Sea-tac travellers must check in 40 minutes prior to departure.
This is a change from the previous 30 min check in/10 minute release rule.
1) If you're going to make a policy like this, it should be implemented system-wide. ie. 30 minute cutoff at all airports, not 30 minutes at this airport and 40 minute at that
2) While I use web checkin whenever possible, there are occasions where I can't (ie. hotel printer not working). Locking people out of the ITM at 40 minutes is frustrating. Look - if I don't make it to the gate before the door is closed...then fine, I'm cut off...but don't aggravate me by inhibiting checkin when I can still arrive at the gate with plenty of time to spare.
My 2c...
Btw, thanks for the updates on this policy.
I just hope AS will be addressing the main cause of lengthy flight delays this summer, and it doesn't have anything to do with check-in cutoffs. It's a shame that the most of the delays at the airline seem to occur due to controllable factors.
EDIT: amgray19: I re-read your post, and I think we're on the same page.
Certainly isn't your problem. And how, exactly, does it affect you? I can't recall the last time I was on a flight held for one late pax...so, really, you aren't inconvenienced in any way.
Totally! I was saying it's never a *few* minutes late, but usually a lot more than that! Very subtle, glad you caught it! :D ;)
It's Alaska Airlines making the change at SeaTac.
Might make more sense just to drive the whole way! :)
Yep -- that is the question.
It should be due diligence for AS to inform their customers of these things via official announcement. Or are they going to just wait until people are going through Seattle and tell them at check-in? Or not tell people at all? I'm glad for those of us who can find out here, but it seems rather annoying, rather arbitrary (for just SeaTac) and rather ill-conceived... :mad:
Perhaps they should at least put it in the Seattle Airport guide at this link:
http://www.alaskaair.com/airport/AirportGuides.aspx?code=SEA#Checkin
Or as a caveat for SeaTac at this link re: Boarding:
http://www.alaskaair.com/www2/help/faqs/Boarding.asp
It's the *least* they can do! Again, I take issue with the principle of not informing everyone via their official channels. It's their responsibility to do so.
Yes, yes and yes. It is their responsibility, it's the least they could do, they indeed should do so, and why on earth is doing the right thing even being questioned?
1) AS ticket counter construction/remodeling limited check-in space (I have only connected thru SEA recently so haven't been out to ticket counter in a while).
2) Previous experience during the summer with passengers missing flights and/or AS needing to hold flights because of pax trapped in security lines. There is really no excuse for long security lines...they have enough years of data now (post 9/11 security) to figure out what are the busy times and when they need the most lanes open.
Where is this change mentioned on Alaska's web site?
And will Alaska be updating the CoC as well?
This is the part that pisses me off. Were they going to bother telling anyone, via the website, an announcement of some sort, or what? I don't have issues with being late in Seattle, but others that have no idea could just barely get screwed for just not knowing. It should be due diligence for AS to inform their customers of these things via official announcement. Or are they going to just wait until people are going through Seattle and tell them at check-in? Or not tell people at all? I'm glad for those of us who can find out here, but it seems rather annoying, rather arbitrary (for just SeaTac) and rather ill-conceived... :mad:
Perhaps they should at least put it in the Seattle Airport guide at this link:
http://www.alaskaair.com/airport/AirportGuides.aspx?code=SEA#Checkin
Or as a caveat for SeaTac at this link re: Boarding:
http://www.alaskaair.com/www2/help/faqs/Boarding.asp
It's the *least* they can do! Again, I take issue with the principle of not informing everyone via their official channels. It's their responsibility to do so.
Wow...are you serious? I don't know the stats, but from lots of experience, the on-time record SEA to ANC and vice versa is, like most AS flights, regularly late.
EDIT: amgray19: I re-read your post, and I think we're on the same page.
I'm sorry if there was traffic or a meeting ran late, but other people not planning ahead is not my problem.
Certainly isn't your problem. And how, exactly, does it affect you? I can't recall the last time I was on a flight held for one late pax...so, really, you aren't inconvenienced in any way.
