AKICOLJ: Airport check-in

[philmophlegm]

Question: When you 'check in' to a flight, what are you actually doing?

I mean, you can now check in remotely and 24 hours in advance of your flight, so it's not about saying "I'm here and I will definitely be needing the seat on the plane that I've already booked". Neither is it about showing your passport since you still need to do that (probably several times) at the airport. And you still need to go and drop off your luggage when you arrive at the airport.

If you travel by train, you don't have to 'check in', and 'checking-in' to a hotel is all about them giving you the room key and pre-approving your credit card.

Comments

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

But online check-in reduces the time you have to be exposed to those overpriced retail outlets.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

It's probably a trade-off between reduced income and reduced expenses.

[jane-somebody.livejournal.com]

The airport may take a large cut from retail outlets, but the *airline* doesn't (not directly, at least), and I'm pretty sure that when you check in, you are checking in with the airline rather than the airport.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

The airport can "encourage" airlines to have long check-in times, though.