Qantas online checkin launched!!

[SeatBackForward]

OK I'm Silver FF, tried to use online check in for tomorrow afternoons flight, and got this on the QF Website

We are unable to process your check-in request at this time as internet check-in is temporarily unavailable. Try again later or check-in at the airport. [FR006]

I wonder if this because of the excessive load out of Perth tomorrow and they don't want any hiccups? Will try again tomorrow or later tonight to see if it changes.

 

[oz_mark]

It was reported that Qantas had put on enough planes for 3000 extra seats over Thurs/Friday. Considering that there were no specials, that is not bad money as a friend said they were paying $800 for the flight on the extra services. Will keep the shareholders happy.

While it will be a profitable exercise for them, bear in mind that the flights will likely be flying Mel->Per essentially empty at the moment, so may not be as profitable as you would immediately think.

 

[oz_mark]

I wonder if this because of the excessive load out of Perth tomorrow and they don't want any hiccups? Will try again tomorrow or later tonight to see if it changes.

I would suggest that Perth is stretched at the best of times, and while the current demand is just making it worse. However, in the scheme of things it is not really that many extra flights taken from the point of view of the whole network. While it is possible that what you have suggested is the case, I would be more inclined to think they have hit some other hiccup.

 

[garyjohn951]

Ah, but there are some real cheap deals Mel-Per, inc 3 nights hotel, so they are back ending as well. the paper here said they were selling fast.

 

[Mal]

Saw an ad in today's Courier-Mail extolling the virtues of the Virgin Blue Web Checkin system!

I swear it mentioned something about being unique in Australia!

Oops. That's one advertisement that may have to be reworded!

 

[HardieBoys]

Used OLCI for two Qantaslink flights today, still had to go an collect printed boarding passes because of the exit row requirement. Checked at Sydney Terminal 2 (Virgin/Jetstar/Qantaslink) gate to see if there was a barcode reader, and couldn't see one at the gate used.

Cathay have online check-in which I used last week. So Virgin definitely aren't the only company with it in Oz.

 

[SeatBackForward]

International online check-in isnt all that recent. I've used BA online checkin early last year. Its the domestic ones that seem more complicated.

 

[thadocta]

What happens with automated seat allocations? If seats are being assigned overnight before a flight leaves, then what happens if a person tries to check in T-23:59 ? What seats would they see? Any different for a NB / PS / SG / WP etc?

My understanding is that it would be the same as when you check-in for SYD-CBR at LHR when flying LHR-SYD-CBR (for example), the SYD-CBR sector has not been automagically pre-allocated so the check-in droid has the choice of the entire aircraft.

With OLCI the day before, you will have the choice of the entire aircraft (with some exclusions, such as exit row) and the automagic process will occur around those that have already checked in.

Dave

 

[JohnK]

I've just been issued with a new BP for seat 1K. Thank you Qantas!

A very common occurrence these days for you Peter! QF to the rescue again!

 

[Yada Yada]

My understanding is that it would be the same as when you check-in for SYD-CBR at LHR when flying LHR-SYD-CBR (for example), the SYD-CBR sector has not been automagically pre-allocated so the check-in droid has the choice of the entire aircraft.

With OLCI the day before, you will have the choice of the entire aircraft (with some exclusions, such as exit row) and the automagic process will occur around those that have already checked in.

Dave - when I used OLCI on Weds evening, I was seq nbr 3 but there were dozens of unavailable seats in the main cabin. They must be blocking them off for some purpose.

 

[Yada Yada]

A very common occurrence these days for you Peter! QF to the rescue again!

Exactly. And you know what... every FA on my flight last night was very friendly. But then again I was sitting up the front. :mrgreen:

Whilst standing the front galley waiting for the loo, I saw the J cabin pax manifest. I was one of three SG's, there was one NB, and the rest were all WP's. That's out of about 38 seats, I think. Who knows how many WP's were sitting in the main cabin too. I think SG should be re-coded to NG (nuthin' gold).

