International Online Checkin - don't make my mistake

[Moody]

A couple of days ago I was checking in to a Sydney/Auckland flight and was looking forward to my first beer in the QC. There were no queues at the premium desks and I was quickly filling out the embarkation form at the desk to save time, but I didn't need to rush.

The women typed away for a while and then said that she couldn't check me in. She asked me to sit down and then went off in search of help, then 10 minutes later she came back and said she needed to find the supervisor who was in some other area of the terminal. Another 10 minutes passed by before the 2 of them came back, and the supervisor explained the problem.

He asked if I had checked in online (which I had) and he quickly added that I had done nothing wrong but had fallen foul of the wording on the form. In the Advanced Passenger Information page there is a section that asks about your passport, so I supplied the type (UK), number (as if), and Issuing Country (Australia). The last reponse was the problem, as I assumed they were interested in the place of issue (Canberra) but what the question actually meant was "What nation issues UK passports?"

The answer, obviously, is the UK. So why they ask that particular question is beyond me, but once I had reponded in that fashion and checked-in to the flight there was nothing the desk staff could do about it. The system took one look at the info and rejected my request to visit NZ as my information was flawed. The solution was to un-check me in, fix the info, and then start again.

So beware this trap for the literally minded, and consider whether it is worth going through online checkin at all for international flights. Or am I being a Luddite here?

 

[tuapekastar]

I can sympathise, a pretty easy 'mistake' to make (as stated, you fell foul of a somewhat ambiguously worded question).

I OLCI'ed last w/end for an AKL-MEL flight. I only did so because ever since booking it a couple of months ago, seat selection was not possible, either online or on the dog and bone to Qantas. Very glad I did, as despite a long-standing Aisle/Forward preference in my profile I had been allocated a middle, and was able to switch myself to an aisle one row back. In your situation I may well have answered the question as you did.

If 1) your (not you specifically, but anyone in general) seat is pre-allocated and you're happy with it, and 2) you have access to premium checkin counters, then I can't see any real reason to OLCI. It is mandatory to approach a counter anyway, so why not just do a normal checkin?

I don't think you're being a Luddite at all. I OLCI for domestic wherever possible, but will be avoiding it for International wherever possible (unless another poster or a QF 'enhancement' provides a sound reason for me to do so).

 

[notzac]

No, the international check in system definitely has problems. For example, I do not understand why, after checking in online, you can't log back in and change your seat. Nor can QF staff members do so over the phone. Especially in comparison to domestic check in, this is an annoying policy.

 

[medhead]

He asked if I had checked in online (which I had) and he quickly added that I had done nothing wrong but had fallen foul of the wording on the form. In the Advanced Passenger Information page there is a section that asks about your passport, so I supplied the type (UK), number (as if), and Issuing Country (Australia). The last reponse was the problem, as I assumed they were interested in the place of issue (Canberra) but what the question actually meant was "What nation issues UK passports?"

So beware this trap for the literally minded, and consider whether it is worth going through online checkin at all for international flights. Or am I being a Luddite here?

Can I vote door 2?

Sorry in advance, I am trying to be sympathetic and I think I can understand how and why this happened. But I really can't see what is confusing about Issuing Country. Which country issued a passport has absolutely nothing to do with the place it is issued at.

Really it seems to me that the issue is that you thought too much about the question (I'm very guilty of the same thing = recognise my faults in others) and you assumed. What do they say don't assume because you only make an cough out of u and me.

Really sorry if this is harsh. This type of thing really gets up my nose. Another example is buying a house in South Australia. This involves a declaration of factors about the land. One question is 'Has the land been used for the distribution of chemicals, fuels and etc.?' Now I read that question, and my lawyer agrees, as meaning has the land been a chemical depot or a petrol station. But the real estate agents in SA all take it to mean have you spray fly spray on the land. So they all answer yes to the question, which makes the question totally useless. If I'm buying land I want to know if it is potential contaminated with nasty stuff, but I have no idea because these dills are trying to tell me someone has sprayed fly spray. :evil:

Despite my comments I do appreciate the warning.

 

[anat0l]

Is the information required for the ambiguous question found in one's passport under this field as follows?

Code of issuing state

For me, Australian citizen with Australian issued passport in Australia, the code is, obviously, AUS. There is also another field near the bottom named "Authority" and this one says "Brisbane". I'm taking this is the physical place that prints the passport and gives it to you, cf. the issuing state is the one which actually gives the OK to issue the passport, but they don't necessarily have to be the ones that print it.

In any case, is it possible to be issued a passport for nation A but the issuing country is nation B?

 

[dajop]

There is also another field near the bottom named "Authority" and this one says "Brisbane". I'm taking this is the physical place that prints the passport and gives it to you,

In my most passport (issued last year) the "Authority" now just says "Australia" (on earlier passports it used to say Melbourne). I assume if I went into the high commission in Singapore to renew it would say "Singapore" as the "Authority", or maybe not? This could create confusion that the OP has indicated.

 

[anat0l]

In my most passport (issued last year) the "Authority" now just says "Australia" (on earlier passports it used to say Melbourne). I assume if I went into the high commission in Singapore to renew it would say "Singapore" as the "Authority", or maybe not? This could create confusion that the OP has indicated.

My passport was issued in 2002, i.e. it is the "old", non-RFID enabled passport.

