What do people do at the check in counter for 16min???

[serfty]

Back in 2006 when I had a paper ticket with AA, I spent a super long time at the counter.

I can't remember the cities but me & the Mrs were traveling A-B-C-D. However, when I check-in for the A-B flight, they also took the B-C coupon. So when I tried to get onto my B-C flight there was no coupon. Mrs Flying Fox was OK. I tried to explain that there obviously was a mistake as the flight was clearly listed for the correct date & time I didn't take the flight already. However, the lady at check-in couldn't deal with it. Called in supervisors x2, forms filled in, people typed stuff, people looked at each other. Eventually we both got on our flight. It was annoying but mistakes happen. Felt bad for holding up the lines but it wasn't really my fault.

Similar happend to me back in 1998 when we had a MEL-xLHR-DUB-LGW,LHR-xSYD-MEL itinerary with paper tickets for me, mini me, SWMBO and M-I-L.

When checking in at LHR T4 f we found M-I-L's coupon for LHR-SYD had gone missing, assumed it was accidentally extracted at DUB check-in.

Had to go over to QF ticketing to get her ticket re-issued, but it took 35 minutes - back then I had CC room access as a Qantas Gold flyer.:evil:

 

[Skyring]

To top it off I was then horribly unwell for the entire 15 hour flight home - possibly something I ate in the QF J-lounge at LAX. The CSM and FO on QF94 were sorely tempted to divert to HNL but I said I'd struggle on. Clearing quarantine in Melbourne I was escorted to a private room (I could barely walk at this stage) and questioned by a medical person, then released.

Were you bound?

 

[tuapekastar]

I would have just said "thanks" and seen if it stuck at AKL!

I could have done that but elected not to. I can't know for sure what would have happened but I pictured the following scenario:

1. I had selected my favourite Y 738 Row 4 aisle seat months before.
2. I get mistakenly (and rest assured it was a mistake) allocated a seat in J. I say nothing.
3. I fly 14 hours or so to AKL
4. The J cabin is fully booked, and as others check in it is apparent that 13 into 12 doesn't go, and investigation shows me to be the non-J pax with a J BP (but they don't advise me until I'm at the gate)
5. In the meantime the fully loaded Y cabin has had all pax check in, one of whom is allocated the now vacant row 4 seat I had originally chosen
6. I get a beep at the gate, and seat 29B, with no option to change it.

That's only one possible scenario, but no thanks, not risking 4 hours in a hated middle seat down the back!

 

[dajop]

I too used to wonder about this. It really annoys me when there are individual counter queues (its not as bad for snake queues). But alas, I have fallen victim to it as well. My record is about one hour, next one about 35-40 mins.

First was on a star alliance D circle asia fare, checking in for SIN-ICN on SQ. I'd already taken MEL-SIN leg, but SQ could not see a valid e-ticket. Check-in agent closed, and we went across to service counter and consulted with supervisor. After contacting my TA to no avail, I had a brainwave to call NZ in AKL (ticketing carrier) on my mobile and another 15 mins later it was sorted. Thank goodness I was at the airport early.

Second was on a star alliance D circle asia fare, checking in for PEK-ICN (a theme emerging here?) on CA. I'd already taken SYD-ICN-NRT-PEK legs, so ticket valid, but CA could not see a valid ticket. After consulting SQ ticketing, my travel agent and service desk, CA simply washed there hands of me and said there is nothing they could do. I got my TA to move me to an OZ flight departing in 90 mins time, went to OZ to check-in and was done there within 2 minutes.

As an aside, I see the star alliance circle asia fare has been discontinued. Not surprised.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I could have done that but elected not to. I can't know for sure what would have happened but I pictured the following scenario:

1. I had selected my favourite Y 738 Row 4 aisle seat months before.
2. I get mistakenly (and rest assured it was a mistake) allocated a seat in J. I say nothing.
3. I fly 14 hours or so to AKL
4. The J cabin is fully booked, and as others check in it is apparent that 13 into 12 doesn't go, and investigation shows me to be the non-J pax with a J BP (but they don't advise me until I'm at the gate)
5. In the meantime the fully loaded Y cabin has had all pax check in, one of whom is allocated the now vacant row 4 seat I had originally chosen
6. I get a beep at the gate, and seat 29B, with no option to change it.

