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READERS SHARE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCES AND IDEAS

WHAT IS THE POINT OF CHECKING IN? ➜ CEDRIC_STATHERBY

In the old days, one turned up at an airport and presented oneself at a check-in desk to (a) leave any hold luggage; (b) get a boarding card; and (c) confirm to the airline that you intended to fly that day (especially if you had an open ticket).

These days, leaving luggage for the hold is done at baggage drop points, not check-in desks, and boarding cards are pretty pointless because your ticket should be enough. Which leaves confirming that you are intending to fly, which is only valuable information if you check in and get the boarding card close to the time of the flight. The further in advance one “checks in” and prints off one’s boarding card, the less certain is the information that you intend to fly.

I have just had a case in point. I’ve bought a ticket for a flight in a few months and am immediately invited to check in and get my boarding card.

A lot can happen between now and the date of the flight to turn my current firm intention into a no-show. All the information on my boarding card is contained in my booking confirmation. Why does the boarding card process survive?

➜ INQUISITIVE

In the US, a physical boarding pass is not required in most airports. You can go directly to security with digital check-in confirmation in the mobile app. Airport security and airline computer infrastructure need to be compatible with this arrangement. That could be a main reason why other airlines/airports lacking that [have] not implemented it.

➜ TOMINSCOTLAND

I was talking to a friend who flew Edinburgh to Frankfurt a couple of days ago. The only check on her Covid-19 status at either end was by check-in staff at EDI on behalf of the airline, Lufthansa. German immigration officials waved her through without any checks. Maybe this becomes the value of some form of check-in, on arrival at the airport and/or at the gate?

➜ INQUISITIVE

Early check-in definitely benefits the airlines. As most of the airlines have dynamic pricing and [are] overbooked, they can do some better revenue planning from early check-in [information]. Also, cancellation after check-in will incur some cost to passengers that also benefits airlines.

➜ ESSELLE

Equally, in most countries at least, you cannot gain access to airside without one.

➜ CANUCKLAD

Dependent on the website you need to confirm your intention to fly before having a seat allocated. I allow the airline to randomly assign me a seat and only check in at the very last moment. This generally guarantees me an excellent seat. Sort of like playing a game of seat poker and bluffing until the end. On other respected airlines, I’ll log on and select good seats as soon as check-in opens. So I suppose it’s horses for courses.

➜ DAVIDSMITH2

Departing Accra last week with BA, I checked in online, received and printed my boarding pass and had no hold luggage. But I was still directed to the check-in desk to be issued with another boarding pass (and to show the various Covid-19-related docs). Given I already had a pre-selected seat, the online check-in was really a pointless exercise.

➜ TIMFITZGERALDTC For those that often change last minute – checking in early is not helpful as offloading passengers on some airlines can be very problematic. With short time frames – if pulling a flight forward for example – it can mean that the time taken to process the changes means you cannot then take the earlier flight because a human and a computer cannot make the necessary behind-thescenes processes in time.

So yes – don’t really see the point in checking in for a flight until 72 hours before travel at the earliest.

➜ FORMERBA

The move towards no check-in requirement is coming. Regulatory data is now captured from frequent flyer profiles along with credit card details. It won’t be long before visa checks form part of the regulatory data exchange along with Covid-19 or any other medical requirement.

The more technology takes over, the fewer staff are required and the need for procedures that add costs and no value.

➜ DAVIDSMITH2

The benefits of early check-in are all in favour of the airlines. Ryanair already requires online check-in and penalises those who don’t. So how long before the low-cost airlines start demanding that you check in a week before or more? And then add charges for those who leave it until the last 24 hours? To my mind, the early uploading of flyer info (passport number, etc) is fine. This assists law enforcement in checking flyer lists in advance. But check-in is something else entirely.

➜ CEDRIC_STATHERBY

I entirely agree. Making a booking is akin to the statement, “I want to fly.” But checking in is akin to the statement, “I am ready to fly and committed to doing so,” which is not the same. I can’t make that statement weeks or months in advance.

➜ AJDC

Which carrier allows you to check in for your flight months in advance? I used to work for an airline and I am not aware we allowed passengers to check in even days in advance. As far as I am aware, you can only check in for your flight within 24 hours of the departure time once the flight has been opened; certainly not months, weeks or even days in advance of departure date.

➜ TIMFITZGERALDTC

Easyjet allow you to check in 30 days in advance. Ryanair is 60 days if you have paid seating. Low-cost carriers seem to allow further in advance than the “traditional” carriers, but many of these do allow 48-hour checkin, like Singapore Airlines and Emirates.

➜ IANFROMHKG

I always travel with luggage and refuse to use those wretched self-check/bag drop machines. I find that the few I have used are clunky and annoying. While I understand the move to automation, I would much rather swan up to a check-in desk manned by an actual person and let them do it. And check my passport while they’re at it so I don’t have to do it later in the process.

Having said that, I often do check-in online once I know I am going to fly and get an online boarding pass, and it always annoys me that when I go through the above process I am invariably given a paper boarding card – what a waste of paper.

➜ CANUCKLAD

It’s a mystery to me why there is a need for them at all. They are in the most inconvenient part of the airport – either blocking your way to the manned check-in desks or hidden away in a secluded corner.

➜ AISLESEATTRAVELLER

The paper boarding pass makes for a good bookmark for your in-flight reading (not so good with a Kindle).

➜ CANUCKLAD

Times move on and the digital world certainly has its advantages, although I do fondly remember the cabin mock-ups at check-in desks with the removal stickers representing the seats. Peeled and then stuck on to a colourful piece of card.

As an aside I’m sure I’ve got a shoe box filled with records of my allocated seat on the many flights I took.

➜ INQUISITIVE

A paper boarding pass carries a lot of information that could be useful if something unexpected happens during or after the journey.

For example, if someone has checked in luggage that is lost, the reporting may need a ticket number, seat number and so on. And if one’s digital equipment runs out of battery after a long trip, the boarding pass could be handy.

➜ EU_FLYER

A paper boarding pass makes for a good bookmark for your in-flight reading – not so good with a Kindle

Such a good point. I’ve sometimes arrived at airports following long periods of train or car travel when my phone wasn’t able to charge, praying that the battery would last long enough to get me on the plane or at least to a desk to get a paper pass, assuming a power point wasn’t available.