Why should do online check-in when flying?
This, from American Airlines:
“Your trip is eligible for check-in now. Save time at the airport and check-in on AA.com® any time from now up to one hour prior to your departure. To use our new instant check-in feature, simply click the button below and print your boarding pass. Save this email and use your personal check-in button for quick and easy check-in for your return flight.”
Anyone have any idea what possible benefit I get for checking in online? I don’t think any of these
- Save Time? How? I still have to go show my Id before getting my boarding pass don’t I?
- Checked bags? Still have to go to the counter as usual, don’t I?
Checking in online seems cool, but why???
Popularity: 14% [?]
May 30th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Moreover the whole point (as I get it) is to know whether you coming or not to let others fill your seat and don’t let the plane go empty. The online checking in is not helping with this at all. Hm…
I wonder how it would change the procedure if the AA network was accessible from within the airport only though. Shorter lines? Curious.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I LIKE online check-in because I rarely check a bag. But I often run late to the airport. So not only does online check-in save me some time at the airport by skipping some lines but the airline won’t give my seat away if I miss the 45 minute check-in requirement!
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I suspect that it saves the airline time and money, by reducing the number of check-in agents and kiosks necessary at the airport. It also allows them to get confirmations of travel further in advance, which allows them to manage overbooking with better information.
Oh, you meant you wanted to know how it saved _you_ time?
June 5th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Is there less chance of getting bumped from an overbooked flight if you check in online, in advance?
June 5th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Only have to show your ID at security. I used this when traveling out of SFO where the line to get to the self-service kiosks are usually 15+ minutes long.
Don’t know about checking baggage.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Robert - do people get actively bumped from overbooked flights these days? I’m used to hearing offers over the PA that escalate up to multiple free round-trip tickets, until they get enough people to give up seats. (There’s an interesting prisoner’s dilemma situation there…)