Should i check in online??

[gogo419]

Our family has the following booked for tomorrow. The QF person on the phone said not to check in online and just do it all at the airport as it will make it easier for the check in agent? Interlining bags etc?

PER-SYD QF574. Two separate booking refs
Ref 1. Four passengers in Y
Ref 2. One passenger in Y

SYD-LAX QF011. Three separate booking refs.
Ref 1. Two passengers in J
Ref 2. Two passengers in PE
Ref 3. One passenger in PE
**Checked luggage for all passengers**

I like to check in online! Just for peace of mind. To be honest i can't see how it will make it harder for the agent at the airport?? If anything easier?

Thoughts?

Cheers gogo

 

[samh004]

I'd get your seats now, and just head to the airport a little earlier to sort out the interlining fun, though if everyone has selected a seat, you should be fine?

 

[gogo419]

I'd get your seats now, and just head to the airport a little earlier to sort out the interlining fun, though if everyone has selected a seat, you should be fine?

Cool.. All seats are selected.. Will wait until QF11 online check in opens and do it all then.. Planning to arrive at PER 75 minutes before departure.. Should be enough time to interline?


cheers
gogo

 

[gogo419]

Damn! It seems that the domestic bookings have been blocked from checking in online...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

If you do OLCI for the separate bookings the CSA would not he able to merge the flights in order for your bags to be checked PER/SYD/LAX as oncarriage cannot be added when you are showing as being checked in.

What they would have to do is uncheck you in from QF574 PER/SYD ten repeat the process QF11 SYD/LAX. That's why res would have told you not to OLCI.

After they've done that they would probably "link" you so that all of you appear as one group on the PER/SYD flight, then find your conecting flight & match up the QF11 SYD/LAX flight against each of your 5 names.

Once all that has been done they can then check you in, give you both boarding passes & check your bags through to LAX.

In your situation I would checkin 2 hours before given the complexity of your scenario - I think 75 mins is cutting it too fine all things considered.

 

[gogo419]

If you do OLCI for the separate bookings the CSA would not he able to merge the flights in order for your bags to be checked PER/SYD/LAX.

What they would have to do is uncheck you in from QF574 PER/SYD ten repeat the process QF11 SYD/LAX.

After they've done that they would probably "link" you so that all of you appear as one group on the PER/SYD flight, then find your conecting flight & match up the QF11 SYD/LAX flight against each of your 5 names.

Once all that has been done they can then check you in, give you both boarding passes & check your bags through to LAX.

In your situation I would checkin 2 hours before given the complexity of your scenario - I think 75 mins is cutting it too fine all things considered.

Wow!! Thanks for all that information.. I have not checked in online.. They won't merge any of the current bookings because return dates are different... PER check in only opens 105 mins before flight departure.. But I think we will be fine with 75min.. I know dad (WP) has no intention of leaving any earlier.. Surely it won't take very long because I haven't checked in online?

Will have to spot who looks like the most competent agent to check in with...

gogo

 

[gogo419]

Also i have printed a little table with the breakdown of passengers, booking refs and flight segments.. So giving them that to refer off to should help? Instead of them having to have several screens open trying to figure out what is linked to what?

 

[DC3]

... I know dad (WP) has no intention of leaving any earlier.. Surely it won't take very long because I haven't checked in online?...

gogo

And if it all goes pear shaped, then you can blame poor old dad.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

I did a similar itinerary last Oct from Perth to LA via Melb but with 2 seperate booking references.

Our seats were all ready pre-allocted as I needed a bassinet seat but Qantas Call centre joined my husbands, daughter and myself (1 PNR) and my sister who i booked and paid for a few weeks after booking mine (2nd PNR) before we travelled.

Even when checking in an getting bags tagged through, the process still took around 45 mins to get boarding passes, bags tagged through etc. Although travelling with an infant means about 3 extra checked bags!!

Perth checkin opens 2 hours before the flight and seen as your Dad is WP and you have an international business leg (happy to be corrected) you should all be able to get into the Qantas Club so the earlier time means no rushing, have a few drinks.

Head down to the new lounge downstairs as it is quieter then upstairs. To access you need to go up the escalator then down the exit escalator but turn left when you get to the bottom.

