Pros and Cons of On Line Check in

[Quickstatus]

Whst are the Pros and Cons of OLCI?

 

[UP4014]

Cons; You are using your own equipment, and if you print out a BP it's at your cost.

I never use it.

Pros; you don't need to deal with anyone or machine at the airport and time shifting so while you save time at the airport you spend that time online doing it yourself when it suits you.

Matt

 

[Must...Fly!]

Very much depends on the airline...

 

[legroom]

Some airlines now have a dedicated line for those who had done OLCI.

That line is always shorter - at the moment.

Soon, people would click on and that advantage will disappear.

If that is not available, I do sometimes query the benefits of OLCI.

But for a neurotic like I am, OLCI is the preferred way.

Why ?

I'm notifying the airline that I intend to fly and in that preselected seat, too.

 

[aikman]

Con: You're stuck in your preselected seat.

I prefer the flexibility of being able to move to roomier pockets of the cabin up until the last minute.

 

[samas]

In regards to the bag drop queue potentially being longer before I had access to priority checkin I would go down the checkin queue and say my printer died if it was shorter.

 

[harvyk]

Pros: Pretty much guarantees seat selection 24 hours out, give you a little bit more time up your sleeve if running late to get to the airport.

Cons: All my op-up's have been given whilst checking in at the counter, plus a check in person has the ability to do things like place in shadows when travelling as a family etc...

 

[legroom]

Con: You're stuck in your preselected seat.

I prefer the flexibility of being able to move to roomier pockets of the cabin up until the last minute.

Subject to availability (and agent's helpfulness), you can be reseated even after having the BPs at check in.

 

[TomVexille]

Pro: less likely to be bumped on an oversold flight

 

[ReLoad]

When flying certain airlines your SEQ plays an important part in the op-up lottery.

 

[UP4014]

When flying certain airlines your SEQ plays an important part in the op-up lottery.

Do they, what airlines are they?

ta

 

[ReLoad]

Do they, what airlines are they?

ta

CX for one.

 

[Anna]

Con: You're stuck in your preselected seat.

I prefer the flexibility of being able to move to roomier pockets of the cabin up until the last minute.

It's possible to do QF OLCI multiple times and change seats if you want to. When I was SG I often used to do it to move further forward if seats opened up.

 

[OATEK]

I generally have selected my seat long ago for an International flight, and I too have found the bag drop sometimes the slowest queue. So haven't checked in online for QFi or CX for several years.

But I always do OLCI for domestic flights when I only have carry on, even if I have done a seat selection (eg T-80 move towards the front). That way I maximise time in QP.

 

[Isochronous]

When flying certain airlines your SEQ plays an important part in the op-up lottery.

I always do this when flying CX. But I usually check a bag so often I just show them the check in on mobile or say it wouldn't print.

I got an op-up to J on SHA-HKG flying KA when I did this once. Thank God for snagging BN3 and being QF WP!

 

[robbie1984]

I always do this when flying CX. But I usually check a bag so often I just show them the check in on mobile or say it wouldn't print.

I got an op-up to J on SHA-HKG flying KA when I did this once. Thank God for snagging BN3 and being QF WP!

One airlines doesn't op-up OCLI, only those checked in at the airport. They don't know if you are physically at the airport, for that reason I don't use OLCI unless I need the extra time.

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyone tried to change itinerary after they have OLCI? .

say you OLCI then missed your flight. Does this put you in a different situation than someone who was late for flight but never checked in?

 

[anat0l]

Anyone tried to change itinerary after they have OLCI? .

say you OLCI then missed your flight. Does this put you in a different situation than someone who was late for flight but never checked in?

In these situations, OLCI versus any other check-in method makes little to no difference. You are either checked in or not checked in, and the consequences per airline are based on that state.

In any case, despite the rules of the respective airlines, with status, a good day / agent and some luck, you may be able to travel on another flight irrespective if you missed the flight and you are checked in or not.

