Why Check In Online Without A Printer?
 

Hi All,

Received and email from UAL today with "Tip's for travelers. They say that you can check in online even without a printer. I am just curious - if you already have a seat assignment and don't want to upgrade, what is the benefit to them to have you check in on line and then using the easy check in to print your boarding pass rather than just using the easy check in when you get to the airport?

Thanks

Email from United (excerpt):

EasyCheck-in Onlinesm is available 24 hours before your domestic and international flight. While checking in online, you can even select seats, confirm or request upgrades, add your Mileage Plus® frequent flyer number, and check in for connecting flights.

You can print your boarding pass at united.com/easycheckinonline then head directly to security and on to your gate.

No printer? No problem, you can still check in online at united.com/easycheckinonline, then just walk up to any EasyCheck-in kiosk at more than 100 airports and reprint your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport.

Probably a variety of reasons. The usual suspects (cost reduction, etc...) come to mind.

Being protected in case you're running late.

Its possible that if they have to IVDB people, its in order of check in.

I always print BP's without a printer. You can select fax or Adobe as your printer. Then I go to easy checkin and get the hard copy. By printing your BP it puts you on any stanby lists at the time of printing and should they have a change of equipment the people that checkin usually get protected first.

UA pretty much outlined the advantages to checking in (without a printer) in the email they sent you. You're able to change seats (or see that they've moved you into purgatory while there's still time to do something about it), apply for and get an upgrade (because you're within the relevant window if one's available), and just generally have a sense of peace-of-mind that things are in order.

It also means you'll be spending less time at the airport kiosk, going through the various options.

Seems like a good thing to me!

To get on the priority waitlist for upgrades once it goes to gate control.

Oops... typed to slow.. oh well.

If you're at a hotel, print it to pdf, and then fax it to yourself.

There have been several threads about this, including one with several good recommendations for pdf printer drivers that are free. I'm sure a search might pull up some of these?

I like the gold boarding pass so I don't print at home :D :D :D
Just kidding...I just don't like the ideal of using my own paper and ink. Sure it's only 5 cents, but just on principle. I usually just have mine as a pdf just in case. I use OLCI though because of the above mentioned posts about waitlists, etc...plus I get 500 bonus miles for each time I OLCI, so why not!

Ah, but now one can do that even before check-in! ^

If you get to the airport after the check-in cut-off time, you can still reprint the boarding pass if you've checked in before.

If you get delayed and get to the airport after the cutoff, they frequently won't cut you any slack even when it's clear you have time to get through short security line and get to your gate.

Virtually everyone (unless by skimming over the thread I missed/misinterpreted someone's answer) explained why it's beneficial to US (the passenger)... which is really fairly obvious. But the OP asked why it's beneficial to THEM (as in, to United).

That's exactly what I was thinking. My son wasn't allowed to get on his flight from HNL to SAN because he hadn't checked in earlier AND the airline couldn't find his reservation (for a variety of reasons). Even though he could have made it because my sister and niece were on the same flight and certainly got to the gate on time, it was such a hassle for him that the airline booked him the next day instead...

Well, that and the 500 online check in miles. :)

This is precisely why I check-in w/o a printer. :)

I print mine to the Microsoft Office Document Image Writer. I'm not sure exactly how I got it, but that's what I use.