Benefits of OLCI

[10VM]

Found myself flying SYD-MEL today and I noticed that at both airports, the kiosks were quite busy and there were pretty long lines at the service counters. As someone who loves checking in on the app and going straight into the lounge (I usually only have carry-on baggage) it got me thinking...why would you still bother to line up at the airport when online/app check-in is so easy?!

Is there anyone on here that prefers checking in at the airport rather than doing it online beforehand? And if so, is there something that I'm missing?

Apologies for the random thread bump but today's experience just got me thinking...

 

[eminere]

Is there anyone on here that prefers checking in at the airport rather than doing it online beforehand? And if so, is there something that I'm missing?

Some people like to collect boarding passes on card stock, perhaps?

 

[mviy]

Checking in online doesn't mean that you can't get your boarding pass printed at the airport.

 

[TheInsider]

it got me thinking...why would you still bother to line up at the airport when online/app check-in is so easy?!

There are situations where people need to go to the service desk and they include:
-International Connections
-UMNR's
-Wheelchair people
-Ticket issues
-People who struggle with the English kiosks

But some other reasons they come to the service desk is:
-Because some people are sheep, they see a line and the follow everyone else.
-Laziness
-Customers think they are keeping staff in the job
-People like talking to 'real staff', even though the staff out at the kiosks are also 'real'
-People come up to the counters playing around on their smart phones, then say they don't know how to type their names in the kiosks.

 

[TheInsider]

Haven't heard of that one before. Don't worry about scanning the QR code on your phone just use your WP card which will work no matter what method you used to checkin.

The boarding pass readers at the gates are also RFID readers. When using your Qantas Card next time, don't scan the barcode, just place the card face up, and it will scan and read the card (like it would the barcode).

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
But some other reasons they come to the service desk is:
-Because some people are sheep, they see a line and the follow everyone else.
-Laziness
-Customers think they are keeping staff in the job
-People like talking to 'real staff', even though the staff out at the kiosks are also 'real'
-People come up to the counters playing around on their smart phones, then say they don't know how to type their names in the kiosks.

Besides those reasons that appear to regard a majority of airline passengers with contempt (to be fair, not uncommon within airline managements), my reason is:

- I want to confirm seating, delays etc with some-one who can do something about it if its not what I expected (un-announced seating changes becoming more and more common, it seems), and not a dumb machine and especially not a dumb machine that beeps at the gate when its too late to do anything about that bad seat bump;

plus

- I loath those who use their phones for checking at the gate, when the scan doesn't work, the phones gone to sleep, they are jugging their phone together with a bunch of other things and they generally stuff the queue around; and

- Many people do travel with bags that need to be checked in.


And welcome to your first post on AFF 10VM .

 

[TheInsider]

Besides those reasons that appear to regard a majority of airline passengers with contempt (to be fair, not uncommon within airline managements), my reason is:

I'm not treating anyone with contempt. I am just providing reason why people line up at the check-in area at the domestic service desks.

A lot of what you are saying can either be done at a kiosk, with a staff member on the floor, at the gate, in the lounge or the concourse service desks.

The staff at the counters don't have any extra powers to change your seat than what the kiosk does.

- Many people do travel with bags that need to be checked in.

That's the whole point of that next-gen check-in that came in many years ago, so people don't line up for 30min dropping off a bag.

 

[TomVexille]

I will say OLCI saved my butt recently when my alarm failed to go off prior to a 6am flight, connecting to an international flight. It means I made my flight even though I got to the airport after boarding had started.

 

[texter]

Even HLO, the kiosk could offer you an earlier flight "fly forward" option without having to beg at the desk....

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm not treating anyone with contempt. I am just providing reason why people line up at the check-in area at the domestic service desks.

A lot of what you are saying can either be done at a kiosk, with a staff member on the floor, at the gate, in the lounge or the concourse service desks.

The staff at the counters don't have any extra powers to change your seat than what the kiosk does.

Sounded pretty contemptuous to me: passengers are either sheep, lazy or stupid. Did I miss anything?

Staff members on the floor can't access the IT, can they? Or can they do it on their phone? Can a kiosk reverse a seat bump? Lounge and concourse service positions are often too late if there is a seating issue etc.


I can understand a HLO passenger like 10VM who loves their phone wondering why others do it differently, but I don't understand the attitude of an 'insider' who seems to think not to use the technology is a sign of laziness, stupidity etc.

If airlines guaranteed their technology to work all the time and give me the answers I want with the same efficiency as a human at a check-in counter, then I'll use kiosks or whatever.

Are we there yet?

 

[TheInsider]

Sounded pretty contemptuous to me: passengers are either sheep, lazy or stupid. Did I miss anything?

But that's the facts of the matter, the people even say it!

Staff members on the floor can't access the IT, can they? Or can they do it on their phone? Can a kiosk reverse a seat bump? Lounge and concourse service positions are often too late if there is a seating issue etc.