On another note, i cant remember if our bags were tagged all the way to Vegas as we were going straight through on the way there but on our return we had our bags tagged from Vegas to Perth by AA but just had to get boarding passes from TBIT after our day in LA and these tickets were all seperate as well.

 

[gogo419]

I did a similar itinerary last Oct from Perth to LA via Melb but with 2 seperate booking references.

Our seats were all ready pre-allocted as I needed a bassinet seat but Qantas Call centre joined my husbands, daughter and myself (1 PNR) and my sister who i booked and paid for a few weeks after booking mine (2nd PNR) before we travelled.

Even when checking in an getting bags tagged through, the process still took around 45 mins to get boarding passes, bags tagged through etc. Although travelling with an infant means about 3 extra checked bags!!

Perth checkin opens 2 hours before the flight and seen as your Dad is WP and you have an international business leg (happy to be corrected) you should all be able to get into the Qantas Club so the earlier time means no rushing, have a few drinks.

Head down to the new lounge downstairs as it is quieter then upstairs. To access you need to go up the escalator then down the exit escalator but turn left when you get to the bottom.

On another note, i cant remember if our bags were tagged all the way to Vegas as we were going straight through on the way there but on our return we had our bags tagged from Vegas to Perth by AA but just had to get boarding passes from TBIT after our day in LA and these tickets were all seperate as well.

was the 45 min how long it took you standing with the agent? Or total time to get through secirity etc as well?

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

That was checkin and sitting in qantas lounge but security line was small as we did red eye out of perth. But considering we had 3 legs, Seperate bookings, pram bag, portcoats, 5 bags, boarding passes, questions about our LA to Vegas flight and if they could tag those bags through.

The checkin agent added our AA ticket numbers to the booking as well.

I just experienced a 30 min checkin time at Easter from Brisbane to Perth!

I couldnt understand what the issue was but it was something to do with our extra infant luggage which gets carried for free anyway!

 

[DC3]

Do you fly out of SYD the following day, after the PER-SYD flight, or is it on the same day?

If on the same day, and looking at some random dates, QF574 is due to arrive in SYD at 12 noon at the domestic terminal. QF11 departs at 1.05pm from the international. How will that affect your stress levels, even if QF574 is on time?

According to EF, QF574 has been delayed an average of 16 minutes over the past 2 months. While it must be a legal connection, as PER-SYD-LAX is bookable on the QF website, it seems very tight with terminal transfers, outbound immigration control, then getting to the gate.

 

[UP4014]

Personal preference, but I never check in online. ( and I don't use a dumb terminal, much prefer a manned counter) As the customer I prefer they do the work, not me.

 

[Kangol]

If you do OLCI for the separate bookings the CSA would not he able to merge the flights in order for your bags to be checked PER/SYD/LAX as oncarriage cannot be added when you are showing as being checked in.

What they would have to do is uncheck you in from QF574 PER/SYD ten repeat the process QF11 SYD/LAX. That's why res would have told you not to OLCI.

After they've done that they would probably "link" you so that all of you appear as one group on the PER/SYD flight, then find your conecting flight & match up the QF11 SYD/LAX flight against each of your 5 names.

Once all that has been done they can then check you in, give you both boarding passes & check your bags through to LAX.

Interesting, I had MEL-LAX and LAX-DFW-ORD on two separate bookings, did OLCI for both and when I got to the MEL F check-in they didn't seem to have a problem.
Maybe the lady did as you said (unchecked them separately then rechecked them together, she did ask me if I did so and I said yes) but it didn't take long at all - no different to any other time I have had to check in luggage for int flights.

Is this (unchecking and rechecking) a long process?

 

[gogo419]

Do you fly out of SYD the following day, after the PER-SYD flight, or is it on the same day?

If on the same day, and looking at some random dates, QF574 is due to arrive in SYD at 12 noon at the domestic terminal. QF11 departs at 1.05pm from the international. How will that affect your stress levels, even if QF574 is on time?

According to EF, QF574 has been delayed an average of 16 minutes over the past 2 months. While it must be a legal connection, as PER-SYD-LAX is bookable on the QF website, it seems very tight with terminal transfers, outbound immigration control, then getting to the gate.

