E-check-in on international flights?
 

In the past I have tried to check-in via internet for international itineraries on Northwest, United and Continental; with no success. Is it normal that international passengers are required to check-in in person so that they may present passports? We usually have luggage to check anyway, but I do like to get an early check-in for a flight that I don’t want to take a bump on. Is the 24 hour check-in period (as I have always assumed) prior to the first flight on the itinerary, which in our case is almost always a domestic flight? In particular, we will fly United (FAR-ORD-IAD-GIG) in a few weeks.

I've done online check in for international flight on Continental. Basically, it gets me a more definite seat selection.
If I have luggage to check in, then at the counter they just double check the boarding pass I've printed and send me on my way.Once it a while, they exchange it for a "real" boarding pass.
With no checked luggage, I've been able to go directly to security and then to the gate.

It may depend on the specific airports involved, on the specific flight (if they seem very booked up, sometimes it won't let you pick a seat) or the timing on when you are allowed to check in (not too early before the flight, not too close to the flight)

United's web site indicates that you can check in online for international flights, anywhere from 2-24 hours before the first flight, which must be operated by United or United Express.

Continental allows online check in for most international flights. American still does not.

I've checked in online the day before for United and Delta. American definitely didn't let me (it said they don't allow advanced checkin). I haven't flown Northwest in awhile, so I don't know there - but on all the flights, the flight was actually a United and Delta plane - was yours a codeshare, where it was actually a different airline's plane? That might have been the problem.

<i> Is the 24 hour check-in period (as I have always assumed) prior to the first flight on the itinerary, which in our case is almost always a domestic flight?</i>

Yes, that's generally the case.

I've done international online check-in on Delta, Alaska and Cathay.

I wish AA would implement intl OLCI soon, like before Feb 24th would work really well for me ;)

Our first flight is United Express and the others are United.

There could be a couple of reasons:

1. the remaining unassigned seats are under airport control so if you don't have seat assignment you would have to wait until you show up at the airport.

or

2. You may have been selected for secondary security check and if that's the case it won't let you OLCI because you can very easily &quot;doctor&quot; the BP and take out the SSSS.


or


I don't really know. I didn't fly UA all that much and it was years ago, but it's also possible that sometimes there is a computer glitch. It happened to me on couple of AA domestic flight and couldn't OLCI but once I got to the airport the TA had no problem printing BPs within few minutes.

Have a great trip!

Delta would not let me e-check in for our international flight - annoying since they had some big promotion going on for e-check in.

In the last year I have checked in online for Internatinal flights with UA. Previously I could not check in online. Not sure exactly when they made the change. These flights have been from IAD.

Momliz,
Was your originating flight operated by Delta? Did you travel to a country that requires a visa?

Most of my international leisure travel is premium through AA. I like to check in in person so that I can hit up the ticket agent for drink chits at the Admirals Club.

Then I do the same at the entrance to the Admirals Club.

Unless you live in one of their major gateway cities, at least one flight will be totally domestic. If you don't use them going, then save them for the return trip.

I thought you could just ask for more drink chits at the AC. In any case, I'd still prefer the option of being able to skip the ticket counter, chits or no chits.

Patty, that may have been the problem. No, the originating flight was with Frontier or American Eagle, I don't remember which, code shares I guess.

The way it worked for me was this:

the first time I fly with the airline, I must check-in in person so they can scan my passport

the 2nd time no problem to check-in on-line

We did online checkin with Continental to and from Paris. Didn't check bags so took our preprinted boarding pass directly to Passport and Security check, then the gate.

I've always been able to choose my seats upon making the initial booking, so not understanding the comments about seat selection at check-in, unless referring to an upgrade or something.

We did online check-in for an international flight on United in October. What surprised me was that once we got to the airport and checked our luggage, they did not ask for our passports at the ticket counter. I wondered why, but now Dayenu's comment clarifies it for me.

I have a flight next month to Costa Rica on AA, and when I log into my account and view my reservation, a green message is displayed which says &quot;Online check-in and boarding passes are available on AA.com for flights within 1 to 24 hours of the scheduled departure time&quot;. It looks like it pertains to my specific reservation and is not some generic message. I've never been able to do this before. AA has scanned my passport in the past, but it expired within the last year and I now have a new one. I'm going to try the online check-in this time, hopefully it works!

I checked in online on Friday for a United international flight. Had to enter in my passport information then I printed the bps. This is the same info I have given United several times before. I had a connection in Dulles. Nobody asked to see my passport until I got to Mexico City.

Just checked in for the return flight. Had to enter the passport info again.

Brian,
I have the same message on all of my itineraries and my intl itinerary tomorrow has a check-in button which gives me this message when I click on it "We are unable to check you in at this time. Online check-in is only available for flights In the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. If your itinerary contains any international flights within 24 hours, you will not be able to use Flight-Check-In. Please check in at the airport with an agent."

Oh well, it would have been nice since I have a 6 am flight! Thanks for letting us know, Patty.