Check-in Etiquette

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naggi

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We are a group of 6 on 4 PNR’s

  1. Couple, 1 SG, 1 NB
  2. Couple, NB
  3. Single, PS
  4. Single, NB

Question:
Is it acceptable to all check-in together at a premium counter & if so, which one?
 
I think you would be stretching the relationship on that one.

If you were a family unit then I guess it could be OK but six passengers who are all NB except for a Gold and a Silver... I choose no :)
 
And 4 PNR's meaning, you essentially aren't under the one booking.
 
I am guessing this is an International flight?

If it were me, I would take 1 & 2 to the Gold/Business queue, and 3 & 4 to the Silver/PE/QC queue (providing the queues weren't too busy).
That way you're not flooding 1 queue with too many people and stretching the 'must be travelling with you' rule.
Also I would probably just ask checkin staff as well to avoid any awkward situations. :)
 
I would say it depends on how much of a unit you are. I can understand separate PNRs as some might be on awards and others paid.

Personally if I was travelling with a bunch of mates I would go to the F counter and check in together. I don't know what the number I would cut off at would be though.
 
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If all travelling together then check in together I say. Did this with 6 people recently, of course we were on the same booking but that shouldn't really matter.

Aside= if people are travelling together I'm not sure how the number of people can push the travelling together rule. Just saying


Sent from the Throne
 
We are a group of 6 on 4 PNR’s

  1. Couple, 1 SG, 1 NB
  2. Couple, NB
  3. Single, PS
  4. Single, NB

Question:
Is it acceptable to all check-in together at a premium counter & if so, which one?

You could maybe do it in two groups eg 1 & 4 together then 2 & 3 together as breaking it down into 2 smaller groups isn't as obvious. Maybe 1 & 4 could check in first then say to the checkin agent "we're also travelling with 2 & 3, can you allocate us all seats together". That way when the second group checks in they will already have seats next to the first group.

If you do plan to checkin together do you know if the other party are within their baggage allowance ie if travelling domestically do the NB pax have no more than one bag each? It could get messy if the NB's have an extra bag or two then if the bags are pooled under the SG's name the checkin agent will say "Mr SG you've got one piece of excess baggage to pay for" & it can then become uncomfortable for you to have to then ask the others to pay.

I guess it's about using your own judgement because if you put yourselves in the shoes of say a WP who is right behind you in the queue with an international connecting flight, how do you think they would feel having to wait for everyone ahead to be checked in.

What is taking the p!ss is when you get one PS member eg from some nondescript band that has just performed at Big Day Out who enters the premium checkin queue with 8 of his NB or no status mates with guitars, suitcases, you name it (I kid you not).

You can imagine how long it's going to take to check them in particularly when there's multiple requests from each & every one of them like:

"can you put my frequent number in the booking" (plus the other 8 ff nbrs that are not in the pnr)

"have I got a vegetarian meal"

"I don't want a middle seat"

"Can I have an exit row seat"

"I want to sit next to so and so"

"I'm almost Gold (actually NB) can I get upgraded to business class"

After bags have been send down the belt to SYD some bright spark who has a separate booking on to PER they've neglected to tell you about will say "my bags are going all the way to PER aren't they".
 
A similar question... I was PS, in a group booking of 10, with everyone else either NB or non-members. We are all on the same PRN, so technically, I guess we could all use the QP counters?
 
If it was me travelling I would check in at the normal check in area not that I would know where to do that so I would go to the premium counter and ask for directions.
 
...

Personally if I was travelling with a bunch of mates I would go to the F counter and check in together. I don't know what the number I would cut off at would be though.
+1 in philosophy, for so few, I would suggest use of the counter the SG is entitled to and all check-in together.

It's when there may be 10 or more PAX in total over more than two bookings that it may be getting a little OTT.


A similar question... I was PS, in a group booking of 10, with everyone else either NB or non-members. We are all on the same PRN, so technically, I guess we could all use the QP counters?
That should not be an issue.
 
I would (and have in the past with a similar sized group, I was the only one with status) checked in all together.
I'd say as long as you all check in as a group there should be no problems. Just make sure the status pax is there at all times.
 
You could maybe do it in two groups eg 1 & 4 together then 2 & 3 together as breaking it down into 2 smaller groups isn't as obvious. Maybe 1 & 4 could check in first then say to the checkin agent "we're also travelling with 2 & 3, can you allocate us all seats together". That way when the second group checks in they will already have seats next to the first group.

