FC Silver use of PE checkin

Hi all,

Does anybody know the rules regarding use of PE check in as an FC silver?

I'm used to being sent away from the LHR PE queue towards the kiosks by wandering VS staff, but when I wave my silver card they let me use the PE checkin desk.

On my latest trip though, I was told by two staff members that as a Silver member I still need to use the kiosks before I can then drop my bag at the PE bag drop. I was travelling in Y.

This seems contrary to the VS website, which mentions a 'dedicated' PE checkin desk for those in PE, and 'full use' of the PE check in area for Silvers, regardless of class of travel.

The website also differs from my Gatwick experience about a year ago, when I was told to remove my baggage from the conveyor belt at PE check in and go to the Silver members' bag drop on the opposite side of the departure area, once they realised I was a Y traveller.

Does anybody know the official line?

Thanks,

[mitchja]

It sounds like VS are starting to pull the BA tactic of 'You have to use the self service' [V]

Ignore it. The official line is, if you are Flying Club Silver, then you can use PE check-in at all airports when checking in with VS regardless of class of travel (obviously not including Upper).

LGW does have a separate Ag check-in desk. I don't recall seeing a dedicated Ag desk at LHR or any other airport though.

Regards

[Neil]

I agree with James, VS do seem to be trying to get as many pax as possible to use the self service kiosks.

When we flew from MAN last year the staff were really forceful in trying to make us use the self service kiosks, even though I informed them I had already done OLCI and as an Ag card holder I could use the PE desks. In the end I just ignored what they were saying and went to the PE desk where we were sorted without any issues.

Neil

Thanks for the replies guys. The two staff members who told me I had to use the kiosks were the man at the PE check in desk, and the woman helper I asked for confirmation who had come to assist when our kiosk seemed to have crashed.

I'll be there again in a couple of weeks, I guess with relevant pages from the website in my back pocket this time!

SAS expect you to do your own baggage labels too. [V]

quote:Originally posted by Neil
I agree with James, VS do seem to be trying to get as many pax as possible to use the self service kiosks.

When we flew from MAN last year the staff were really forceful in trying to make us use the self service kiosks, even though I informed them I had already done OLCI and as an Ag card holder I could use the PE desks. In the end I just ignored what they were saying and went to the PE desk where we were sorted without any issues.

Neil


Had the same problem from MAN last year Neil. Unfortunately, I wasn't completely sure of my 'rights' so I capitulated and used the dreaded self-service apparatus.

Perhaps VS should be reiterating the 'rules' if this is the correct word - and VS is the correct outfit to do so. Then again, perhaps I don't know what I'm burbling on about.

'Taxi for Treelo' [:I]

We get nagged to get as many people checked in on cuss (self service checkin to anyone who doesn't know the technical word). To be fair it does make it sooooo much easier at the desk, especially on US flights.
I can only speak for MAN, but I know alot of the people we use mainly on cuss don't realise PE don't have to use them. If they try and make you tell them, we won't turn you away from the desk! It's the same I assume with anyone with a gold or silver card, although we're never really told much about it our trainers useless.

I had similar problems at MAN last year travelling on a UC ticket.
The guy in front of me was told he had to use cuss even though his OLCI had been refused and told to use the desk.

Had to wonder if they were using
a. escapees from security
b. trainees for security
c. or just staff that they did not dare let loose at the check-in desks!

Must say that this year things seem much better.

[HighFlyer]

BA do this as well and I refuse to use the machines. If I wanted a humanless experience I'd fly easyJet. I do think they ought to have the machines for those that want to use them but they should never be mandatory - its just one more thing being taken away from the experience, especially for a scheduled airline that needs to differentiate.

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
BA do this as well and I refuse to use the machines. If I wanted a humanless experience I'd fly easyJet. I do think they ought to have the machines for those that want to use them but they should never be mandatory - its just one more thing being taken away from the experience, especially for a scheduled airline that needs to differentiate.


Ryanair maybe, not (yet) EasyJet. Though they have had OLCI for passengers without hold luggage for a good while, EasyJet are only just introducing the notion of OLCI plus bag drop and I've yet to see evidence of any self service kiosks.

