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What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

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Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#61

Post by BiggsHoson »

browningstreet wrote: post #40

Boarded a plane today. Me and my son both have pre check. His digital boarding pass didn’t have pre check on it. They sent him to regular security. I walked through with his paper boarding pass (we got when checking luggage), so he had to go get another one. His second boarding pass had pre check on it. Whatever this system is, this is ridiculous. These tickets were bought together, and our numbers were entered corre…

And that may not be all that's needed. I recently went through the TSA Precheck line (my ticket had the little Pre heck logo on it) but the check-in dude did not give me the laminated poster board that said "Precheck" on it. I don't fly often enough to have noticed, so when I got to the security apparatus 15 feet further I was treated as non-Precheck. It did not matter that I could show my ticket had the appropriate logo on it. No card, no Precheck. One more slap in the face from the Security Theater.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#62

Post by refurb »

Naga wrote: post #26
thomasahle wrote: post #3

> Some airlines (particularly non-U.S. ones) will completely void your ticket (meaning that it loses all value) if you miss a flight after checking in. (Most U.S. airlines do not do this.) Does this mean that in the US, if I miss my flight, my ticket is still somehow valid? I have never heard of this.

This is really interesting. As a non-U.S. based and infrequent traveller, I had always just assumed that you lost the value of the ticket if you missed the trip. I never really understood sitcoms where no one seems to care if they missed their flights or not, but this would make a lot of sense.

Having flow a lot after living in different countries, the US major airlines used to be pretty flexible compared to others. I can recall landing at a connecting airport, strolling up to a gate for an earlier flight and asking if I could switch and after checking it was usually “sure”. Missed flights rebooked, etc.

I recall connecting in Vancouver with Air Canada and asking the same and the answer was “thatll be $130 to change your ticket”. This is with a half empty flight leaving in 30 min.

I know United started charging some fee for last minute flight changes, but it’s way better than other airlines.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#63

Post by refurb »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #51

It's pointless. You need to check your luggage and verify your documents anyway, electronic check-in is a waste of time... I used to do it, now I don't.

I guess it depends? For business travel it’s carry on only and documents are verified at security.

I had the process down perfectly where I could leave home and be at the gate, ready to board, 30 minutes later. Jump out of the cab, go to pre-check line, 5 min later walking to gate.

Without online check-in that would be impossible.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#64

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

madcaptenor wrote: post #32
Naga wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is really interesting. As a non-U.S. based and infrequent traveller, I had always just assumed that you lost the value of the ticket if you missed the trip. I never really understood sitcoms where no one seems to care if they missed their flights or not, but this would make a lot of sense.

I've missed maybe five or so domestic flights on "legacy" US airlines (American/Delta/United). If I recall correctly, on all but one of those I was rebooked. On the remaining one I was not rebooked; the airline tried to accommodate me but they couldn't get me where I was going in time for the thing I was going to. That being said, I do care if I miss my flight, because it's obviously a pain even if you do get rebooke…

Most US based airlines will charge you a rebooking fee however, so it’s not completely hassle free. It’s often around $80-100 USD. Southwest Airlines is the only major carrier I know that does not charge this fee.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#65

Post by rexf »

BiggsHoson wrote: post #61
browningstreet wrote: post #40

Boarded a plane today. Me and my son both have pre check. His digital boarding pass didn’t have pre check on it. They sent him to regular security. I walked through with his paper boarding pass (we got when checking luggage), so he had to go get another one. His second boarding pass had pre check on it. Whatever this system is, this is ridiculous. These tickets were bought together, and our numbers were entered corre…

And that may not be all that's needed. I recently went through the TSA Precheck line (my ticket had the little Pre heck logo on it) but the check-in dude did not give me the laminated poster board that said "Precheck" on it. I don't fly often enough to have noticed, so when I got to the security apparatus 15 feet further I was treated as non-Precheck. It did not matter that I could show my ticket had the appropriate…

What is the precheck card?

From my anecdotal experience, your boarding pass may have TSA precheck mark. This has been sufficient for me to go into the TSA precheck line (vs regular default line).

Also, I usually see a person at the precheck line entrance screening people for boarding passes with the precheck mark. Otherwise they will direct you to the regular line.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#66

Post by lights0123 »

rexf wrote: post #65
BiggsHoson wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that may not be all that's needed. I recently went through the TSA Precheck line (my ticket had the little Pre heck logo on it) but the check-in dude did not give me the laminated poster board that said "Precheck" on it. I don't fly often enough to have noticed, so when I got to the security apparatus 15 feet further I was treated as non-Precheck. It did not matter that I could show my ticket had the appropriate…

What is the precheck card? From my anecdotal experience, your boarding pass may have TSA precheck mark. This has been sufficient for me to go into the TSA precheck line (vs regular default line). Also, I usually see a person at the precheck line entrance screening people for boarding passes with the precheck mark. Otherwise they will direct you to the regular line.

For some airports with low amounts of traffic, there isn't a separate precheck line, so you're just given some sort of marker that tells the workers to treat you as a precheck member in the standard line.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#67

Post by jthrowsitaway »

browningstreet wrote: post #40

Boarded a plane today. Me and my son both have pre check. His digital boarding pass didn’t have pre check on it. They sent him to regular security. I walked through with his paper boarding pass (we got when checking luggage), so he had to go get another one. His second boarding pass had pre check on it. Whatever this system is, this is ridiculous. These tickets were bought together, and our numbers were entered corre…

Expedited screening (the PreCheck line) is not a guarantee, even if you have PreCheck.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/if-i-a...

Conversely, I've talked with people that travel often or are older/a certain demographic that often receive PreCheck, even though they haven't paid for it etc.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#68

Post by pyuser583 »

jthrowsitaway wrote: post #67
browningstreet wrote: post #40

Boarded a plane today. Me and my son both have pre check. His digital boarding pass didn’t have pre check on it. They sent him to regular security. I walked through with his paper boarding pass (we got when checking luggage), so he had to go get another one. His second boarding pass had pre check on it. Whatever this system is, this is ridiculous. These tickets were bought together, and our numbers were entered corre…

Expedited screening (the PreCheck line) is not a guarantee, even if you have PreCheck. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/if-i-a... Conversely, I've talked with people that travel often or are older/a certain demographic that often receive PreCheck, even though they haven't paid for it etc.

If the ticket doesn’t have the pre check number on it, it’s guaranteed you’re going through security.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#69

Post by jthrowsitaway »

rexf wrote: post #65
BiggsHoson wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that may not be all that's needed. I recently went through the TSA Precheck line (my ticket had the little Pre heck logo on it) but the check-in dude did not give me the laminated poster board that said "Precheck" on it. I don't fly often enough to have noticed, so when I got to the security apparatus 15 feet further I was treated as non-Precheck. It did not matter that I could show my ticket had the appropriate…

What is the precheck card? From my anecdotal experience, your boarding pass may have TSA precheck mark. This has been sufficient for me to go into the TSA precheck line (vs regular default line). Also, I usually see a person at the precheck line entrance screening people for boarding passes with the precheck mark. Otherwise they will direct you to the regular line.

Some of the smaller airports that I've been through give you a laminated PreCheck card after they've checked your ID and ticket. You hold onto that for a few seconds until you're called up for the next stage of the process. The officer takes the card, places a PreCheck indicator on the belt alongside your luggage, then un-ropes the metal detector and waves you through. Large airports have dedicated lines for PreCheck and don't require all this.

Re: What is the purpose of check-in before flying? (2014)

#70

Post by pyuser583 »

johnshaft1000 wrote: post #4

On many airlines they use check-in as a way to try to upsell you on higher priced seats or other services.

Some airlines have flight attendants hawking credit cards.

Mind you these are people with immense authority. But like law enforcement.

If they tell you to do something, you do it.

And they’re telling you to sit down and listen to them sell you something.

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