QF on line check in - no time saver

[Anna]

I've just waited 20 minutes for my boarding pass to print for a flight tomorrow. I've now used OLCI 3 times for QF domestic flights and each time I have had to wait ages for the boarding pass to print out, but 20 minutes really takes the cake. Couple that with the delay at the gate each time while they try to get the reader to read the paper boarding pass, and I've decided that OLCI is a waste of my time. My seats are always pre-allocated so there is no advantage to me in using OLCI.

I won't be using OLCI in future.

 

[NM]

Interesting. I have never had any delays in printing my boarding passes and had no problems with my printed boarding passes being read by the gate reader.

Note that another option is to check-in using OLCI and then collect your BP at the Qantas Club service desk. I did this on Tuesday as I did not have printing facilities and it was very quick and easy method.

 

[Shano]

My experiences are similar to yours NM. Whether using the laser printer at work or inkjet at home, printing takes no time at all.

Never had a printed BP rejected by the gate reader either.

 

[oz_mark]

I had problems with the readers (or my paper, or something), when OLCI was first introduced. Always got sent back to get a proper boarding pass. Whatever the issue was does seem to have gone away.

 

[serfty]

Printed some jetconnection BP this morning; took 3 or four minutes for the process.

I have found in recent times that OLCO seems to run much slower tahn Qantas.com in general.

I do perceive a different base URL for the process; probabaly 'tis a different server.

 

[docjames]

Online checkin is fine. Except you cant get an exit seat.

It's the quickcheck that's useless - the last 3 times i've used it it's died whilst i've been using it so ive had to line up to see "customer service". Despite travelling with no baggage. grrr.

 

[Mal]

For someone with Status with Qantas, Online Checkin provides little benefit.

However, it can be handy if you have a habit of sleeping in for early morning flights, or getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport.

The times I've used it, it has been quick and relatively painless. I think the change seats/boarding pass reprint feature is great, and have used that before. It's something that VirginBlue needs to improve with their online checkin system.

 

[QF WP]

I'm on the side of QuickCheck versus OLCI, in line with Aus_Mal's comments.

I used it last night at BNE as well as this afternoon in MEL and both were painless.

 

[DougR]

Usually not a problem for me. Although I was completely unable to get OLCI to actually work once I had selected my booking this Tuesday on a day trip Sydney-Townsville via Brisbane & return. (very tired bunny at the end of that.
Doug

 

[straitman]

Like a few others here. Early days I had 1 or 2 problems but my recent set of flights all worked well. One recent OLCI was done in a Internet Cafe where I was warned that printing was slow and this still only took about a minute or two.

 

[Dave42]

Note that another option is to check-in using OLCI and then collect your BP at the Qantas Club service desk. I did this on Tuesday as I did not have printing facilities and it was very quick and easy method.

Thanks for the tip. I used OLCI yesterday for the first time, but only after completing the process realised the printer had no ink.... I ended up having to queue at BNE airport check in with my boarding pass on a USB key, so next time it will be straight to the QC desk for me

 

[Reggie]

I much prefer the OLCI, to quick check especially in PER. Printing OLCI boarding pass takes little over 2 to 3 mins

 

[littl_flier]

Printed some jetconnection BP this morning; took 3 or four minutes for the process.

I have found in recent times that OLCO seems to run much slower tahn Qantas.com in general.

I'm a big fan of Online checkin for the security of knowing where I am sitting. I was using it to check in for a BNE-MEL flight yesterday and it took four minutes to download at 1kbp/s but that's the first time I've struck it. :shock:

Overall though, I've used it to be seated with colleagues and even jump up the rows. I generally get rows 4-8 on the 737's but I used it recently to jump from 11F to 5A and scored the only spare middle seat on the aircraft. Generally the seatings pretty good and I don't have to do much but for my father who is a QF NB, it can make the difference between Row 26 and Row 12.

I've never printed a boarding pass though, prefer to collect the real thing.

 

[JohnK]

I use OLCI whenever possible but would not go out of my way to use it. That said during the Queensland Mining Towns tour in January 2008 I will need to ensure that I use OLCI the night before as some of my connecting flights the next day will be on up to 4 separate bookings.

I have never printed my own boarding pass preferring to get them issued at the airport.

I've never printed a boarding pass though, prefer to collect the real thing.

Hmmm. The real thing will be become part of history when they start using thermal boarding passes. :-|

 

[Flying Fox]

I have used OLCI a couple of times and haven't had problems even when printing out my own BPs. I find it esp. good for the day trips to a city and back. It can save me some time and reassures me of my seat is not a coughpy one OR at least I know its a coughpy one and am ready for the shock :shock:

 

[Commuter]

Luckily I have not had any issue with printing out the boarding passes from OLCI, except once when my printer decided to play up (and that was not QF's fault). I almost always use the OLCI whenever possible, especially if I am not carrying any bags to check in.

 

[Groundfeeder]

I happily utilise OLCI and print BP's wherever possible - even at Backpacker internet cafes when wireless isn't available. The system works OK for me and have been able to scuttle further forward (my pref) many times.

However, non-FF Mrs Groundfeeder joined me in TSV from BNE on Friday (I organised her booking, OLCI and BP from TSV) and said ground handling/check-in problems meant that everyone had to use machines mid morning in BNE, which caused even more than the usual chaos - anyone else experience this?

I predict that we will all be printing out our baggage strips shortly - watch and see!!

 

[Flying Fox]

Well I just checked in for a flight and managed to jump forward some 20 rows (I didn't realise my profile has a request for the seat right next to the rear lav ). OLCI was very good for me as I now have somewhere decent to sit.

With regards to printing out our own luggage tags, I read somewhere that Air NZ were planning to/may have already issued its Frequent Travellers with RFID tags for their luggage for a true drop-off & go service.

Someone else may be able to clarify this further.

 

[dajop]

I do appreciate OLCI, if running late allows an uninterrupted walk from the car directly to boarding the plane (only happened twice - so far). The other thing I discovered, with my printer defaulting to double sided, I only have to carry 1 boarding pass for 2 sectors when travelling on connecting flights (often).

 

[Warks]

I've only used it once from home (after eventually working out how to find it on the QFF pages). Worked fine. Would have thought the time taken to print would be a problem with your own hardware? I print with no colour (to save ink - hey it ain't cheap) and in fast mode and the reader handled it okay.

Only problem I can see is that you can't print out your pass when away. Unless you carry your own printer?? I hadn't thought to check in just for the hell of it (or to try and grab a better seat).