But if Alaska prevents pax from checking in between the 30 to 40 minute marks, Alaska effectively has taken the pax' right to a seat at the 40 minute mark. Saying they "are not losing their seats until 30 minutes" while preventing them from checking in is about the level of going "So we didn't let you check in now, but so what? We waited while we prevented you from checking in and didn't take your seat until 30 minutes! Neener, neener!"
If you arrive at the airport on a day where you can check in at 33 minutes prior, and still make it through security and to your boarding area by 30 minutes, then you'd certainly have the right to challenge the agent. ?
Again, you seem to be missing the important point you posted about in the Original Post -- Alaska's new check in cutoff is at 40 minutes @ SEA now, not 30. You can't "check in 33 minutes prior", Alaska will prevents you from doing so. Yet nowhere does the customer seem to be informed of this new rule.
You seem particularly concerned with this... so I have to ask how often you are cutting it that close, and why you would do so when check in is available online and over the automated phone system 24 hours prior?
While I know some who do, I never cut things that close and this particular rule change will likely never affect me. However what I am always particularly interested in is a company's "attitude", how it tends to treat its customers and how it communicates with them. That does affect me and influences whether I wish to remain a customer.
Does a company try to "do the right thing" by the customer? Does it tend towards a Nordstrom type of relationship with customers or is it more like (ugh) BofA idea of "customer service"?
The fact that clearly notifying customers of this change to the requirements and their rights is even being questioned (and apparently resisted) speaks volumes and is very, very sad :(
Well, technically, if you are still at the front counter checking in 39 minutes before departure you are going to have to hustle to be ready to board at the 30 minute mark.
As someone who usually clears security 60 or more minutes before departure, it frustrates me to wait on people who cut it so close. I'm sorry if there was traffic or a meeting ran late, but other people not planning ahead is not my problem. I'm sympathetic if the TSA line or baggage check line is 60 minutes long, but that's about it.
If Alaska is going to change the check in time cut off, what would be so hard about oh ... doing the right thing and actually mentioning this requirement change to customers via the web site?
Agreed on this part. It should be in bold print somewhere.
Since I already knew about this, I kindly asked her if AS was going to change this on their web-site. After all, they did get the Freddie for best web site for the airlines :) . She said that she did not know, and that I should write a letter or something like that. I declined, that is, until I am denied check-in and boarding :eek:
Just glad that I already know about this.
This information hasn't changed. You must be checked in AND available in the boarding area at 30 minutes prior or your seats will be released.
The information on the website, and in your confirmation and preflight emails tell you to be at the airport 2 hours before departure, and that your seats will be released at 30 minutes prior if you are not checked in and available for boarding.
The fact that SeaTac is inhibiting checkin at the 40 minute mark is really only enforcing that you make it to the gate before the 30 minute mark.
Ohhhhhhh! @:-) I misunderstood when you first posted this. I thought Alaska Airlines was changing this to 40 minutes, and not SeaTac. That makes a hell of a lot more sense now! Still, considering the difficulties of making flights in Seattle, I wonder what *really* has prompted this change on SeaTac's part?
I think the efficient and elite members are being punished because the vast majority of travelers are slow and inexperienced and some of those show up 30 minutes in advance. I am not too worried about this whole thing simply because:
1) I actually know about it ahead of time thanks to missydarlin
2) Maybe it will get me a seat in F. As guilty as it would make me to take someone’s seat like that. Seriously!
Well, I disagree.
The section of the COC that you referenced is...
Rule 135AS - Cancellation of Reservations
Which states
Reservations and seat assignments may be canceled if passenger fails to be checked in and available for boarding in the boarding area at least 30 minutes before posted departure time.
and
Passengers must arrive at the airport sufficiently in advance of a flight departure time to permit completion of government requirements, security procedures and departure processing.
AS advises passengers to be at the airport 2 hours prior to departure, and says that if you aren't at the gate ready for boarding at 30 minutes prior to departure your seat will be released. The information pertaining to reservation cancellation has not changed.
