That's what I was doing as well. Never ever touch it!
But unfortunately now sometimes you have no choice
Unfortunately we were just unfortunate to end up with Jetstar not Qantas as an appointed company to operate MEL-BNE route as part of an essential travel network during pandemic.
We bought our tickets on Qantas website (redirected to Jetstar) and was due to fly from MEL to BNE on Friday 31 July with my family wife 4 y.o. and newborn, on their "fully flexible" fare.
As we had a lot of luggage to check in + infant/kids items we wanted to get to T4 drop off area, offload luggage from the car and drop in on the counter. We were already checked in online.
We were in airport 1 hr before scheduled departure, but coming of highway on T4 rump there was COVID-19 testing site set up on this rump, so I was forced to reverse back on highway trying to find alternative way to T4 drop off area. As there were no alternative navigation signs for T4 drop off area, we ended up in T1/2/3 parking, had to find 2 trolleys and bring all this including newborn carrycot all the way to T4.
That took us 30 min and on arrival we were told that our flight was already just closed. I asked them to check in our bags as it was exactly 30 min before departure but that was rejected.
I understand that it's too tight and it's because MEL airport poor management of T4 road signs/directions affected by COVID testing site, not Jetstar's own fault.
But don't we all have to be a bit more flexible and caring of each other in these challenging times rather than blindly and strictly following checkin regulations no exceptions if it is just seconds late?
I asked for a check in manager hoping exactly for this and when she came out of her office I was only pointed out that it is now 2 minutes late and refused to help us as well.
She stated that it was our fault not to arrive early enough for check in and suggested we change our booking for the next flight which was in 3 days time for $75.
Which was a little help with nowhere to go for us, lots of luggage and crying newborn has to be constantly breastfeeded.
Just another sad story out there(