"It's not just me flying..." - the "rules" of sharing status benefits

[anat0l]

Not to intentionally bump this thread (lucky someone "did it" for me ):

My dad is travelling QF BNE-MEL next month. If I accompany him to BNE I and go check-in, even though I am not travelling would it be crass/rude/against the rules/against conventions/etc. etc. to check-in at the Premium counter?

Of course, he will not get extra baggage allowance and perhaps not priority tags or lounge access, just a quicker check-in (then again, if they are a bit forgiving on the baggage allowance, that would be nice, but I never bank on something like that).

 

[Will]

My dad is travelling QF BNE-MEL next month. If I accompany him to BNE I and go check-in, even though I am not travelling would it be crass/rude/against the rules/against conventions/etc. etc. to check-in at the Premium counter?

Sorry anat0l; would love to say 'go for it' but I do actually think it would be a bit crass/ DYKWIA.

You might just have to wait in the queue with him and then guest him into the JLounge. Or can you check him in there?

 

[JohnK]

My dad is travelling QF BNE-MEL next month. If I accompany him to BNE I and go check-in, even though I am not travelling would it be crass/rude/against the rules/against conventions/etc. etc. to check-in at the Premium counter?

Your dad can do what my dad does when flying DJ. He uses the priority check-in counter. :shock: When he was explaining it to me I could not understand what he was on about. Then I dropped him off at BNE airport and he headed for the priority check-in counter again. I had to tell him this was for people with status only and he had to line up at the regular check-in counters.

It is sometimes an advantage when you have limited understanding of the system and even better when the person at the priority check-in counter serves you anyway even though you do not have status.

 

[anat0l]

Sorry anat0l; would love to say 'go for it' but I do actually think it would be a bit crass/ DYKWIA.

You might just have to wait in the queue with him and then guest him into the JLounge. Or can you check him in there?

Thanks Will. We'll stick to procedures then.

Can't guest him into the J Lounge - it's the international terminal and I'm not travelling. He has a bag so furthermore he needs to check in at the counters.

 

[PaulC83]

It is sometimes an advantage when you have limited understanding of the system and even better when the person at the priority check-in counter serves you anyway even though you do not have status.

Not sure about DJ but one thing that makes a fair bit of confusion at some QF priority check-in desks is the fact they are usually coupled with bag-drop, which essentially means anybody.

I had an incident in Adelaide the other week where apparently "I looked like a bag drop customer", and not a QF SG, so I didn't receive my bag tags until I asked (and got that response), even though it was clearly on the booking and the BP which she printed for me (after checking me in). I wasn't happy, but I've had worse (I tend to have this trouble as I am a "back-office" person, and certainly have a face for radio).

Not to hijack the thread but incidentally on the same flight, person in front of me with same status (yes I peeked at his BP), got a by name greeting and a brief chat at the gate, and me next in line just managed to get a grunt when the machine beeped. Only difference, he was dressed to impress, and I looked like me.....

 

[medhead]

and even better when the person at the priority check-in counter serves you anyway even though you do not have status.

Not so much better in my experience having got the "I'll check you in even though you do not have status" once when I did have status. Check in agent was extremely rude while doing it. And it didn't stop when I pointed out to them that I do have status. "well you should have told me". Sure you haven't got this in BNE as well?

 

[trooper]

If you don't want to be "connected to" someone else's luggage then you had better be careful EVER being on the same PNR.. OR.. ever checking in with them....

...as ozbeachbabe points out (and as I have experienced many times) the check in agent will often happily "pool" allowances.. and then use the SAME name on all baggage receipts/tags....

Probably airline dependent to a degree.... but NZ certainly seems to do it that way.. pretty sure UA and US have too IIRC...

 

[taswegian77]

Not to intentionally bump this thread (lucky someone "did it" for me ):

My dad is travelling QF BNE-MEL next month. If I accompany him to BNE I and go check-in, even though I am not travelling would it be crass/rude/against the rules/against conventions/etc. etc. to check-in at the Premium counter?

Of course, he will not get extra baggage allowance and perhaps not priority tags or lounge access, just a quicker check-in (then again, if they are a bit forgiving on the baggage allowance, that would be nice, but I never bank on something like that).

IMO I think it is OK but others might not. I did this for my wife on more than one occasion. When i travel int'l sometimes my family will travel to be with her folks so I hook up an earlier flight for them, use the priority checkin for her flight with her, get her into the lounge, stay for a while, help her to the gate, then go get my bags from the car and check in for my int'l flight. I have never had anyone tell me I am not allowed to do it. Sometimes timings are such I can check in my intl flight first, go to domestic and then come back to go through customs. Either way I think it is whether you feel comfortable attempting to do it or not.

 

[markis10]

The Y line is often quicker than the J line at BNE, its always worth checking!