New fangled airline check in

Like all things when they work all is good, when they don’t…

CocoPops

I recently did a long haul flight with BA. Booked online with details on my phone. I only took one carry on bag. 24 hours prior flight I downloaded the boarding pass to my phone avoiding the need to check-in at a desk. Like it or not it's the digital age, straightforward and without human interaction!

We do that for both outward and homebound flights before the journey, but also print off all boarding cards, just in case.
The scanner is only reading the bar code whether it’s on you phone or printed copy.

Allira

Oh, it was working then, Norah

Miracle!

It was easy. Return was seamless 2 days later as well.

We follow directions, brilliant German signs. Only carry luggage.

I'm amazed that anyone travels long haul with just cabin luggage.

Do you shop when you get there?

J52... no I don't shop on arrival. I travel in jeans, T shirt, hoodie and hiking trainers. I pack lightweight trainers, sandals, shorts, cropped pants, T shirts, a sweater, swimsuit, socks, underwear, PJ's, sponge bag and meds. Nothing fancy. My handbag has credit cards, 2 passports, keys, phone and charger, tissues and a paperback.

EasyJet at Gatwick have had bag drop for years . I check in at home 30 days prior to flying , add my boarding card to my wallet on my phone. It makes the process so much quicker . Sometimes we can do bag drop , go through security in 15 minutes. I normally book the quick security. It’s about £6 each and the process is much easier now that you don’t need to take liquids out of your carry on luggage .
Oh and EJ do have staff to help .

I find travelling lightweight on the tube and trains from Heathrow T5 to the Midlands is much easier too.and for my return trip home 🇨🇦 and no hanging around at airport carousels.

CocoPops

J52... no I don't shop on arrival. I travel in jeans, T shirt, hoodie and hiking trainers. I pack lightweight trainers, sandals, shorts, cropped pants, T shirts, a sweater, swimsuit, socks, underwear, PJ's, sponge bag and meds. Nothing fancy. My handbag has credit cards, 2 passports, keys, phone and charger, tissues and a paperback.

I heard about a woman who came over regularly to the UK to visit family with just small hand luggage and headed for the nearest charity shops when she got here, shopped, then returned them when she left.

I feel I never want to fly again. I always fail at these things and an official has to come and help. Its so stressful, especially having to scan my passport and it never works. I see my husband go through and I'm stuck.

We no longer fly after a very distressing attempt to get on a flight at Stansted. I had lunch with four retired friends last week, all very capable users of IT but all now no longer flying. One has a holiday to have an enjoyable experience but flying certainly is not this. We all now go by sea, rail or in this country. This summer we had glorious weather and, whilst tourists roasted in Southern Europe, we enjoyed glorious Devon. I would be interested if the number of those having foreign holidays has diminished? Certainly Spain is suffering from a lack of holiday makers.

We flew from Gatwick in August using BA. I downloaded the boarding passes to my Apple wallet and then at the airport we used the check in automated service to put the cases on the conveyor belt. It worked a treat but plenty of employees to help if you couldn’t manage it. We found it worked fine. Moving through passport control we also had no problems with the automated service. The only slow area is the bit where you put your bags through the scanner and wait to be frisked if they single you out. That bit is chaotic but the rest worked smoothly. Same on the return journey.

We went through without problems the first time we used the new system at Heathrow and when it works, it's probably fine but when it doesn't, utter chaos results.

Never again for us! We needed a holiday to get over the stress and hassle of getting there, and then you have to do it all again to come home. So done with airports. There are so many things that we have to do ourselves, and whilst we’re not too bad at technology, we’re not that great either, and generally find it all very stressful. I’m well aware that we’re probably the last generation to have problems with technology and companies don’t care, working on the assumption that we’ll all be dead soon!

We fly often. We always print passes at home. We never fiddle with mobile phones. We look round us - read signs, following all. We plan at home by way of airport internet maps, allow plenty of time.

Wear hiking shoes, coats, jeans, and jumpers. We carry cabin luggage.

However, I know our method may not work seamlessly for all, we are logistical puzzlers and airport check ins make sense to us.

November we'll leave for 5 days in Australia, clothing may be a dilemma.

Yes we take a cabin rucksack. In that is my iPad, phone, sweets to suck for take off, medical needs, tissues, waterproof fold up jacket. I also take a cross body bag with passports and bank card in. That’s it. Also one suitcase goes in the hold. We have it down to a fine art now. When we do a mini break in the UK I just take a cabin trolley instead of the big case. All works fine.

