Thai Airways online check in - can't print boarding pass

[ab9898]

Hi all

Just checked in online for Thai Airways flight tonight. All fine except the "boarding pass" comes up as a "confirmation" document that says "Please contact check-in counter to get your boarding pass".

If I have to line up at the counter to get my boarding pass printed, doesn't this defeat the purpose of online check-in?

As an aside, I am travelling Y but if anyone knows a way that I can buy a single pass to a lounge that would be very much appreciated.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you have checked in on line you can go to the bag drop/internet check-in queue - usually empty. No need to join the general line. They will tag your bag, check your travel documents, and issue you the boarding pass.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Had you pre-allocated a seat when you made the reservation?

If you had no prior seat selection it could possibly mean the flight is either oversold or reasonably full but they may have exit rows or other seats blocked off for airport use. If the amount of blocked seats exceeds the amount of unsold seats then it wouldn't be able to allocate one to you.

 

[ab9898]

If you have checked in on line you can go to the bag drop/internet check-in queue - usually empty. No need to join the general line. They will tag your bag, check your travel documents, and issue you the boarding pass.

Oh okay that's good news, thanks. Didn't know they had a internet check-in queue so that makes sense.

Had you pre-allocated a seat when you made the reservation?

If you had no prior seat selection it could possibly mean the flight is either oversold or reasonably full but they may have exit rows or other seats blocked off for airport use. If the amount of blocked seats exceeds the amount of unsold seats then it wouldn't be able to allocate one to you.

I'd already reserved my seat during booking process so I don't think this is the reason.

 

[Cynicor]

Generally international flights need to see your passport before you get a BP.

 

[ab9898]

Generally international flights need to see your passport before you get a BP.

Fair enough - I thought customs did that too but makes sense

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Fair enough - I thought customs did that too but makes sense

While the passenger is ultimately responsible for ensuring they have the correct documentation to enter a country (which may include visa and onward or return tickets), airlines will also get fined if they transport a passenger who is subsequently refused entry. For this reason airlines will check your travel documents. Outbound customs/immigration have no part in this process.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Generally international flights need to see your passport before you get a BP.

Fair enough - I thought customs did that too but makes sense

If your passport details were in the booking and your onward flight was in that same pnr it may have worked.

The airline checking you in is responsible for checking you have sufficient validity left on your passport eg 6 months for Indonesia otherwise they will cop a $5,000.00 fine and you'll be sent back home on the next flight.

All AU customs check is that you have a valid document to depart Australia and you haven't overstayed if on a visa. It's not their job to check that you have at least 6 months on your passport when travelling to Bali.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I did TG OLCI once hoping to be able to transfer airside at SIN coming off TZ with not a great deal of time to spare (as scheduled).

TZ being an LCC I wasn't eligible for a normal transfer (receiving BP at one of the transfer desks), but there is no apparent reason why OLCI can't work considering HLO and positive ID checking by airline staff at the gate.

In the end there was sufficient time to exit and re-enter. Check-in staff stated that OLCI could not be used airside. The printed piece of paper was torn up and a regular BP given.

I recall someone on AFF posting that Jetstar Asia Straight to Gate similarly can't be used for airside transfer at SIN.

If I have to line up at the counter to get my boarding pass printed, doesn't this defeat the purpose of online check-in?

From a traveller's perspective, it appears pointless unless there is a dedicated OLCI counter, which does often enjoy a much shorter queue.

I cannot understand what purpose it serves from the airline's point of view (but obviously there must be one). Time at the counter seems just as long and it is not evident that anything has been automated or streamlined for the agent. It may as well be regular check-in as far as I can tell.

 

[Happy Trails]

I cannot understand what purpose it serves from the airline's point of view (but obviously there must be one). Time at the counter seems just as long and it is not evident that anything has been automated or streamlined for the agent. It may as well be regular check-in as far as I can tell.

I don't know, but I guess it saves having to enter basic info like DOB, passport number and expiry date etc.

Maybe only a 10 second saving per pax, but multiply that by a few hundred...

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I don't know, but I guess it saves having to enter basic info like DOB, passport number and expiry date etc.

I thought swiping an e-passport captures all of that automatically.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought swiping an e-passport captures all of that automatically.

i guess for USA on-line check in captures your address etc for the first night? that would save a lot of time.

 

[JohnK]

I recall someone on AFF posting that Jetstar Asia Straight to Gate similarly can't be used for airside transfer at SIN.

One can use the transfer desks for 3K in SIN. I do it all the time.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

One can use the transfer desks for 3K in SIN. I do it all the time.

Are you saying you can come off an LCC (not full service carrier) in SIN and transfer to 3K airside?

 

[JohnK]

Are you saying you can come off an LCC (not full service carrier) in SIN and transfer to 3K airside?

If the LCC arrives in T1, T2 or T3 then you should be able to use the airside transfer desks.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

For some reason I had read and assumed it wasn't possible to transfer to or from LCCs airside in SIN.

In hindsight, it appears there isn't a restriction on transferring from an LCC. In the TZ>TG scenario I had intended to attempt/enquire, but there was a group at the transfer desk that clearly wasn't going to get sorted any time soon, so it was quicker to exit and re-enter. When I asked at check-in, they didn't say anything about being able to transfer airside (only that OLCI couldn't be used), but that doesn't surprise me.

And it would seem that there isn't any specific or deliberate restriction on transferring to an LCC airside. However, of the 11 LCCs noted as operating from SIN, evidently only Jetstar and Cebu have a presence at the airside transfer desks, so other LCC passengers are de facto forced to go landside to check in. (Even though I still can't see any reason why OLCI shouldn't be permitted.)

So one would hope that the 3K desk can and does handle all transfer scenarios airside, including LCC>3K with checked baggage (despite the Changi website indicating otherwise).

 

[JohnK]

So one would hope that the 3K desk can and does handle all transfer scenarios airside, including LCC>3K with checked baggage (despite the Changi website indicating otherwise).

You will be fine as long as you have a luggage tag. No difference if transferring QF/EK-3K or TZ-3K.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

If the LCC arrives in T1, T2 or T3 then you should be able to use the airside transfer desks.

In hindsight, it appears there isn't a restriction on transferring from an LCC.

Not possible to transfer from LCC (TR) to FSC (QF) airside on my last trip. (To or from 3K/JQ is still fine.)

T1 transfer desk refused to check me in. Immigration officer said it's the responsibility of the last airline (TR), not the next airline (QF), which is presumably a cost issue (and therefore unsurprising).