BA Domestic flights - self service only

[mitchja]

Just received an email from Exec Club regarding check-in on all domestic flights:

From 25 April 2006, everyone flying on our UK Domestic routes will be required to check in for their flight either online via ba.com or using one of our Self-Service Check-in kiosks at the airport.....If you have bags to check in, you'll be pleased to know that we're converting our conventional check-in desks into 'Fast Bag Drop' desks, for you to check-in any luggage.

Regards

Another cost cutting measure I assume. I feel bad for those who are technologically deficient.

I suppose it is inevitable that all airlines will move this way, Domestic is obvious place to start as there is no id requirement.

I don't think it is a problem as long as there are enough staff hanging around the machines to help when there are the inevitable problems, or people who require some help.

I remember a couple of years ago in La Guardia trying to check in for a CO domestic flight. Because I had paid online with a UK credit card the SS Check in machine wouldn't allow me to check in and directed me to a desk. The grief I got there from a CO memeber of staff! Treating me like an idiot and bluntly telling me I must have done something wrong. Eventually I got him to show me on the machine what I should do and he had the same problem. No apology, nothing, just grumbling all the way back to the desk to manually check me in.

Now I know a couple of times I have had problems with BA SS check in, normally when I've tried to check in online first and the session has timed out. On screen message warned that I hadn't checked in, but the machine at the airport tells me I have checked in and won't print out a boarding card.

In summary, not a problem if everything works, the test comes on how they handle a problem. And don't even get me started when I think about my Mum travelling alone confronted with a machine rather than a person! Doesn't bear thinking about.

Vslf

Certainly at Heathrow T1, there's usually a couple of members of staff looking after the bank of self-service check-ins, and they have a terminal which can see what's going on at each check-in machine.

When your check-in transaction fails, they get an on-screen message on their terminal about it. I've had a similar problem where the machine was refusing to check me in, and suddenly a BA person appeared next to me and took me to a desk where I recieved an op-up! [8D]

So, if anyone is struggling, they usually get to know fairly quickly.

Qantas and Air NZ were primarily DIY check-in for all their domestic flights, and there were never any queues or long waits anywhere on their domestic network.

Cheers,
Mike