I was OLCI'd without actually OCLIing

[MissBurrill]

When I flew from Sydney to the USA I OCLI'd even though I didn't have a printer which meant alot more work for the check-in man (he had to offload me then onload me). Having learnt my lesson I didn't bother with it for my flight home. I get to the airport and the check-in woman asked me why I had OCLI'd myself into a middle seat :shock:

I was annoyed because previously I had an aisle seat with a blocked middle. The nice lady at Qantas told me that a month ago and I still had that seat up until when I looked on the weekend. I am now on an aisle at the back of the cabin. At least it's where there are just 2 seats.........

All I can think of is one of my friends who I'd given my flight details to has done it as a joke. Ha ha ha thanks :evil:

Has anyone else found themselves OCLI'd when they didn't want to be?

PS The British lounge at JFK is very nice.

 

[serfty]

... All I can think of is one of my friends who I'd given my flight details to has done it as a joke. Ha ha ha thanks :evil: ...

Unfortunately, that's probably the most likely reason. :-|

 

[ejb]

Surely you will hunt them down and kill them:evil:

ejb

 

[NM]

I get to the airport and the check-in woman asked me why I had OCLI'd myself into a middle seat :shock:
...
All I can think of is one of my friends who I'd given my flight details to has done it as a joke. Ha ha ha thanks :evil:

Very nasty indeed. A good lesson for others to not provide the booking reference details to others unless absolutely necessary. At least at check-in you were able to get a reasonable seat. If this was a prank by a "friend" than I suggest its a very low form of humour indeed :evil:.

 

[harvyk]

Surely you will hunt them down and kill them:evil:

ejb

+1 for killing...

 

[Groundfeeder]

No, no - give them the seat!!

 

[Leumas]

Could it be an aircraft change where your original seat number became a different cabin class? In that case, I think the system may just throw you into any random seat.

BTW, if you OLCI'ed without printed a BP, I wonder why they needed to offload and reload you...? I never print any BPs, and when I turn up at check-in, while they can see I've checked in, they just print my BP. The process is over in seconds.

 

[NM]

Could it be an aircraft change where your original seat number became a different cabin class? In that case, I think the system may just throw you into any random seat.

That would not result in the passenger being check-in though, just assigned a seat.

BTW, if you OLCI'ed without printed a BP, I wonder why they needed to offload and reload you...? I never print any BPs, and when I turn up at check-in, while they can see I've checked in, they just print my BP. The process is over in seconds.

I suspect the off-load on-load process was to change the seat assignment since she was already checked-in for the flight.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Could it be an aircraft change where your original seat number became a different cabin class? In that case, I think the system may just throw you into any random seat.

That would not result in the passenger being check-in though, just assigned a seat.

BTW, if you OLCI'ed without printed a BP, I wonder why they needed to offload and reload you...? I never print any BPs, and when I turn up at check-in, while they can see I've checked in, they just print my BP. The process is over in seconds.

I suspect the off-load on-load process was to change the seat assignment since she was already checked-in for the flight.

If your booking is still live you could ask QF to check the seating history so it will tell you if the seat change to a middle was done via your 'friend' via OLCI or actioned by QF in the case of a plane change. Sometimes if that exact same seat number you were orginally allocated does not exist on the replacement aircraft and you end up anywhere eg middle seat.

QF would not need to offload you to change your seat number as when you're offloaded that seat allocation still remains next to your name so you would receive the same seating when checked in again. The checkin agent could deallocate your seating which would most likely give you a different seat when he/she checked you in again however why not just change your seat in the first place without having to offload?

It could possibly be the link was down for your APP data ie ESTA visa number to be verified so offloading you would generate the request again for verification so I'ld say it's more likely something to do with that rather than a seating issue.

Also re the seat next to your original one being blocked. I don't see how someone in reservations could know a seat was going to be blocked on a particular flight. Did she mean it was yet to be allocated maybe? If it was a full flight that seat would've been allocated to someone who checked in at the airport who had not selected a seat at the time of booking or prior to arriving at the airport.