Of course they can, every place where you see a monitor above your head in the middle of the floor there is a PC with the same software on there as every other position. Service desk staff aren't specially trained to be where they are, they move all around the airport grounds. The staff you had at a counter, will probably be standing on the floor 20 minutes later doing the same thing.

but I don't understand the attitude of an 'insider' who seems to think not to use the technology is a sign of laziness, stupidity etc.

Did I ever say stupid? Like I said, the fact of the matter is that people join queues because they see other people in there.

Just because you don't like a response (once again), doesn't mean it is incorrect nor does it mean that i am being contemptuous.

 

[straitman]

There are situations where people need to go to the service desk and they include:
-International Connections
-UMNR's
-Wheelchair people
-Ticket issues

But some other reasons they come to the service desk is:
-Because some people are sheep, they see a line and the follow everyone else.
-Laziness
-Customers think they are keeping staff in the job
-People like talking to 'real staff', even though the staff out at the kiosks are also 'real'
-People come up to the counters playing around on their smart phones, then say they don't know how to type their names in the kiosks.

A good comprehensive answer IMHO. One I would add though is to confirm Exit Row suitability.

 

[OATEK]

Like I said, the fact of the matter is that people join queues because they see other people in there.

Reminds me of that quaint teenage amusement that I was first introduced to outside the original AMP building in Sydney back in the mid 60s. A couple of us would stop and gesticulate towards the upper part of the building. A couple more of our small group would come in from the wings, and we would be saying things like "Look, there it is" and "oh yes I see it". We had no trouble getting 20 or more people to stop, some of whom seemed to think they could see "it" as well. These days someone would be helping themselves to the contents of the watchers bags, but we did it just for the fun. The police did not always see the funny side, but we were never taken away.

 

[TheInsider]

A good comprehensive answer IMHO. One I would add though is to confirm Exit Row suitability.

If you can be bothered, you can avoid speaking to staff with this too. You can go to a kiosk, put your details in and then "press change seat", then confirm your seat, it will ask the questions there, then you can continue on. AFAIK the mobile version of the web-check in allows you to select and confirm the suitability during the process, if it doesn't then I think you have to at least 'view' the seats on the mobile page first.

 

[jastel]

Cant see the point of a kiosk or OLCI when I have to line up to give them my bag anyway...my airport doesnt have Bag Drop.
I do usually try and reserve a decent seat in advance but.

OLCI/Kiosks are fine for frequent flyers and HLO types...but have staff there as well for those who want/need them.
I hate kiosks...at least you can (sometimes) reason with a human if there is a problem.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you can be bothered, you can avoid speaking to staff with this too. You can go to a kiosk, put your details in and then "press change seat", then confirm your seat, it will ask the questions there, then you can continue on. AFAIK the mobile version of the web-check in allows you to select and confirm the suitability during the process, if it doesn't then I think you have to at least 'view' the seats on the mobile page first.

Partner and I have selected seats in particular configuration, for a particular reason ages ago. Turn up at kiosk, find that we've been changed. Original seats not available (it seems). Not happy. How do we get our seats back via the kiosk, please? And yes, we know that often, we CAN get our seats back by the human who can see who is in the seats we selected and can realise that they can be juggled out again.

How can I be bothered to avoid speaking to staff with this one?

My grandmother hardly ever flies. When she does, she always goes to the check-in counter to be served. She's not in any tearing hurry and doesn't have access to a lounge (except when she travels with me ). Her reasons for using the check-in counter do not include any of the following:

-Because some people are sheep, they see a line and the follow everyone else.
-Laziness
-Customers think they are keeping staff in the job
-People like talking to 'real staff', even though the staff out at the kiosks are also 'real'
-People come up to the counters playing around on their smart phones, then say they don't know how to type their names in the kiosks.

In fact, its more to do with that she doesn't own a computer and has only a basic phone. She's used to and comfortable talking to 'counter staff' and she can also ask them where the ladies are, and where she has to go next.

Unfortunately to some airline management, she's not seen as a customer, just an imposition who has to be tolerated (for the time being).

 

[Jet L]

I don't know if this has been said but I always OLCI just to confirm seats if they are good so there is no chance of being moved for what ever reason

 

[RooFlyer]

It helps, but there still can be the dreaded 'beep at the gate', especially if you OLCI early. That's why I sometimes use a check-in counter, even when I've used OLCI if, for instance I'm travelling with some-one on a different PNR.

You are not assured of your seat until you are strapped in and the doors close (so yes, checking in still isn't a cast iron guarantee, but it helps).

 

[serfty]

I OLCI to try to get SEQ #1 ...

 

[docjames]

-People who struggle with the English kiosks
.

I'm surprised QF doesnt offer an option to push the kiosk into another language (ie. a series of flags in the corner like many european train ticket machines have....?)