Qantas online checkin launched!!

[oz_mark]

I had a crack at checking in for a flight to MEL tomorrow, but bad things seem to happen halfway through the process when Cannot Find Server messages started appearing

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Which one was bumped, though, out of interest?

Not sure - all I remember was two guys discussing the fact that they both had the same seat. Shortly after a crewmember was there with one normal boarding pass, and one OLCI printed sheet in his hand comparing the names against the passenger manifest.

At least the guy who got sent to row 20-odd got to stay on the same flight. My colleague who was in row 7F got bumped to the next flight as there was someone else in that as well.

 

[Skyring]

Plus I collect boarding passes and the ones issued at airport are a lot better than something printed on A4 paper on my $29 printer at home.

$29 printer and $49 ink cartridge, is it?

I like to paste BPs into my travel journal (along with maps, cards, pix from brochures etc) and yes, it's nice to have a quality product.

 

[BJReplay]

Mark, I agree with you as well. With online check-in now available on domestic flights it would be a good time to start pre-allocating row 4 to someone with higher status rather than leaving it open for first person using online checkin to allocate.

Ok for all you people with status, but not for me (yet)

I have had a few years where I have not flown for business, just occasional lesiure, and I noticed that my allocated seats have been moving further back down the plane. I can't explain why my preference is being ignored, other than I currently have a low status.

The flight I was on was full as far as I could see, and I only got one really dirty look from someone with QC Gold on his boarding pass - I guess I was sitting in his seat.

The FA at the gate told me that it was the first OLCI that she had scanned - but she knew what it was. Came to have a look at it once we were underway.

 

[Skyring]

Ok for all you people with status, but not for me (yet)

I have had a few years where I have not flown for business, just occasional lesiure, and I noticed that my allocated seats have been moving further back down the plane. I can't explain why my preference is being ignored, other than I currently have a low status.

This seems like standard procedure, in line with allocating more experienced operators to higher status callers on the Qantas switch.

 

[oz_mark]

The FA at the gate told me that it was the first OLCI that she had scanned - but she knew what it was. Came to have a look at it once we were underway.

After my dramas with the site, I managed to get one printed, but during boarding not one of the four bar codes actually scanned. Had to go back and get the old school boarding pass. They made a comment that there have been quite a few failing to scan.

 

[Skyring]

After my dramas with the site, I managed to get one printed, but during boarding not one of the four bar codes actually scanned. Had to go back and get the old school boarding pass.

But you still kept the seat you'd chosen, right?

 

[oz_mark]

But you still kept the seat you'd chosen, right?

Yes, in row 24, which is what I had been allocated. Only the bassinet row (23) in front of me.

 

[garyjohn951]

barcodes from inkjet printers have a habit of not scanning, usually needs to be at least a laser. Wonder which type members have been using ?

 

[Commuter]

I've done the online checkin today. It seemed to work fine.

Having said that, I got the much, much worse seat than I normally get by checking in in the morning of the flight (I usually get 4C or 4D).

Do you know when the actual check-in (the physical one) opens? Can I do that 24 hours in advance as well?

 

[oz_mark]

barcodes from inkjet printers have a habit of not scanning, usually needs to be at least a laser. Wonder which type members have been using ?

A big all singing, all dancing Ricoh laser. It was actually the office printer (it prints, it scanes, it photocopies, it collates, it staples etc. etc.) Not sure you could blame the printer.

I have subsequently heard that some papers can cause problems.

 

[NM]

A big all singing, all dancing Ricoh laser. It was actually the office printer (it prints, it scanes, it photocopies, it collates, it staples etc. etc.) Not sure you could blame the printer.

There is the problem. You need the model that makes coffee as well .

 

[oz_mark]

The Australian, with its finger obviously on the pulse had the following article today. Interesting (for me at least) was that they would be moving to the new style of boarding pass at the airport counters as well. Seems reasonable as I would assume A4 paper is cheaper than the current boarding pass, but they will need to ensure they do in fact scan.


