V-Flyer

In October I am flying to IAD on VS and thereon to GSO on United. My connecting flight on the same PNR is two hours after we are scheduled to land in IAD.

Some years ago Aer John and I were booked to JAX from LHR via IAD on VS/UA. Our onward flight was at 17:30 - long after we had landed in IAD. We cleared Immigration and Customs and in the baggage hall our bags were collected for onward transfer and we were directed to the UA desk therein to check in for our flight to JAX. When we got there I was told there was a problem and directed to the gate. At the gate I was told there was only one seat available and a boarding pass for me was printed. None for Aer John who was 14 at the time!! [:0] The gate agent told me he was #7 in line after the elites and then it went to #10 and I freaked! At this stage it was 16:00 and we had been on the road since 23:00 the previous day their time. He tried to route us though other airlines but we were being met in JAX and I had no way of contacting and in any case at that stage I didn't really want to land in Jax at midnight having been re-routed via CLT or CVG or any other hub you care to mention. I wanted my direct flight. The gate agent was good. I'll give you that but he kept on pressing whatever button he had to show me that there was no availability (and other elites were coming forward demanding seats) when all of a sudden the machine went "ping" and out popped a boarding card for my baby!!! I clutched it like a drowning man clutches a straw and although they had assigned him an exit row I kept schtum grateful to be on the flight. Let them sort it out on board (They didn't!)

I'm anxious to avoid a similar occurrence this time. OK, it matters less than the last time. We were going to a wedding; there were two of us; mobile/cell phones weren't as prevalent and we didn't have tri-band. I can manage a delay this time if I have to, but I don't want to if I can help it. Therefore I am asking whether, having checked in with VS and had my bags tagged all the way through (even though I have to customs clear them at IAD) can I check in on the IAD-GSO route at LHR?

Yup. As long as it's <24 hours' time.

Having said that, I've done it twice, and it only worked once. The second time, it told me it "wasn't possible to complete check-in for this flight, please check in as normal at the airport terminal". No idea why.

Originally posted by preiffer
Yup. As long as it's <24 hours' time.

Having said that, I've done it twice, and it only worked once. The second time, it told me it "wasn't possible to complete check-in for this flight, please check in as normal at the airport terminal". No idea why.

[:X]

Thinking back on it - I think I may know why it wouldn't let me OLCI the second time.

That was the time I got the wonderful "SSSS" on my boarding pass when they did manage to check me in at the terminal... [ii]

"One way flight, Sir? And you're taking your parachute onboard? OK... " [:w]

This response has firmed up a query that was floating round my head at the same time - whether to take the early morning flight from ORK or to fly over the night before. If I have to go faffing around LHR and arguing the toss with UA I'm going to do the latter.

Whereabouts is the UA check-in?

Originally posted by honey lamb
This response has firmed up a query that was floating round my head at the same time - whether to take the early morning flight from ORK or to fly over the night before. If I have to go faffing around LHR and arguing the toss with UA I'm going to do the latter.

Whereabouts is the UA check-in?

Opposite end of T3 check-in from VS. My experience of the UA LHR station staff is that they are unswervingly professional, friendly and competent - many of them have years and years of experience, having transferred from Pan Am to UA when they took over the LHR operations.

I'm somewhat surprised as you're on the same PNR that VS can't through check you as well as your bags.

In theory, maybe you can try and online check-in and print boarding passes, for the UA flights, then all you need to do is bag drop after clearing customs at IAD.

If not, maybe a UA person at LHR will check you in on the GSO flight, if you can show you're checked in on the VS sector. Good luck.

Mike