Cheers

Oz

 

[MissBurrill]

Also re the seat next to your original one being blocked. I don't see how someone in reservations could know a seat was going to be blocked on a particular flight. Did she mean it was yet to be allocated maybe? If it was a full flight that seat would've been allocated to someone who checked in at the airport who had not selected a seat at the time of booking or prior to arriving at the airport.

The person who told me the seat was blocked wasn't reservations. It was someone from head office following up on an incident where a fellow passenger had spoken rather inappropriately to me about his willy (the crew were wonderful that flight). She did say it was blocked and would be one of the last to be allocated.

It just seemed odd at New York to be told I had OLCI'd to a middle seat. But hey in the end I had a good flight with a great seat buddy. Discovered being thinner than the seat is not good when turbulence is knocking the plane side to side. It meant I was moving side to side even with the belt tightly done up. Was the last row on the 747 where there are 2 seats. I may have had fun putting my seat up and reclining into anyone who leaned against my seat

 

[MissBurrill]

Another thing I forgot to mention was that when I was sitting on the train from Sydney to Gosford this morning I looked at my bag tags. I seem to remember that they usually have QF and my number and surname. They had the right surname but the FF number wasn't mine. The boarding pass is correct. I wonder if she initially looked at the wrong passenger then swipped my FF card through.

Plus at the lounge there was a fail to board passenger for a different flight with my last name.....

 

[NM]

Another thing I forgot to mention was that when I was sitting on the train from Sydney to Gosford this morning I looked at my bag tags. I seem to remember that they usually have QF and my number and surname. They had the right surname but the FF number wasn't mine. The boarding pass is correct. I wonder if she initially looked at the wrong passenger then swipped my FF card through.

in my experience with Qantas, FF numbers do not appear on baggage tags. Just your name, flight number and destination, and a baggage reference/receipt number.

 

[MissBurrill]

in my experience with Qantas, FF numbers do not appear on baggage tags. Just your name, flight number and destination, and a baggage reference/receipt number.

Thanks. I think I am still awake. Will not go to sleep till later. My body doesn't know what time zone it is in, just that it keeps wanting food.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Another thing I forgot to mention was that when I was sitting on the train from Sydney to Gosford this morning I looked at my bag tags. I seem to remember that they usually have QF and my number and surname. They had the right surname but the FF number wasn't mine. The boarding pass is correct. I wonder if she initially looked at the wrong passenger then swipped my FF card through.

Plus at the lounge there was a fail to board passenger for a different flight with my last name.....

AFAIK the only QF number on the thermal bag tag is the tag number itself which is "QFxx_xx_" QF followed by six numerical digits. If your frequent flyer number is correct on your boarding pass you will get the points.

I wonder if someone with the same surname as you was accidentally checked in on your booking into middle seat at the airport prior to you getting there (we'll go along with the theory that there was a config change or aircraft swap) which may lead the checkin agent to assume you had web checked.

If they looked into the checkin record they could tell who checked 'you' in and if it was OLCI or at the airport.

My 2c worth says the other person was wrongly checked in as you & when they swiped their passport at checkin the passport number & name didn't match the details in your flight record from your forward flight & they've realised they've got the wrong person.

Instead of offloading you then finding the correct flight your namesake was on they've left you checked in, probably found the pax on the correct flight & checked them in accordingly but that would explain why the checkin agent thought you'd OCLI'd.

You say there were fail to board calls in the lounge for your namesake.....I take it they found that pax eventually?

I'd forget all the conspiracy theories for the moment - it can be easy to jump to conclusions here when it may have just been gool ol' human error.

Cheers

Oz

 

[MissBurrill]

I'd forget all the conspiracy theories for the moment - it can be easy to jump to conclusions here when it may have just been gool ol' human error.

Cheers

Oz

I think you got it in one.

Must stay awake till after Bold and the Beautiful. Jet Lag kicking in......