Australian IT - Qantas moves to web check in (Staff writers, OCTOBER 05, 2006)

Qantas moves to web check in
Staff writers
OCTOBER 05, 2006 WITH security measures making airline check-in an increasingly long process, Qantas has announced plans for domestic passengers to bypass queues with online check-in.

Passengers could check-in online up to a day in advance, but would still be required to submit baggage for checking at the airport, the company said.

Passengers would be able to choose preferred seats and print their own bar-coded boarding passes.

"This new style of boarding pass will also be introduced progressively for customer checking in at our airport counters," Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said.

In August, Qantas announced plans for a trial of in-flight mobile phone services for business class passengers.

 

[justinbrett]

I used OLCI on Sunday - when I got to the bag drop (Brisbane) I was given a normal boarding pass. The guy serving me knew all about OLCI - but he said they were having so many problems with it, they were giving normal passes to everyone.

 

[Mal]

The Australian, with its finger obviously on the pulse had the following article today. Interesting (for me at least) was that they would be moving to the new style of boarding pass at the airport counters as well. Seems reasonable as I would assume A4 paper is cheaper than the current boarding pass, but they will need to ensure they do in fact scan.

I thought Qantas said a couple of years ago that they had to stay with the magstripe boarding cards due to OneWorld(?) or IATA(?) requirements for interlining of passengers or somthing similar?

Wonder what they will do in that circumstance, although I'm sure it isn't too difficult to keep a mag printer around somewhere just for international connections.

 

[serfty]

I thought Qantas said a couple of years ago that they had to stay with the magstripe boarding cards due to OneWorld(?) or IATA(?) requirements for interlining of passengers or somthing similar?

Wonder what they will do in that circumstance, although I'm sure it isn't too difficult to keep a mag printer around somewhere just for international connections.

Interline with OLCI won't be an issue. OLCI is restriced to fully domestic e-ticketed itineries.

JQ Flight can be involved but only if a Qantas Domestic is the first flight of your trip.

 

[justinbrett]

Interline with OLCI won't be an issue. OLCI is restriced to fully domestic e-ticketed itineries.

JQ Flight can be invloved but only if a Qantas Donestic is the first flight of your trip.

I think you misread that - it says you can check in for the QF leg but not the JQ leg, regardless of the fact they are connecting flights.

So essentially, JQ has absolutely no involvement in OLCI, at this stage.

 

[garyjohn951]

Yes, paper is a big problem with barcoding and worse with inkjets. Most manufacturers if an item is not actully barcoded in the first print and they use labels use a thermal printer on proper labels. Our firm was told most ordinary papers the barcode will run and this can at times not be seen with the naked eye. Recycle paper is absorbent more than new paper too.

 

[Mal]

Yes, paper is a big problem with barcoding and worse with inkjets. Most manufacturers if an item is not actully barcoded in the first print and they use labels use a thermal printer on proper labels. Our firm was told most ordinary papers the barcode will run and this can at times not be seen with the naked eye. Recycle paper is absorbent more than new paper too.

Yep, all of these are issues with bar codes. While 2D barcodes are supposed to be more redundant and allow more errors, it does depend on how much redundancy Qantas has set up in the barcode. I'm not sure, although if I had a spare barcode reader (which I don't) I'd love to see what data they have on it and the level of redundancy.

One workaround for Qantas that is relatively easy to implement and will catch a good % of dud prints is to scan the barcode when checking in bags. If it fails there, then they should issue a new boarding pass. Same deal if a customer goes to a customer service counter.

I think we may see the size of the barcode increase over the next little while. The bigger the barcode, the more redundancy it has - something that may also help with this scanning situation. I suppose there is a maximum size of what the bardcode scanners can support at the airports though.

 

[Altair]

Online Checkin Question

I have wondered, if you check in online and you miss your flight what happens?
Example you check-in the night before and there is horrendous traffic and miss the flight, does QF or any other airline say that you have used your ticket? Of course this would only work for tickets that allow flexibility to change.