Mobile Check-in Problem?

[JrFoxMN]

Just curious if anyone knows any "tricks" for using mobile check-in. I just attempted a check-in for a flight that's in 18 hours from MEL to SYD... After walking through the process, I got...

Sucess! You are now checked-in for:
--typical flight details--
What happens now?
You must print your boarding pass at the the Virgin Blue kiost at the airport.​

Um, what's the point of mobile check-in if I need to go to the kiosk? Any thoughts on what's "wrong" with the booking that would prevent a 2D barcode from being sent? (And of course now I can't do web check-in to print a boarding pass. Of course it's not like the kiosk is really gonna slow me down...) Note that there are no special services attached to my PNR to my knowledge.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Undercover Brother]

Totally agree, the whole point is that I don't need to stop at check-in/kiosk and go straight to the gate if I can. I must say the kiosks themselves are pretty slow considering you are already checked in.

Qantas have nailed mobile check-in IMO, the BP on your phone is good for the gate, and as well is proof enough for the QP/J lounges.

A while back I did hear rumours of Jetstar going down the 2D barcode path, this was quite some time ago though.

 

[thewinchester]

Totally agree, the whole point is that I don't need to stop at check-in/kiosk and go straight to the gate if I can. I must say the kiosks themselves are pretty slow considering you are already checked in.

Please don't get me started on their kiosks, and it does seem kind of redundant when their own webpage could easily email/SMS a graphic with the same barcode generated by their kiosks anyway.

A while back I did hear rumours of Jetstar going down the 2D barcode path, this was quite some time ago though.

Not exactly.

Referenced in this article from The Australian, and this thread on the topic, first announced by the airline in 2009, no official info on their website regarding the process other than a press release.

In short, the system involved an SMS message which had a unique string of characters in it, which you would 'insert' into a special machine at the gate.

The machine had a camera which read the unique string off the screen, checked this against the relevant systems and gave staff the thumbs up for you to board.

Herald Sun had a video of the system, but they've removed it and can't find anything elsewhere to show how it works.

 

[crazydave98]

Um, what's the point of mobile check-in if I need to go to the kiosk? Any thoughts on what's "wrong" with the booking that would prevent a 2D barcode from being sent? (And of course now I can't do web check-in to print a boarding pass. Of course it's not like the kiosk is really gonna slow me down...) Note that there are no special services attached to my PNR to my knowledge.

Good question. Following the "upgrade" of our reservations system (you may recall a recent spectacular failure) we lost some functionality while it was being stabilised. Initially we had been able to send 2D barcodes to mobile devices and you will see at most capital city airport gates that the 2D readers are installed, but this feature has been turned off temporarily. IIRC it should be back on next month with next release of res system software (but don't quote me on that). Apologies for the inconvenience in the meantime.

cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[Boof1]

Please don't get me started on their kiosks, and it does seem kind of redundant when their own webpage could easily email/SMS a graphic with the same barcode generated by their kiosks anyway.


Not exactly.

Referenced in this article from The Australian, and this thread on the topic, first announced by the airline in 2009, no official info on their website regarding the process other than a press release.

In short, the system involved an SMS message which had a unique string of characters in it, which you would 'insert' into a special machine at the gate.

The machine had a camera which read the unique string off the screen, checked this against the relevant systems and gave staff the thumbs up for you to board.

Herald Sun had a video of the system, but they've removed it and can't find anything elsewhere to show how it works.

I had to fly JQ due to bad timing a few months ago, something I generally avoid, and whilst doing the OLCI I was asked did I want a mobile boarding pass SMS'd to me. Naturally for the hell of it I ticked yes and within 30 mins I had this text come through with my name, seat, and a heap of numbers looking along the lines of

Boof
Seat 1F
JQ802

32425252835
23535712390
12345871576
13471366669

I printed out the BP from OLCI but asked at the gate could I use the mobile one and the FA told me that it was only at AVV apparently and JQ are supposed to roll it out sometime in the future. Given it was announced in 2009, maybe JQ are waiting for the 787's to arrive to roll mobile boarding passes out nationally!! Ha Ha....

On a brighter note, I'm guessing from Crazydave's post the DJ will have the Mobile BP's at all ports in the very near future? That would be great as I was annoyed that it only worked on the golden triangle to start with.

Cheers,

Boof