Norah

We fly often. We always print passes at home. We never fiddle with mobile phones. We look round us - read signs, following all. We plan at home by way of airport internet maps, allow plenty of time.

Wear hiking shoes, coats, jeans, and jumpers. We carry cabin luggage.

However, I know our method may not work seamlessly for all, we are logistical puzzlers and airport check ins make sense to us.

November we'll leave for 5 days in Australia, clothing may be a dilemma.

We do the same.
Boy Scout and Girl Guide. Be pPrepared.
Fine if all goes smoothly but it doesn't always.

Five days in Australia? Thst's a long way to go for five days!

CocoPops

J52... no I don't shop on arrival. I travel in jeans, T shirt, hoodie and hiking trainers. I pack lightweight trainers, sandals, shorts, cropped pants, T shirts, a sweater, swimsuit, socks, underwear, PJ's, sponge bag and meds. Nothing fancy. My handbag has credit cards, 2 passports, keys, phone and charger, tissues and a paperback.

Wasn’t me! I think your replying to Allira 16 Sept 19:49

Allira

Norah

We fly often. We always print passes at home. We never fiddle with mobile phones. We look round us - read signs, following all. We plan at home by way of airport internet maps, allow plenty of time.

Wear hiking shoes, coats, jeans, and jumpers. We carry cabin luggage.

However, I know our method may not work seamlessly for all, we are logistical puzzlers and airport check ins make sense to us.

November we'll leave for 5 days in Australia, clothing may be a dilemma.

We do the same.
Boy Scout and Girl Guide. Be pPrepared.
Fine if all goes smoothly but it doesn't always.

Five days in Australia? Thst's a long way to go for five days!

Australia is a long distance, my husband's business requirement. We're flying with seats that adjust for sleeping, logical.

I flew to Italy recently with Ryanair and had to check in on line using their App on my phone. I was quite stressed about it because they fine you £55 if you don't check in in advance. Thankfully I managed it OK. I did it as soon as possible - has to be done in the last 24 hours - in case I needed to get a friend to help. It's the first time I've had to do that alone. Last time I flew anywhere my DiL booked the flights and handled everything. She sent my documents to me but at the airport she presented everything on her phone so I only needed to show my passport.
I wonder if people without smartphones have to pay the fine or if they can do it on a laptop and print things. I would have preferred to do that in a way as I feel more confident with a paper document but the instructions all involved using the App so I had to be brave and hope for the best.

Automated check in has been automated in many airports for some time. I find the weighing and then having to place on a conveyor belt quite difficult. Some places hace a gap of about 15' to take your suitcase after weighing and then having to place on its side to go through on belt. At least some airports now have system where you don't need to take items out of your hand luggage for xray or take your shoes off.

I agree. Never get it right the first time. Years ago you just picked the tickets up from the travel agent and checked in at the desk while someone did everything for you. Much less stress.

Norah

Allira

Norah

We fly often. We always print passes at home. We never fiddle with mobile phones. We look round us - read signs, following all. We plan at home by way of airport internet maps, allow plenty of time.

Wear hiking shoes, coats, jeans, and jumpers. We carry cabin luggage.

However, I know our method may not work seamlessly for all, we are logistical puzzlers and airport check ins make sense to us.

November we'll leave for 5 days in Australia, clothing may be a dilemma.

We do the same.
Boy Scout and Girl Guide. Be pPrepared.
Fine if all goes smoothly but it doesn't always.

Five days in Australia? Thst's a long way to go for five days!

Australia is a long distance, my husband's business requirement. We're flying with seats that adjust for sleeping, logical.

Depending on where, it should be warm, but take a layer if you are going South.

Possibly wet.

If it's North, then I've noticed people tend not to wear macs but use umbrellas instead.

Sandyk

I agree. Never get it right the first time. Years ago you just picked the tickets up from the travel agent and checked in at the desk while someone did everything for you. Much less stress.

Exactly, but nothing is now done for the benefit of the customer is it? Only for the benefit of the airport or the company or the shop.

Friendlygingercat..how is it humiliating, Stressful,yes but humiliating??????

Have been trying to pluck up the courage to go on my first solo holiday next year. Have travelled widely but never booked a flight or travel insurance myself and never used the automatic check ins, my late DH always did this. Reading all these comments has really made me think again.