Dad always flys 574 and 11 in the same day with the small connection for work trips. (Carry on only) And also on one ticket... I have warned him several times about the short connection and separate tickets etc.. Told mum as well.. She said if he's happy he's happy.. Lol.. (Until something happens..) fingers crossed we are fine!

Qf11 has also been delayed leaving recently.. And didn't leave at all today!? I believe??

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Wow!! Thanks for all that information.. I have not checked in online.. They won't merge any of the current bookings because return dates are different... PER check in only opens 105 mins before flight departure.. But I think we will be fine with 75min.. I know dad (WP) has no intention of leaving any earlier.. Surely it won't take very long because I haven't checked in online?

If you've only got 1.05 hours in SYD you'll need to be as organised as possible so make sure you have the US address where you'll be staying to give checkin unless you've already advised it online through manage my booking. You'll need this address to put on your arrival form the cabin crew hand out during the flight.

Make sure checkin give you the green outgoing passenger cards so you can complete this during your PER/SYD flight as you'll have no time to do it in SYD. You should also receive the express immigration cards which will get you through outbound customs quicker in SYD.

Also i have printed a little table with the breakdown of passengers, booking refs and flight segments.. So giving them that to refer off to should help? Instead of them having to have several screens open trying to figure out what is linked to what?

Never does any harm but the CSA can retrieve your names in checkin against QF574 they don't need your Amadeus pnr for this but the spreadsheet info would be a handy tool to have on hand if calling up reservations.

Interesting, I had MEL-LAX and LAX-DFW-ORD on two separate bookings, did OLCI for both and when I got to the MEL F check-in they didn't seem to have a problem.

Maybe the lady did as you said (unchecked them separately then rechecked them together, she did ask me if I did so and I said yes) but it didn't take long at all - no different to any other time I have had to check in luggage for int flights.

Is this (unchecking and rechecking) a long process?

They would only need to uncheck you in for the QF flight as the AA flights can still be added in whether or not you've done OLCI. Sometimes the boarding passes print out again for the AA flights which should reflect the same seat numbers on your AA OLCI boarding passes. This happens for BA also.

It doesn't take long all they do is retrieve your names(s) then 'cancel accept' you. Your seat allocation still remains against your name then after they've added the oncarriage flights in they just check you in again.

Dad always flys 574 and 11 in the same day with the small connection for work trips. (Carry on only) And also on one ticket... I have warned him several times about the short connection and separate tickets etc.. Told mum as well.. She said if he's happy he's happy.. Lol.. (Until something happens..) fingers crossed we are fine!

Gogo you seem like you've got a handle on the family's travel arrangements but in view of the fact the old man is WP I'm surprised you didn't stage manage an overnight stay in SYD so you could indulge in eggs benedict in the F Lounge!

 

[gogo419]

Gogo you seem like you've got a handle on the family's travel arrangements but in view of the fact the old man is WP I'm surprised you didn't stage manage an overnight stay in SYD so you could indulge in eggs benedict in the F Lounge!

Ozbeachbabe, it's a sensitive topic! So tread with care! All APIS info has been entered and double checked.. Also luckily I grabbed extra outbound cards when I went O.S two months back.. They are all filled out, signed double checked and ready to go!

I tried so hard to either take the red eye or come over to SYD a day earlier.. But dad was having none of that!

So I took it into my own hands and have a SC run all booked at the end of the family holiday.. Taking me from 380 to 1410 by the time I get back to Perth seven days later... That gives me WP for 22 months plus a year of SG if I decide not to requalify..

First F Lounge run will be July on JQ to melb and back with a mate as we had a trip planned there anyway..

Will start the trip report up again once we get started in several hours.. (Started a thread a while back..)

thanks to everyone that replied!! The knowledge base on here is astounding!!

Touch wood there will be no problems tomorrow!

gogo

 

[serfty]

I am thinking, there's too many on the booking for a WP to guest all into the F/L.

 

[gogo419]

I am thinking, there's too many on the booking for a WP to guest all into the F/L.

Yes, all 5 of us got in 2 years ago in melb.. (All flying Y) But now that the three of us kids are older I think they would be hesitant...

Check in was a breeze just now. All up 20 minutes and I ended up getting the bags tagged to JFK which I hadn't planned on doing.. So a win win situation.. Quick feed in the lounge and then off to boarding!

gogo

 

[cwphoto]

Don't check-in online..