You could check your bags with the skycaps or with the bag checker at the check-in kiosks. Checking in online helps you avoid the lines as usually either of the 2 options above don't have any.

You may wish to try online check-in if the airline is offering an incentive, but otherwise I don't recomend it.

The gate people are still set up to work best with the boarding cards issued by the airlines. Using the sheet you have printed on your computer is likely to be slower and add hassles.

In my worst experience, the gate person made me wait until she had boarded most of the rest of the plane, then went over to the counter and issued a boarding pass to replace the sheet I had printed.

Keith

Try phoning the airline now to book your seat choices. It's always worked for me.

I check in online, as Continental is giving a bonus. Then I go to the check-in counter and they tear up my online pass and issue one for me with both of our suitcases, and my wife keeps her computer generated pass. We have had no problem at boarding.

I check in on-line whenever possible--if you have luggage to check, you check it with the skycap outside (usually no line). You can pick your own seats and completely bypass the lines at the ticket counter. I have never had a problem with the computer generated boarding passes at all--they have a scanner which reads them.

I use that option if it is a date or time of day will most likely have long lines at the ticket counter so I can go straight to the gate. I've never had a problem. If I know it will be pretty clear (usually taking same flight same time) then I'll just check in normally.

I used online check-in for the first time a few weeks ago on US Airways and had no problem at all. The gate person at my first flight did recommend that I tear off the rest of the printed page and hand over just the boarding pass part.

Thanks for all the replies! My other questions is, if I check-in online, do I still have to get to the airport 3 hours in advance for international flights to check-in my luggage?