If you do plan to checkin together do you know if the other party are within their baggage allowance ie if travelling domestically do the NB pax have no more than one bag each? It could get messy if the NB's have an extra bag or two then if the bags are pooled under the SG's name the checkin agent will say "Mr SG you've got one piece of excess baggage to pay for" & it can then become uncomfortable for you to have to then ask the others to pay.

I guess it's about using your own judgement because if you put yourselves in the shoes of say a WP who is right behind you in the queue with an international connecting flight, how do you think they would feel having to wait for everyone ahead to be checked in.

What is taking the p!ss is when you get one PS member eg from some nondescript band that has just performed at Big Day Out who enters the premium checkin queue with 8 of his NB or no status mates with guitars, suitcases, you name it (I kid you not).

You can imagine how long it's going to take to check them in particularly when there's multiple requests from each & every one of them like:

"can you put my frequent number in the booking" (plus the other 8 ff nbrs that are not in the pnr)

"have I got a vegetarian meal"

"I don't want a middle seat"

"Can I have an exit row seat"

"I want to sit next to so and so"

"I'm almost Gold (actually NB) can I get upgraded to business class"

After bags have been send down the belt to SYD some bright spark who has a separate booking on to PER they've neglected to tell you about will say "my bags are going all the way to PER aren't they".

My answer would be yes they are going to PER after you pick them up in SYD.
 
I was travelling with a heap of mates one day and as a WP i got greeted during the flight and it was kind of embarrassing mainly due to the fact the CSM was a bit of stunner and of course the story got better over the weekend.

My mates wanted to all be seated together but we could not get row 3 or even anywhere near the front of the plane so we where down the back with the luggage.
 
I was travelling with a heap of mates one day and as a WP i got greeted during the flight and it was kind of embarrassing mainly due to the fact the CSM was a bit of stunner and of course the story got better over the weekend.

My mates wanted to all be seated together but we could not get row 3 or even anywhere near the front of the plane so we where down the back with the luggage.

I would have let your mates sit together :)
 
We are a group of 6 on 4 PNR’s

  1. Couple, 1 SG, 1 NB
  2. Couple, NB
  3. Single, PS
  4. Single, NB

Question:
Is it acceptable to all check-in together at a premium counter & if so, which one?

My personal view is that only couple 1 should use the SG counter. If I was legitimately allowed to use these counters and was stuck behind a queue of non-status pax I would be quietly upset. There is a reason for these counters and IMHO letting non-status adult family and friends delay me isn't appropriate.
 
My personal view is that only couple 1 should use the SG counter. If I was legitimately allowed to use these counters and was stuck behind a queue of non-status pax I would be quietly upset. There is a reason for these counters and IMHO letting non-status adult family and friends delay me isn't appropriate.

A little bit OT, but overall I think I have rarely felt more frustration in my life than while queuing in premium check-in lane compared to "general admission" lane. Sometimes I think they should create check-in counters for professional travellers only. I can't count the number of times I have been stuck at the business counter behind clueless people who have to look in their bags for 5 min to find their passports!!! Ask irrelevant questions about ground transportation in Moscow... Maybe even ask the agent what's the whole concept of drag and lift...

Sent from my HTC Desire using AustFreqFly
 
Sometimes I think they should create check-in counters for professional travellers only.

While that sounds attractive, I'm not sure how the airline would police it. What's to stop anyone from just saying "oh I'm a professional traveller en-route to Disneyland with my husband/ wife/ significant other plus kids in tow"?

Perhaps they could consider imposing a guest limit like they do to lounges.
 
While that sounds attractive, I'm not sure how the airline would police it. What's to stop anyone from just saying "oh I'm a professional traveller en-route to Disneyland with my husband/ wife/ significant other plus kids in tow"?

Perhaps they could consider imposing a guest limit like they do to lounges.

If I remember correctly Finnair has a check-in counter only for OW Emerald this is a way to exclude the casual business traveller (I'm not trying to sound like a DYKWIA, I just like TOTAL efficiency during check-in!) Plus the seasoned traveller knows that many requests can be handled in the lounge and not necessarily at check-in. :)

Sent from my HTC Desire using AustFreqFly
 
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