Tonystan From Ireland, joined Jan 2006, 1176 posts, RR: 2 Posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 4026 times:
Heathrow Express users will be glad to hear that check-in is to be re-established at Paddington station in Central London albeit not exactly in its former glory.
Common airline self service kiosks are to be installed before the platforms to allow passengers check in for their flights and collect their boarding cards. Initially the service will only be available for passengers of United, Delta and Iberia but it will eventually be extended to BA, Virgin, Finnair and other airlines. However the days of being able to check in your luggage at the station are to remain consigned to pre-9/11 history.
I suppose its a positive development but nothing significant considering most passengers can now print their boarding cards from their homes and offices!
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 1, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 4016 times:
Quoting Tonystan (Thread starter): However the days of being able to check in your luggage at the station are to remain consigned to pre-9/11 history.
Are there any non-airport facilities that still do this? I believe I heard about a "trial" in a few Las Vegas hotels rather recently...is that still in operation?
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
LHR380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 3837 times:
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): Are there any non-airport facilities that still do this? I believe I heard about a "trial" in a few Las Vegas hotels rather recently...is that still in operation?
Hong Kong Central train station has airport check in desks. Very well set out as well.
Runway23 From US Minor Outlying Islands, joined Jan 2005, 2038 posts, RR: 39 Reply 5, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 3727 times:
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): Are there any non-airport facilities that still do this? I believe I heard about a "trial" in a few Las Vegas hotels rather recently...is that still in operation?
Most of Vancouver hotels have kiosks to check-in. In fact I even saw YVR Kiosks as far out as Whistler.
Lincoln From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 3887 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3705 times:
Quoting Tonystan (Thread starter): I suppose its a positive development but nothing significant considering most passengers can now print their boarding cards from their homes and offices!
But if you don't live/work in London it seems like a handy idea...
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 1): Are there any non-airport facilities that still do this? I believe I heard about a "trial" in a few Las Vegas hotels rather recently...is that still in operation?
IIRC,
a) The Las Vegas Convention Center has some CUSS checkin kiosks -- of course, no luggage check
b) Most Walt Disney World resort properties not only have checkin but have also worked some kind of deal with TSA to also check luggage on property
("If you're departing domestically on a designated airline, enjoy the convenience of our Resort Airline Check-in Service, which allows you to receive your return boarding pass and check luggage at your Walt Disney World hotel, bypassing airport check-in completely." -- http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/benefits/airport-service/)
Lincoln
CO Is My Airline of Choice || Baggage Claim is an airline's last chance to disappoint a customer || Next flts in profile
JQFlightie From Australia, joined Mar 2009, 880 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 3523 times:
Nikko Hotel, owned by JL, in the lobby you are able to check you luggage in there, get you r boarding passes and seat assignments, however this is only for JL and codeshare flights out of NRT
Next Trip: PER-DPS-LOP-CGK-KUL-PVG-LHR, LCY-MAD-VLC, BCN-LYS-TLS-IST-JED-KUL-SGN-CAN-MEL
Rivet42 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 817 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 3462 times:
Interesting!
Will it be strictly for Heathrow Express & Heathrow Connect passengers only...? If you wanted to check-in (i.e. choose a seat) ahead of going to the airport, and don't have internet to hand, it could be useful, even if you intend to take a cheaper route to the airport... It should be remembered that not everyone has www access 24/7.
ORD2PHL From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 310 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 3446 times:
Quoting LHR380 (Reply 3): Hong Kong Central train station has airport check in desks. Very well set out as well.
Had my first visit to HK this summer and was definitely pleased at the in-town check-in arrangement at Central. I flew UA896 HKG-ORD on the way home and it was a perfect way to not have to deal with your bags during the trip out to the airport, very well done.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16824 posts, RR: 57 Reply 11, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 3310 times:
Quoting Tonystan (Thread starter):
Common airline self service kiosks are to be installed before the platforms to allow passengers check in for their flights and collect their boarding cards. Initially the service will only be available for passengers of United, Delta and Iberia but it will eventually be extended to BA, Virgin, Finnair and other airlines. However the days of being able to check in your luggage at the station are to remain consigned to pre-9/11 history.
I don't get the big deal. You can check in online.
Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2013 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 3266 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 11): I don't get the big deal. You can check in online.
Indeed, you miss the big deal. Not everybody can check in online. Some people may not have access to www, or it's tedious. Some people may have access to the www on their mobile phone, but cannot print out the BP.
Inesilio From Italy, joined Sep 2009, 53 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 3255 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 11): I don't get the big deal. You can check in online.
I'll second that. Don't see any big advance here - as they are self service kiosks, it's essentially putting computers in a public place that can only be used for check in. Whether I swipe my FF card to get my boarding card at the airport or at the station really doesn't change anything for me. I might be able to get to the security line or the bag drop 30 seconds earlier at the airport maybe.
The only way to get any convenience out of this would be to be able to check bags at the station and not have to carry them on and off trains and up and down escalators.
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10192 posts, RR: 62 Reply 14, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 3255 times:
Quoting ORD2PHL (Reply 10):
Quoting LHR380 (Reply 3):
Hong Kong Central train station has airport check in desks. Very well set out as well.
Had my first visit to HK this summer and was definitely pleased at the in-town check-in arrangement at Central. I flew UA896 HKG-ORD on the way home and it was a perfect way to not have to deal with your bags during the trip out to the airport, very well done.
Agreed.
Just used the Hong Kong Airport Express in Central the other day. Man was that incredible. Such a smooth, efficient system - to compliment the overall superb airport in general. Great town, great airport.
Richcandy From France, joined Aug 2001, 696 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 3239 times:
Hi
Again, I agree I don't really understand what the big advantage is.
I only used the check in at Paddington once and that was when i was flying AC. It was great no big wait, check was quick and when I got to LHR went straight to security.
I guess however things have changed. More and more people fly with cabin baggage only and check in on line. So the need to visit a check in desk is less.
Quoting LHR380 (Reply 3):
Hong Kong Central train station has airport check in desks. Very well set out as well.
Had my first visit to HK this summer and was definitely pleased at the in-town check-in arrangement at Central. I flew UA896 HKG-ORD on the way home and it was a perfect way to not have to deal with your bags during the trip out to the airport, very well done.
Agreed.
Just used the Hong Kong Airport Express in Central the other day. Man was that incredible. Such a smooth, efficient system - to compliment the overall superb airport in general. Great town, great airport.
I didn't bother a couple of weeks ago, the Central check in is right by the Airport train anyway, and it's only a short, flat walk the other end to the check in desks at the airport.
A similar system In London would be far more useful, as the distances to walk are far greater, even from the HEx. Moreover, imagine the Piccadilly line with no luggage, as everyone had checked in already
it's the bus to stansted (now renamed national express a4 to ruin my username)
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1507 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2963 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 11): I don't get the big deal. You can check in online.
Here's the big idea, and from personal experience, albeit not in London. You haven't been able to access the internet to check in on line, been in meetings all day and just missed the train to enable you to get to the airport in time to make the 60 minute cut off for check in at the airport. You can get the next train as it will still enable you to catch your flight, but what's the point, you've missed check in...
Not if you are able to check in at the station and print your pass, and also be in time for your flight.
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