 

[serfty]

... Whilst standing the front galley waiting for the loo, I saw the J cabin pax manifest. I was one of three SG's, there was one NB, and the rest were all WP's. That's out of about 38 seats, I think. Who knows how many WP's were sitting in the main cabin too. I think SG should be re-coded to NG (nuthin' gold).

Fly regularly for work (or leisure) across the "nullabour" and those SC's rack up really quickly.

 

[simongr]

Whilst standing the front galley waiting for the loo, I saw the J cabin pax manifest. I was one of three SG's, there was one NB, and the rest were all WP's. That's out of about 38 seats, I think. Who knows how many WP's were sitting in the main cabin too. I think SG should be re-coded to NG (nuthin' gold).

I was thinking last night how easy it is to get platinum (I am not plat inum yet as my travl increased in the last three months of my qualifying period and now I am AA) - I have three J class returns to US/Europe next year and that is without counting my "normal" travel. Doesnt seem that much travel really to hit Plat.

 

[serfty]

Dave - when I used OLCI on Weds evening, I was seq nbr 3 but there were dozens of unavailable seats in the main cabin. They must be blocking them off for some purpose.

It has been in the back of my mind all week ...

I'm thinking that Qantas would need to have changed the time they action the domestic preallocation processes. I conject they are now running their preallocation process for flights either:

• At some time over 24 hours before the scheduled flight time (e.g. 26) for each and every flight (or perhaps all flights within a 1 hours band), or,
• Overnight up to 48 hours before a flight, pehaps with it being revisited the next night as well.

I really can't see any other way they are doing this. I did consider restricting cabin zones but I feel that may have been too volatile in practice.

This could be the reason OLCI did not start in early August as announced earlier this year.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Well I managed to use the OLCI for my PER>SYD flight tonight. Changed my seat to the other aisle and all. Very similar to using the Virgin online check in. Heres to hoping it works at the gate.

Strangely enough there weren't that many seats available to choose from event hought my Seq No. was 2, and i was told over the phone that the flight was choc-a-bloc full.

 

[Standby]

Just used it for tomorrows trip down to MEL for the game..knowing the flights a full as a catholic school it was great to be able to get a bit closer the exit.
A mate is heading down on an extra 747 dom service and he checked in OK as well and ammended his seats for himself and family
I'm pretty impressed...word must be spreading as the seq number on my BP was 15 and I know that means 15th BP issued to a checked pax
Last 2 times I have travelled with the missus ,even though booked on the same booking and cross ref we were separated at CHKIN (yes I like sitting with my wife)...this stops that happening

 

[garyjohn951]

Ah, but does your wife want to sit next to you !!!!!!!

 

[beardoc]

Just did the online checkin for a flight SYD-BNE which is about 23 and a half hours from now - I am Bronze, and was sequence number 12 and 13, but virtually all the cabin was blocked out - the frontmost two seats together they would offer me were row 43! Most of the front was completely blocked out. I suspect they're keeping all the front rows for everyone else.

Hell, I wish I was a Platinum FF member!

 

[Yada Yada]

Just did the online checkin for a flight SYD-BNE which is about 23 and a half hours from now - I am Bronze, and apparently sequence number 13, so virtually all the cabin was blocked out - the frontmost two seats together they would offer me were row 43! Most of the front was completely blocked out. I suspect they're keeping all the front rows for everyone else.

Hell, I wish I was a Platinum FF member!

That's a bit of a shame. On Virgin Blue you can pretty much allocate yourself a seat anywhere you wish. The lowest fare (Blue Saver) generally does not have access to the first 8-10 rows but all other fares have full access anywhere on the aircraft. It's one of the things I like about Virgin Blue. I guess with the QF tier system they just can't do that. :-|

 

[beardoc]

That's a bit of a shame. On Virgin Blue you can pretty much allocate yourself a seat anywhere you wish. The lowest fare (Blue Saver) generally does not have access to the first 8-10 rows but all other fares have full access anywhere on the aircraft. It's one of the things I like about Virgin Blue. I guess with the QF tier system they just can't do that. :-|

Yup, I'm beginning to think that online checkin, rather than being a godsend, really is only of benefit to those with status with QANTAS - it's not really beneficial to the casual user.