, Delta:Gold
Posts: 94
What are we doing , going back to Jeffy days where you have PMCO/UA staff brawls and "over entitled elites"?
Other annoyance, but this is more on the asks of the airline and airport authority. These screens being put up in front of the gate area (as opposed to the # signs at the to), and "help terminals" are pretty bad. If their history is any indication they're really trying to understaff or no staff the gates as long as possible.
Other annoyance, but this is more on the asks of the airline and airport authority. These screens being put up in front of the gate area (as opposed to the # signs at the to), and "help terminals" are pretty bad. If their history is any indication they're really trying to understaff or no staff the gates as long as possible.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:24 am
#49
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
Staffing quality and streamlining staffing levels has consequences.
Dec 16, 2022, 3:32 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,058
This doesn't work, however, if one has international bags to check.
Dec 16, 2022, 5:07 am
#51
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,360
removing service agents from clubs? New direction: combo in-person / virtual agents
Dec 16, 2022, 5:12 am
#52
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,644
Yes.
I'm sure they will keep check-in desks for those who need full asssistance. And I think alliance rules would obligate them to have a desk/line for elites. But, they might make it inconvenient to get to that desk (such as locating it all the way at the far end of the concourse)
I'm sure they will keep check-in desks for those who need full asssistance. And I think alliance rules would obligate them to have a desk/line for elites. But, they might make it inconvenient to get to that desk (such as locating it all the way at the far end of the concourse)
Dec 16, 2022, 6:53 am
#53
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,129
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.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:27 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: Does it matter any more?
Posts: 2,153
Where at ORD do I find this bag drop area?
Departing ORD in a few days. Will meet the pre-req criteria (bag to check in, paid for, checked in online). Where do I find this bag drop area? FWIW, my departure gate seems to be T1, C19.
Are there specific hours of operation?
Are there specific hours of operation?
Dec 16, 2022, 2:17 pm
#55
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Not specific to ORD, but for all airports with bag drop, UA will email you and display in the app the location when online check-in opens.
Dec 16, 2022, 2:50 pm
#56
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold, PF Chang's Warrior, Wine Century 100
Posts: 1,105
When I departed ORD this summer, the bag drop was curbside at Terminal 1 door 1E on the upper (departures) level. Look for purple signage.
May 3, 2023, 5:22 am
#57
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Lifetime Premier Gold, Pan Am WorldPass (disc.), Hertz Gold, IHC Gold Elite, Marriott Plat. Elite
Posts: 102
Bag Drop Shortcut, UA
Please advise location of the UA Bag Drop Shortcut at Terminal C at EWR?
Various sites online seem to guve conflicting info.
Thanks!
Various sites online seem to guve conflicting info.
Thanks!
May 3, 2023, 6:26 am
#58
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,281
level 3 far left, near premier check in
This is from the app which will even provide directions. More … > tools and services > airport maps.
May 20, 2023, 2:26 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 15
NFC signs at SFO
Just flew through SFO. Arrived at the Premier Access area to check a bag. Already had my mobile boarding pass. Agent approached me asking if I had the United app and said I could hold it near the signs at the Premier Access Bag Drop Shortcut. Was confused at first but went over to Premier Access Bag Drop Shortcut. They have new signs on the podium that use NFC technology to print bag tags. You simply open the United App and hold the phone near the sign. The app then asks you for which pax you want to print tags and they pop out behind the counter. Was a lot faster than scanning BP at the kiosk. Took less than 30 seconds. Seems new as the staff were also saying how they learned about it today as well.