That's only one possible scenario, but no thanks, not risking 4 hours in a hated middle seat down the back!

well, we will never know.

 

[gogo419]

Our family of 5 recently checked in for PER-SYD-LAX-JFK. Passengers were spread over 5 separate bookings.. And it was a separate booking for each leg. Approached the QF premium check in with all passports and e-tickets.. Everyone checked in. Tickets issued and bags tagged through to JFK in less than 10 minutes! Whilst at the same time every other passenger checking in with an agent had not keyed in their ESTA and passport info beforehand.. And had not thought to even get any of their paperwork out before arriving at the desk... Who knows how much longer they stayed after us...? But they were at the desk before we approached an agent.

I was preparing for ours to be a possible nightmare checking in... But couldn't have gone any better.

gogo

 

[here2go]

After queuing for 16 or so minutes at VA Checkin in DRW this morning I was whether I want my bags checked through to my final destination, ie CBR. Umm...... yes.

 

[11sjw]

Similar happend to me back in 1998 when we had a MEL-xLHR-DUB-LGW,LHR-xSYD-MEL itinerary with paper tickets for me, mini me, SWMBO and M-I-L.

When checking in at LHR T4 f we found M-I-L's coupon for LHR-SYD had gone missing, assumed it was accidentally extracted at DUB check-in.

Had to go over to QF ticketing to get her ticket re-issued, but it took 35 minutes - back then I had CC room access as a Qantas Gold flyer.:evil:

She's the MIL, surely you just leave her and say "Sorry, dem's da breaks!"

 

[cirqueboy]

It can happen to the most seasoned traveller....

+1 and I were checking in to a flight from POA (Porto Alegre, Brazil) to MIA last year. The trip was booked on Expedia during the start of their transition on the US site to the new layout. +1 has a long two name hyphenated surname that printed out just fine on the Expedia E-Ticket but on the TAM computer system, it cut off the last letter of +1's surname. As this didn't match the passport AND we were flying to the USA, it caused quite a stir.

At first, the check in agent said we couldn't fly. We produced the E-Ticket and then she said she would need to call a supervisor. 20 mins or so later the supervisor turned up, situation explained. Supervisor said we couldn't fly. Again, we showed our documentation. Supervisor said he would need to call the Duty Manager. Another 20 - 30 mins, Duty Manager shows up.

Up until this point, we had terrific English and Spanish with the original check in agent, the Supervisor had no English whatsoever and very little Spanish. So we did our collective best to understand each other in a kind of "Portunol" (the hybrid Portuguese/Spanish spoken around the Brazilian/Argentine border) interspersed with English where it was understood.

When the completely charming and lovely duty manager arrived, who spoke impeccable English and Spanish (much to our relief, as we are fluent in both!), she had it sorted in 2 mins. Solution: change +1's first name to just the initial, thus allowing the system to display the whole surname. Apparently this is an acceptable format for entry to the USA. And it was fine. Border Control in MIA didn't even bat an eyelid (+1 is a Canadian Citizen, so I reckon this also helped!)

The whole process was around an hour, we just stood at the side while the agent checked in others and then went back to the desk when there was an update/development. You just have to take this stuff in your stride, part of the travel experience.

We had a chance to chat to the check in lady between passengers checking in, she had a cool demeanour and a great sense of humour. I think we all kept each other sane in what could have been a rather tense time.

 

[lanaroberts99]

"Computer says 'no'"!

Reading this, it immediately brought me back to the scene in "Little Britain" where the check-in agent behind the desk was typing profusely on the keyboard...

 

[TSVflyer]

A couple of months ago I spent 35 minutes at Beijing Int airport trying to check in to a JETSTAR Business Max flight to SIN. The check in clerk wanted to charge me for my luggage and would not give me a business lounge pass. A big palaver followed and eventually he phoned JETSTAR in Melbourne (at 1am!) and finally the problem was solved. It was clearly a case of the check in staff were only used to dealing with the bucket and spade brigade going on cheap holidays. Otherwise JETSTAR business was very good value for the money, as well as the status credits that keeps my platinum alive.