International OLCI and priority check-in

[tuapekastar]

If I OLCI for an international flight, even with hand luggage only, I presumably still need to attend a desk of some sort so the airline (QF in this instance) can check passport etc.

Are these desks the same for all pax? What I'm getting at is do you 'lose' status checkin by doing OLCI? Do you have to queue with all the non-status pax who have OLCI'ed to do the bag drop/documentation check?

 

[Mal]

IME, use whichever queue you're authorised to use - but make sure you tell them you've already checked in.

I doubt they would expect a "F" customer who checked in online to wait behind everyone else in the "bag drop" queue - the same rights apply to those with status.

 

[simongr]

Why would OLCI if you have the ability to do F check in? I am struggling to see the benefit of OLCI for you.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[tuapekastar]

Why would OLCI if you have the ability to do F check in? I am struggling to see the benefit of OLCI for you.
Posted via Mobile Device

I would agree entirely if I had access to F checkin - but sadly I don't. (though when I did I wasn't exactly overwhelmed by the experience).

 

[simongr]

Ah - sorry was on the the cut down version of the site and didnt see the status.

Even so as a PS I stil wouldnt see much benefit for int'l OLCI.

 

[tuapekastar]

Ah - sorry was on the the cut down version of the site and didnt see the status.

Even so as a PS I stil wouldnt see much benefit for int'l OLCI.

I'm thinking the same thing...as long as I have a seat I'm happy with, then there doesn't appear to be any real benefit, as I have to attend a counter of some sort regardless. I haven't OLCI'ed for this flight, and will have a good squizz at MEL this afternoon to see the setup, queue lengths etc.

@Mal - yep, that would appear to be sound advice for anyone who OLCI'ed.

 

[Mal P]

What were your experiences of when you had to be present to show the counter folk your passport etc? Any problems pushing it even down to the hour, especially if you have just carry-on luggage?

Thanks

 

[Tooner]

What were your experiences of when you had to be present to show the counter folk your passport etc? Any problems pushing it even down to the hour, especially if you have just carry-on luggage?

Thanks

I flew to SIN last Tuesday and on Monday OLCI'd for a J seat. Unfortunately, I didn't realise that once you OLCI, you can't go back in and change your seat, or print your boarding pass.

Even if I had, I probably would have gone to the F counter to put my bag on, and the Agent at the desk didn't care. I mentioned that I couldn't get my boarding pass, and he said he would have given me a new one anyway. We agreed the only reason to do it is to put your foot, reasonably firmly, on a particular seat.

All-in-all unlikely I would do it again.

Then, last night OLCI'd my mum (NB) for her flight to US. Her allocated seat was 67G on 4 class 747, and ended up getting her 55C (given she doesn't like being at the back, otherwise 70B/C was available). Don't really know if she would have done better at the counter, but at least she knew (within reason) where she would be sitting.

So in short (relatively) OLCI doesn't mean much for those with status, but as JohnK always suspected, it is a boon for NBs.

 

[Mal P]

Thanks Tooner, very helpful. Were you more complacent about arriving at the airport because you had OLCI? I.e. didn't bother getting there quite on the 90 min mark? The reason I ask is I have a flight BNE to LAX this friday and it's a bit of a haul from where I'll be to get to the airport in peak hour... and I'm wondering how early I have to leave.

 

[Tooner]

Thanks Tooner, very helpful. Were you more complacent about arriving at the airport because you had OLCI? I.e. didn't bother getting there quite on the 90 min mark? ... I'm wondering how early I have to leave.

I got to the F counter at about 2:00 pm for a 3:50pm flight (boarded around 3:30 pm), but that was more to do with the lunch in the F Lounge than a desire to be there early. If you can use the F or even J counter, you almost always have a little more time. The only thing I recall on the OLCI boarding pass was a very clear instruction to be there checked in 60 mins before the flight if you wanted to check in luggage. The warning was a clear don't expect to take your baggage if you get there too late.