Paul

I had this problem at LGW - the security guy refused to let me through to the counters without first using the kiosk despite protestations. I duly used the kiosk and it ate my FF card! It took 20 mins for them to retrieve it from the machine innards!

[HighFlyer]

Hold tight for easy ... they are coming [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Hold tight for easy ... they are coming [:)]


Of that I have no doubt - hopefully my current commute will be done by then. [ii]

[HighFlyer]

I went to see easyJet the other week for work and they told me an interesting tale that they had a hangar full of those self check-in machines. They want to do away with as much of traditional check-in as possible and replace the counters with machines but apparently BAA charge airlines based on the amount of floorspace they use, so you can see the obvious with the move to machines and I was told that BAA are charging even more for the machines than they do for the desks, which is what is stopping EZY from rolling them out.

For once I am happy that the choice by BAA has some benefits for the customer. As I say, by all means provide both but dont push yet another experience into a human-less one.

Thanks,
Sarah

Sarah

Thanks for that - an interesting story. Ultimately I guess money will win out, and at some point EZY will judge it beneficial to pay BAA whatever the going rate is for the machines.

I wonder how the length of the OLCI / bag drop experience compares to the 'traditional' check in ? Some time ago I heard representatives from both VS and EZY on a business program on Radio 4 opining that the machines were there to 'give the consumer choice'. All well and good if true, as it possibly is for the traveller unencumbered by hold luggage, but the cynic in me sees it more as a way of pushing cost back to the consumer in terms of extending the time they have to spend in the airport.

It also means that the 'face' of the airport experience will be shared between security and those that staff the retail outlets. Not a great thought...

I mentioned the Silver / PE checkin issue to the executive office today and they said they'd send a reminder of the policy to the LHR groundstaff.

I'm not holding my breath, but hopefully I can check in unobstructed next week!

quote:Originally posted by Lizz
We get nagged to get as many people checked in on cuss


'Common User Self-Service' is what this unfortunate, yet strangely appropriate, acronym means.

Many of them are so badly designed, with terrible interfaces, that pax are frequently observed CUSSing under their breath while using them.

Mike

Love how you know what cuss means and none of us have a clue!
Some are akward to use, the VS one is pretty simple though, although most people seem to think they bite.

[Darren Wheeler]

It's when they try to test you and you get into that Mbius moment.

I can back up Sarah's story about airports charging through the nose for them. I was told that at Frankfurt the Airport charges 100000 per year per machine, which is why BA have ZERO there.

I cannot use the machines when I travel with my eldest son, as we have the same initial, and the BA machines can't cope with that.

I also ignore the patrolling drones ushering me to the machines at Virgin's checkin area. I have a loyalty card and I expect to be able to use it to help gain an exit row or bulkhead seat.

I absolutely destest these machines.

Perhaps our lovely check-in lady, Lizz, might be able to advise the best strategy to avoid ukcobra's patrolling drones and check-in with a human?

Over to you Lizz[:D]

[Darren Wheeler]

Simple. You head to the desk and keep walking...

My advice? Point blank refuse to use them! Do not hand your passport over and stomp your feet as if you were a child!
I shall let anyone travelling from MAN mention my name to avoid using them if you want, say you know me and that I said to not use them and if they have a problem with that to take it up with VS (who of course if you know me, won't care!) ;D

The slight issue I've noticed now is G4S (guys&girls who check your passports) are now helping out on them, and I've noticed ALOT of premium pax being made to check in on them.

Aah yes, the nice G4S security screeners at MAN who look the pax up and down then ask 'travelling economy sir?' when you're trying to enter the UC check-in line...! If they try to get me to use one of the self-serve machines in May, I'll respond to them how I did when I was last asked if I was travelling economy - with a few 'choice' questions!

(I asked them which check-in line I was trying to join, they said 'Upper Class'. So I said I am probably not in economy then, they said 'you could be flying club gold'. Showed the screener my flying club silver card... the message got through. Half expected to get the latex glove treatment at the boarding gate as a result, but thankfully that was not to be.) All the screeners have to do is ask the pax for their e-ticket before making assumptions about the class of travel.

James

I didnt have any problems at LHR which I guess was lucky. Although at JFK they said directed me to the economy check in then I flashed the purple and they let me through!