Checking in, in a sense, "secures" your intent on a flight, which may or may not have a marked effect if your flight ends up being cancelled or delayed (i.e. for the purposes of shifting you to another flight). If you aren't checked in, you're not yet considered on that flight, and if you miss your original scheduled check-in cut off, you may not have the greatest choice of changed flight, and that is after any necessary rigmarole to salvage your no show.


Back on the original topic, a pro for OLCI is being able to expedite airport procedures and/or bag drop once you arrive at the airport (e.g. as alluded, special OLCI check-in lines may be available). Not to mention that for some carriers (LCCs particularly), OLCI is practically mandatory, otherwise you may have an unpleasant wait at the airport in the check-in queue; some airlines will even charge you an exorbitance to check you in at the airport, so you're better off using OLCI.

Notwithstanding the above commentary, OLCI counts as check-in so you can meet the check-in deadline. For example (as long as I think it hasn't changed), Qantas' domestic check-in cut off with no checked bags is 15 minutes prior to departure. You're stuck in a bit of traffic going to the airport and you know you're cutting it down to the wire. It's a pain to leg it in the airport and try and find the expedited check-in counter / an NGCI totem pole once at the airport to try and make the cut off for check-in. Whilst in transit to the airport, whip out your phone, check-in online, lock in your check-in. Once you get to the airport, leg it to security then straight to the gate. Basically, OLCI removes the pressure of making the check-in deadline (but note well it doesn't remove the pressure of making the bag drop deadline, if that is applicable to you). And in some cases (heuristics and anecdotes notwithstanding), you can still fiddle with your booking / seating etc. anyway after checking in, either at the check-in counter or at the service desk (in lounges or in the sterile area).

The main con for OLCI in some cases is that you need to have access to a printer to complete the process. Again, for some LCCs, in order to properly OLCI and expedite procedures / escape airport check-in "fines", you need to have a printed boarding pass from the OLCI process. Simply OLCI'ing without printing the boarding pass is not good enough. In Australia, you can check-in online via mobile and get a mobile boarding pass, or in the case of Qantas' NGCI, your FF card acts as the boarding pass, so this is not really an issue.

Some have commented here about OLCI blocking out or hindering certain accessibilities to, for example, better seats, op ups etc. but I can't comment well on these. (I often OLCI or, in the case of Qantas domestic, use the totem pole at the airport; for international, I often can't OLCI anyway). VA has some particularities related to their flexible or Business fares and OLCI (well, not really - it's actually checking in, not particular to OLCI).

 

[kalboy]

I had no problem being "un-checked in" by Qantas counter staff because I was to late for bag drop. Was put on the next flight.

 

[Quickstatus]

Notwithstanding the above commentary, OLCI counts as check-in so you can meet the check-in deadline. For example (as long as I think it hasn't changed), Qantas' domestic check-in cut off with no checked bags is 15 minutes prior to departure. You're stuck in a bit of traffic going to the airport and you know you're cutting it down to the wire. It's a pain to leg it in the airport and try and find the expedited check-in counter / an NGCI totem pole once at the airport to try and make the cut off for check-in. Whilst in transit to the airport, whip out your phone, check-in online, lock in your check-in. Once you get to the airport, leg it to security then straight to the gate. Basically, OLCI removes the pressure of making the check-in deadline (but note well it doesn't remove the pressure of making the bag drop deadline, if that is applicable to you). And in some cases (heuristics and anecdotes notwithstanding), you can still fiddle with your booking / seating etc. anyway after checking in, either at the check-in counter or at the service desk (in lounges or in the sterile area).

Using QF as the target of query, and assuming you are in transit to airport with no bagdrop and you are down to the wire...are you in a better recovery position OLCI'ed and then missing flight than ringing QF while in transit and telling them you will miss flight prior to OLCI, and prior to checkin (by whatever method) cutoff time?.