I am the only one in my family with an "old" passport. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Or neither. :-|

 

[serfty]

My passport was issued in 2002, i.e. it is the "old", non-RFID enabled passport.

I am the only one in my family with an "old" passport. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Or neither. :-|

It's a bad thing in one sense that you can't use smartgate.

This is generally quicker than using the express lanes.

 

[anat0l]

It's a bad thing in one sense that you can't use smartgate.

This is generally quicker than using the express lanes.

Well, better than my dad saying that I wouldn't be able to enter a certain country without a new passport. He was advising me strongly to go get a new one even though my current one doesn't expire until 2012 and it's no where near full (a la Kiwi Flyer's (FT) passport).

 

[serfty]

Note that you often need at least 6 months validity on entry to some countries, so it's really only a 9½ year PP.

 

[simongr]

Can I vote door 2?

Sorry in advance, I am trying to be sympathetic and I think I can understand how and why this happened. But I really can't see what is confusing about Issuing Country. Which country issued a passport has absolutely nothing to do with the place it is issued at.

Really it seems to me that the issue is that you thought too much about the question (I'm very guilty of the same thing = recognise my faults in others) and you assumed. What do they say don't assume because you only make an cough out of u and me.

Actually you might find that the issuer in this case is "FCO" being the foreign and commonwealth office who issue the passports here in Australia.

I do find it weird that my country of issuer is not a country at all...

 

[ludoh]

Interesting read - about to fly SYD-JFK new week and filled out the Advance Passenger Information On-Line at the Qantas site - have Dutch Passport which was "issued" in Sydney. I have now changed (based on this thread) issuing country to Netherlands - hopefully this is correct.....???

Don't even know if this makes a difference (also filled out the ESTA online one and that one asks for Issuing Country but then explains it is the country of citizenship!)

 

[bamboli]

Be aware that NZ passports are ALL now only 5years

 

[Timtammi]

This is all very interesting as this is something that has effected me and I've never been sure how to answer it. However, its never got me into trouble so either A - Ive been answering it correctly or B - nobody has been checking!

I've had to answer this question in various immi related forms and have been putting FCO as I have a British Passport that was issued here in Australia and it says FCO under Authority. So is FCO the right answer or not? I'm a bit confused now..


Cheers

 

[Voyages]

Ummm, it says there're 12 members and 105 guests currently reading this thread. That's huge!
(I am sorry I didn't mean to hijack this thread)

Now everyone, get back to work please , apart from Sydneysiders (or Queenslanders?) who're absent from work for one reason or another.

 

[Moody]

Be aware that NZ passports are ALL now only 5years

Taking on board all the good-natured chiding about confusing the place of origin (yes it does now say "FCO" rather than "British High Commission, Canberra" as it used to do) with the Country of issuance (GBR), I am even more seriously contemplating getting a local passport.

My choices seem to be NZ (born there) or Oz (resident there). Much as I hate to say it I am not very loyal to either and cost and convenience will be a large factor. I know the outlay in Oz for citizenship and 10-year passport, but what about NZ?

And the deal-breaker might be what sort of questions do you have to answer, because I could no more recite facts about the All Blacks as I could about Donald Bradman. Perhaps neither country will want me.

 

[medhead]

Is the information required for the ambiguous question found in one's passport under this field as follows?

Code of issuing state

For me, Australian citizen with Australian issued passport in Australia, the code is, obviously, AUS. There is also another field near the bottom named "Authority" and this one says "Brisbane". I'm taking this is the physical place that prints the passport and gives it to you, cf. the issuing state is the one which actually gives the OK to issue the passport, but they don't necessarily have to be the ones that print it.

In any case, is it possible to be issued a passport for nation A but the issuing country is nation B?

No, of course it is not to be issued a passport for one country by a different country.

The language here is rather simple. The Issuing State is country that is named on the front of the passport. A "state" as in a country, or similiar that is legal responsible for it's citizens. This is not the authority, which will be defined in the legislation of the issuing state as being authorised to issue passports on behalf of the issuing state.

So the authority can be anyone from the DFAT office in Brisbane to the high commissioner in Singapore of even the FCO. All of these authorities are issuing passports and on behalf of, and as authorised by, the issuing state.

Actually you might find that the issuer in this case is "FCO" being the foreign and commonwealth office who issue the passports here in Australia.

I do find it weird that my country of issuer is not a country at all...

Talk about mixing terms. The issuer does so on behalf of a country, the country of the issuer is totally irrelevant. The issuing country or state is the country whose name is printed on the front of your passport.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Both my parents are overseas born and neither Australian citizens so I am glad you started a thread as I could have made the same error, my mum wants me to check her in next week for a flight to the USA and I might just ask her to do it at the airport.

 

[Moody]

If your parents are travelling to the USA then their #1 priority is to visit the ESTA website to get their electronic visa sorted. The best starting point is the CBP.gov - home page website. These last for 2 years (I think) and it is well worth noting down the reference number as you can keep going back to check on the expiry date.

The Qantas API page is possibly less of a challenge than I make out, but if you want to use it then have your parents' passports in front of you as you fill in the form. Trivial mistakes can lead to annoying delays in my experience.

 

[straitman]

The Qantas API page is possibly less of a challenge than I make out, but if you want to use it then have your parents' passports in front of you as you fill in the form. Trivial mistakes can lead to annoying delays in my experience.

The Qantas web site also seems to lose the info on occasions:!: :evil: