so what does online checkin actually do?
ive even asked airport staff and theyve just said, not much, sometimes you can go to the faster lane
most of the times for me it just says online checkin unavailable,
sometimes it says you need to do it within a certain time or not within a certain time
the times when ive managed to check in online, ive still had to go to the counter and its the same process without online checkin
Not always, last time I flew I was waiting to board and heard my name over the intercom. Went to the desk and was told even if I had checked in online and had no bags I still had to go to the check-in counter.
Only benefit I see by checking in online is you get to choose your seat. Maybe you are also less likely to get bumped if the flight is oversold
Uh, which airline was that?
I fly frequently and that's not a requirement I've ever seen recently.
This happens on international flights. But never experienced it on domestic.
Sounds like it was an international flight. They don't intercom you for domestic…you just lose your seat and fare.
I don't understand the question? Just means you don't have to check in at the airport in person? That can save you time if it's busy.
You can select your seat too.
I did online check in once,
and got told I still had to go to the counter and checkin, and I didnt have any checkin luggage
With what carrier? What did they ask you to do in person?
It was jetstar
managed to do an online check in for once, normally it just says not avaialable,
told me I still had to go the counter , and get a boarding pass printed
@Samsungnote10: Jetstar are the exception. You need to use their mobile app to avoid using a kiosk or going to a counter.
@Typical16-bitEnjoyer: but what do you show the staff at the gate?
Also for international you need to show a boarding pass at the various checkpoints
If you live in a major city, it means you can skip checking in at a booth and use a bag drop (if available, eg QANTAS bag drop at BNE is very simple and fast to use), and go straight to the gate.
Seat selection.
In practical terms for the traveller it does very little.
My assumption is that it is entirely for the benefit of the airline. If you haven't checked in by the required time, they can allocate your seat to someone else.
If you are running late, it can help. Might let the airline know you are definitely interested in making your flight.
I'm pretty sure you can't do online check-in at last minute it's something silly like 6 or 12 hours
In Japan with Qantas, it allowed me to join a much shorter and quicker line for check in at the airport.
We have been wondering the same…
Had been travelling international and domestic a bit more these two years.
Hubby was never interested in online check-in because the queue for Bag-Drop is longer than the check-in counter.
We travel with Qantas mostly, a couple of times with Jetstar.
Sometimes we are forced to check-in via the kiosk but that's about all he would agree to do.
The other thing is we were upgraded to Business Class for our flights to Singapore 2 years ago.
Wont happen with online check-in :-))
Can always check in on line then if shorter Queues go to the counter
Just did a international flight,
did online checkin, still had to go to counter , show passport, get boarding pass issued, luggage weighed, checked in
went to the normal counter,
absolutely identical to no online checkin
If you don't have any check in bags you can just go straight through security to the gate