What it really does is set a new and earlier deadline, different from the one mentioned in the CoC, for pax to meet or lose some of their rights.
Again, they are not losing their seats until 30 minutes. If you arrive at the airport on a day where you can check in at 33 minutes prior, and still make it through security and to your boarding area by 30 minutes, then you'd certainly have the right to challenge the agent.
You seem particularly concerned with this... so I have to ask how often you are cutting it that close, and why you would do so when check in is available online and over the automated phone system 24 hours prior?
This information hasn't changed. You must be checked in AND available in the boarding area at 30 minutes prior or your seats will be released.
Claiming the information hasn't changed is being disingenuous, silly or both.
By that "logic", Alaska could cut off check in at 45 minutes or at an hour while claiming "this information hasn't changed".
Didn't someone :rolleyes: recently start a thread informing FTers of the change that at SEA: You must be checked in 40 minutes prior to departure of your flight. -- a change from the previous 30 minute cutoff?
[The fact that SeaTac is inhibiting checkin at the 40 minute mark is really only enforcing that you make it to the gate before the 30 minute mark. No, in no way does it somehow magically "enforce" anyone making it to or being at the gate at the 30 minute mark.
Rather inhibiting check in at the 40 minute mark is enforcing a requirement pax check in by 10 minutes earlier or lose their seats. What it really does is set a new and earlier deadline, different from the one mentioned in the CoC, for pax to meet or lose some of their rights. If Alaska is going to change the rule ok, but one would hope they'd have the decency to tell customers about the new requirement that they must meet or risk losing their rights. I'd guess the DoT might be of the same opinion. And what would be so hard about doing so anyway??
Btw, will the airside ITMs or gate agents' systems "inhibit" check ins 10minutes earlier now as well? [To "enforce" pax get to the gate they're already standing at? :) ]
Do you mean cruise passengers coming or going to or from Alaska? If so, then possibly. In my experience, flights to and from Alaska and Seattle are rarely on time. Rarely. Almost never...I'm not sure why.
But, I suspect this is the fault of the TSA for failing to keep checkpoints adequately staffed and the lines moving. Each summer and at holidays, AS has a number of flights (usually early AM) that take delays due to waiting for people stuck in security lines. If TSA could just fix their problems, AS would not need to resort to an earlier check-in cutoff.
I have to say, I'm skeptical. I'm not even sure they can accurately measure the impact of the new check-in policy on on-time performance, since there are so many variables. If AS is concerned about late arriving bags delaying the flight, they should make a baggage check-in cut off of 40 minutes prior to departure, but still allow e-ticket check-in up to 30 minutes prior to departure for those passengers without bags. Realistically, if someone uses a kiosk in the skybridge to check-in, they could get to the C or D gates within 10 minutes in the vast majority of circumstances (at least my experience...I have never had a particularly long wait for security at SEA). Now they'll just have more POed passengers who missed the check-in cutoff and can't get rebooked because all the subsequent flights are full.
Also, I think AS needs to more clearly delineate policy for web check-in. I know "officially" they can give away your seat if you are not present to board 30 minutes prior to departure, but this has been a very wink wink policy. I still see people being allowed on board at the last minute, and they almost always have that web boarding pass in hand. If AS continues to let these people get by with boarding at the last minute, they achieve nothing by moving to an earlier check-in cutoff.
For Golds, it only takes 5-10 minutes to get through security and to the gate. (ok, 10-15min to the N gates.) So, if they cut me off at 39 minutes, I suppose I would raise a fuss when everyone there knows I can still easily make it to the gate before they get everyone boarded.
Is there a reason why AS needs 40 minutes when other carriers require less?
If Alaska is going to change the check in time cut off, what would be so hard about oh ... doing the right thing and actually mentioning this requirement change to customers via the web site?
I couldn't find where it was discussed at all in the Contract of Carriage, so if you could point me to the part that would need changing, then I can raise the issue.
Rule 135AS D.1.b for domestic.
