unable to use online check in
 

So my flight leaves tomorrow morning, and while trying to check in online for my flight this morning I get the error message: "This itinerary is not supported for check in. See agent at the airport for check in." I originally booked the trip through yahoo, so I called them...they said I needed to call American...I called American and the agent told me "since American operates the first leg of your trip and USAIRWAYS on the return leg, you cannot use online check in."
HOWEVER, I just spoke with a very helpful USAIRWAYS agent, he was sure online checkin would work but then he discovered he was getting the same error message. He does NOT agree with the American Airlines agent that since it's a codeshare, you cannot check in online, his theory is that it's a website issue. He did say that although I'll have to go to the counter tomorrow to check in, it's likely that I WILL be able to check in online for the return flight on USAIRWAYS...guess we'll find out then who is really correct (if it works, it was on American's end)
This sucks because it's a very early flight and now I'l have to get the kids up at 4am to get to the airport early enough for my 7:05am flight. Since we don't have baggage to check I thought we'd be able to bypass the counter, but sounds like that's not in the cards. Any suggestions???

I meant to add this is a domestic flight, not international (MSP-DFW-SAN).

It's frustrating but I don't think you have any choice. If you can't check in on line, you'll have to do it at the counter.

Thanks Jeff, it's not the end of the world and we still plan on having a wonderful trip no matter what. I wouldn't think there would be alot of people at the counter at 4:30-5am, but who knows? At least Spring Break is over so probably not as busy as it would have been at the counter and the TSA line even 2-3 weeks ago when they were advising people to get to MSP 21/2 hrs before departure.

I don't think it's a big deal. Since the advent of online checkin lines at kiosks at most airports I've been to have been no problem. I still see long lines at the full service ticket counters, but you can use a kiosk to check-in and get boarding pass.

Another option you could try is a mobile app if you have a smartphone. It may not behave the same as the website.

Thanks J62, unfortunately the mobile app is not an option if there is more than one person on the reservation (I checked into that already). I was also told that I must check in with an agent when I tried the online check in, it specifically stated that I must see an agent at the counter. I would hate to wait in a line for a kiosk, only to get the same message "see agent at counter for check in" that I got when trying to check in online, then we would have 3 lines to wait in.

I'm guessing you've been randomly chosen for TSA's Secondary Security Screening Selection (known as the dreaded SSSS). If so, it means that you must have a printed Boarding Pass issued by the Ticket Agent or at one of the Kiosks and the letters SSSS will appear on the Boarding Pass.

You'll then be given a thorough "pat-down" when you go through the TSA check point. It happened to me once about 2 years ago. The TSA inspection takes about 5 to 8 extra minutes.

It's no big deal, really and it will only be for this particular flight. Your return trip should be OK.

Doh! I was wondering about that since I saw someone else mention this who was also unable to check in online and ended up having to go through enhanced security with the SSSS code....so if this is the case does that mean I will have to go through the machine AND get the enhanced pat down??? Also, there are 4 of us traveling (my wife, teenage son and teenage daughter)...does that mean we all could have to go through that or just me???

Before you rush to get up ridiculously early, have you checked to see when the counter opens? I've had the disappointing experience of having to wait an hour, with no coffee nearby, for the counter to open. This trumps any arrival times quoted.

Good point, NoFly, I'll call and find out. I know security was open right at 4:30am last time I had an early flight, not sure about the counter but will call the airline to double check.

Thanks for the added detail. I'd still go for the kiosk. There are agents there to assist.

I checked, AA ticket counter at MSP opens at 3:30am (not getting there THAT early LOL:)

I think I may know a possible reason why I can't check in online. A couple of weeks ago I emailed AA to try to get assigned seats since our seats in the reservation were unassigned. They took care of that, and sent me an email reply.
I just noticed yesterday when reviewing their reply that one of the seats assigned had the last name missspelled (a K instead of a J in the first letter). When I pull it up on the reservation online it shows the correct spelling, but I have a feeling something got messed up there and maybe that's why.

If you have been selected for SSSS it will apply only to you, not everyone in your party, unless they too were selected - very doubtful that would actually happen as it's a random selection process.

And, yes, you'd go through the normal screening "machine" then get the extra pat-down and scrutiny of any carry-on luggage you may have. The process only adds a few minutes to the TSA screening process.

FYI - when it happened to me I was able to print my boarding pass using one of the Kiosks. So I didn't have to wait on line for a ticket agent to issue my boarding pass.

Thanks to all for the info!

Am too late to help the OP on this trip, but here is what I would have done:

1) Call American and give them your name and flight info. Ask for the AA confirmation number. Use that to check in online at the AA website. Confirmation number/code = reservation number/code = PRN.

2) Call US Airways, get THEIR confo code for your flight on US, check in online at the US Airways website.

Might be able to use the ticket number(s) provided by the agent, or maybe each airline's confo code is in booking agent's e-mail.

In any case, I would get the airlines' codes for each segment just so that I would have them if I needed to talk to the airline - having their codes would make it easier for them to look you up in their system.

I do this, calling each airline for confirmation numbers, to use the numbers to choose seats when a ticket involves multiple carriers. It was a hassle to call ANA, Thai, and EVA for seat reservations on a United award trip, but it also reassured me that each airline had me in their system.