Not so Easy Check-in ;)
 

The Easy Check-in Machines are in place at EWR. But it's not so easy to use them.

Case in point: I went to give them a shot, Trying the "premEx method" I did this:

CM: Good Morning Mr. Easy Checkin

The Machine Glared at me

CM: Ok, I'll shove in my 1K card.

Did the steps

Mr. Easy Check-in: Sternly, "You must see a United Representative for further assistance"

CM: Ok Mr. Easy Check-in, I'll try my Diners Club card that I used to pay with the ticket.

Again, the same stern message as above.

CM: But you are supposed to be Mr. Easy Check-in

(Mr. Easy Check-in sticks its tongue out at me and tells me to get a lint brush for my cat hair covered bag!) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Then two United HUMAN angels, the chief purser and a man who looked like Santa Claus came over and helped me check in. Both said very few people are using the machin es and the MP elites are prefering to go to see Human check in people at the counters nearby.

They also know me from my frequent visits to EWR and thanked me for my business.

Mr. Easy Check-in Machine then broke and went out of service.

The Easy check-in machines seem friendly on the West Coast though.

Hi Catman!! It was great fun meeting you earlier in December.

I too prefer the human beens to the machines. Unless everything has been confirmed, but often I am still awaiting an upgrade or whatever and would rather deal with humans.

I have used the NW check in machines with great success though.

I use the easy-check-in machines at ORD nearly weekly and love them! I've rarely had a problem unless our corp. travel gurus (cough!) forgot to input my MP number or another time when there was a problem with our flight. However, there are some of the smaller airports like IND where the people are wonderful and I wouldn't use easy-check-in if it was there!

Of the dozen times that I've used these machines, most of the time I've had to pick up the phone and talk to a CSR. Or, someone had to come over and help me. Each time, the system wouldn't let me continue. This has meant that I've had two lines to check-in. So now I don't use them.

Ive had good experiences with UA machines, although Ive only used them in the West Coast. AA's machines seem to work fine everywhere I use them. When will they start offering these things for international flights...?

I've found the Easy Check-In machines at SFO just as temperamental. No agent has ever been able to explain their insolence ... just apologized, and went ahead checked me in manually.

Most recent unpleasant surprise: two travelers on same PNR / second passenger is running behind schedule. I insert my 1K card; Mr. Easy Check-In gives me a choice of checking in just me, or both of us. I opt for the former. Big mistake. I get my boarding passes. Cell phone conversation follows: I'm instructed to try to check-in. I don't have the other person's Premier card, but I do have the credit card used to purchase the ticket. I insert that, and Mr. Easy Check-In insists that I'm already checked in, and should proceed to the gate. No! I want to check in the other passenger! Sorry, Mr. Easy Check-In is not your friend today. Do not pass Go, do not collect 500 bonus miles.

So far I have not been successful at using the United e-checkin machines. This really got be mad because i was missing out on all those 500 bonuses they were giving out. NW on the other hand has such an elegant online checkin and e-checkin that they should be given an award for it.

I use the machines at LAX regularly and wherever else I can use them. They do not seem to work if there has been any change to your itinerary, even when the change is completely confirmed. Upgrades are fine, changes in flight numbers are not. Unfortunately, the same need to see a human applies even on the return when there has been a change prior to your outbound (so you have already seen a human on your outbound) but no changes to the return since your outbound check-in.

In such cases where my flights have changed I know to go straight to a human. In the past this has meant in the red carpet club, but with the coming changes to needing the boarding pass to get through security, they may mean the longer lines outside.

The best example http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif has to be at SMF where they have positioned Mr. EasyCheckin at the counters between the TA's!

You have to force your way between two customers checking in via an agent and get glared at by all in line or just wait for a human to help you to avoid this embarrassment.

Helllooooooo?


Lurker http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Lurker (edited 12-30-2002).]

They've always worked nicely for me, and I find them very convenient and fast.

If this happens to me (and it does about fifty percent of the time), I tell the agent that I attempted to use the Easy Check-in machines and they credit me 500 miles because the machine won't work. It usually happens when there is a problem with an upgrade or a change in itinerary where the old ticket had to be revalidated.

This is clearly a case of guilt by association. You have personally witnessed my many failed attempts to use "Mr Queasy Check-in Machine" at JFK and my somewhat colorful reaction to its recalcitrance. Given that you were standing nearby, you are clearly now blacklisted. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I have successfully used the machines a couple of times at LAX so it must just be a "right coast" attitude thing. So far, I have never had a problem checking in at PDX but that's probably because the machines have not yet been implemented there.

I prefer to call it EasyChicken. Makes you think of the EasyBake Oven. Well, maybe not. But EasyChicken is more fun to say.

If you don't need a human agent, EasyChicken lines are often shorter than the status lines at SFO! I was the only person using it in SAN while so many people insisted on waiting in the queues.

Helpful Hint: Just TAP the EasyChicken screen GENTLY. Like those old microwaves - just a tap will do it. Your EasyChicken unit will bake your boarding pass much faster that way. Tastes better, too. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Have had no problems with ECI untill last RT out of ORD when the printer was jamed. No notice on the machine untill after all data was input so going to another machine just told me I was already checked in-- and I had to go stand in line to see a real person.
Told supervisor about jamed machine -- and it was still in "operation" about 45 minutes later as we were boarding our flight.
Agree with cawhite60156 about the personel in IND -- much rather deal with them.

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JerseyJoe

At ORD Mr. Easy Check-In at the curb will not ask you how many bags you have, so you still need to go thru the normal procedure to get bag tags printed.

One good or bad http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif thing about MR. Easy Check-In is that he NEVER forgets to collect E-Upgrade certs as mere mortals often do.

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gfowler-ord-1k
Living in SIN


[This message has been edited by gfowler-ord-1k (edited 12-30-2002).]