Reservations and seat assignments may be canceled if passenger fails to be checked in and available for boarding in the boarding area at least 40 minutes before posted departure time on Alaska Airlines and 30 minutes before departure time on Horizon Air.
btw -- note that the text above does *not* restrict the 40 minute check in requirement to Sea-Tac only.
Does a company try to "do the right thing" by the customer? Does it tend towards a Nordstrom type of relationship with customers or is it more like (ugh) BofA idea of "customer service"?
The fact that clearly notifying customers of this change to the requirements and their rights is even being questioned (and apparently resisted) speaks volumes and is very, very sad :(
I have some updates for you on this issue. First, you'll be pleased to hear that there is a plan in the works to communicate these changes to as many customers as possible through the Reservations offices, Mileage Plan communications, alaskaair.com, etc. Also, this "test" has been expanded to SEA and LAX for AS-operated flights only. It does not affect QX-operated flights or flights out of other stations that may already have earlier or later cut-offs (e.g. DEN and LAS already have 45-minute cut-offs).
Also, this "test" is just that...a test. From what I've heard, they're going to run this for the summer and see what happens - and then determine if it has a measurable impact on on-time performance at the participating stations. I don't think anyone is trying to blame anyone else for causing delays here - this is just an experiment to see if it helps. If it helps, great - it could be a model to roll out to other stations. If it doesn't, I suspect it will be pulled, although don't quote me on that one. ;) I hope this information is helpful.
I have been on flights where we were waiting for one or two people before we would push back. Of course, they might have been connecting passengers, but it was not at an airport where AS connections are common.
I have had people pulled in front of me at security for flights about to depart, making me wait in line even longer. One time at the high E gates in Miami (the ones where you take a train and then clear security), I almost missed my own flight because of repeatedly being delayed to accommodate latecomers.
I consider all of those inconveniences.
This is a change from the previous 30 min check in/10 minute release rule.
"SeaTac" hasn't implemented a new cut off time -- Alaska at SeaTac has.
Where is this change mentioned on Alaska's web site?
And will Alaska be updating the CoC as well?
Haha, and it will very rarely take off a few minutes late...If we're talking Seattle to Alaska or vice versa...
And will Alaska be updating the CoC as well?
Alaska's website says that you must be checked in and ready for boarding( at 30 minutes prior or your seat will be released. There is no change in the time that seats are released, so the current website verbiage is accurate.
I couldn't find where it was discussed at all in the Contract of Carriage, so if you could point me to the part that would need changing, then I can raise the issue.
Reservations and seat assignments may be canceled if passenger fails to be checked in and available for boarding in the boarding area at least 30 minutes before posted departure time.
This information hasn't changed. You must be checked in AND available in the boarding area at 30 minutes prior or your seats will be released.
The information on the website, and in your confirmation and preflight emails tell you to be at the airport 2 hours before departure, and that your seats will be released at 30 minutes prior if you are not checked in and available for boarding.
The fact that SeaTac is inhibiting checkin at the 40 minute mark is really only enforcing that you make it to the gate before the 30 minute mark.
This is a change from the previous 30 min check in/10 minute release rule.
Ouch! That could be a pinch. Do you know if that means if we're transferring to a flight in Seattle we have to be there, or if you're already checked through on an AS itinerary, you're fine?
Thanks, Andrew
AS is trying to blame their problems on late PAX (that are not connecting from another flight). If that is the problem then simply leave without them. Some of us have no problem getting from front to gate in less than 10 minutes. Trouble is I rarely see a plane even start boarding at the 30 minute mark unless it is the first flight of the day and there are more than enough PAX there to board the plane. What happens if all goes well will the plane leave 20 minutes early? I think not. I don't think there problem is with a few straggling PAX but it is typical to create a scapegoat.
I think what they want to do is throw people on the standby list at 39 minutes rather than give them a confirmed BP thereby rewarding those that have been waiting at the airport.
While missydarlin is kind enough to alert us we should not get mad at her like she made the rule.
What it comes down to is thanks for alerting us at least we will be better off knowing this information.
I think they may even have a problem printing a copy of the BP with less than 40 minutes.
#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |