What do people do when they get to the checkin desk just before checkin closes, but there's a massive, slow queue?

Levathian on 06/01/2020 - 15:49

This has never happened to me directly but I did have an experience once at Paris's awful CDG T2 where I got to the airport really early (as I'd never been there before), got to the check in area for air france (I was a qantas codeshare customer at the time) only to be totally confused by all the signage and people queueing haphazardly everywhere so I asked a staff member, who directed me into the wrong queue which lost me ~25mins. It ended up OK in the end but I wasn't impressed.

But what would have happened if I was in the situation where I'm "on time" for my flight (eg. get there 30mins before check in closes for example) but there are giant queues for check in, which would put me at risk of missing the flight? Do people skip the queue or is there some official leeway? Or what if you check in and then miss the flight because you got stuck at security?

I don't fly often so these are probably stupid questions but this is one thing I've always been anxious about with flying.

Travel Airfare

Comments

  • tbone74 on 06/01/2020 - 16:01
    +13

    Usually when check in is about to end for a particular flight, they have customer service reps walking around the queue and calling out for anybody still waiting to check in for that flight. They then jump you ahead to the front of the queue. So as long as you're there in the queue you should be ok.

  • crentist on 06/01/2020 - 16:25
    +2

    If there are multiple flights and checkin for an early one is about to close, they will often call out for anyone on that flight and pull them out of the line and straight to the front. Otherwise, you should seek them out yourself if you are worried.

    If it's a long line all for that flight, I think they would process the whole line, maybe delaying the flight if needed. I don't know how that would apply if the entire flight turns up 31mins before boarding, but I think the line tends to move very quickly at that point.

    Once checked in, I've been told by travel agents that (international) flights won't leave without you. Maybe not always true but I think they will try to make an effort to locate missing passengers, and adjust for bad security delays etc. I'm guessing domestic flights are generally much more willing to shunt people onto the next flight in an hour.

    Personally, I've turned up to airports kinda late a few times and:

    • busy line - had airline staff pull me and others to the front of the line
    • busy line - sought out airline staff and been pulled to the front
    • busy line - sought out airline staff and been told to stay in line
    • no line but super late - airline staff escorted us up to the front of security
    • no line but super late - airline staff casually checked me in like nothing was up (this one was scary, I arrived literally 10mins before scheduled departure on an international flight due to a downed train line)
    • crazy long security line - airline gave a priority pass (this was for a friend in business class)
    • vikvance on 06/01/2020 - 17:14

      If you have checked in baggage then they will definitely not leave until you either turn up at the gate, or they offload your baggage.

      This is to stop people checking in bombs in their luggage and then disappearing.

    • esty on 07/01/2020 - 17:05

      lol how many times are you late to the airport?! >.>

  • Shadowsfury on 06/01/2020 - 17:52

    I had something like this happen to me - checked in fine in KLIA with plenty of time but bummed around a bit outside with a friend. With what should have been enough time I left to get through immigration and security and was gobsmacked at how long the lines were and how slow they were moving - the lines were reaching into the unrestricted area (like where they check if you have a valid ticket). They also did not call out for any flights leaving sooner.

    I ended up cutting the queue twice and still didn't make it for my flight. Made it to the gate only to be told they were looking for my bag to take off the plane. When I went to pick up my bags I saw a few others from my flight too so I wasn't the only one to have come across the lines and missed the flight. Had to rebook my flight for the following morning (at my cost).

    Lesson learned for me to better be safe and get at least passed immigration and security.

    • capslock on 06/01/2020 - 20:14

      Seems to be common at KLIA2. Lots of people tried to cut my queue and the pilot on my plane announced that they have had to offload the bags of a few no shows.

  • serpserpserp on 06/01/2020 - 18:20

    If you go to a Tiger terminal, heaps of people turn up at the last second and get ushered to the front of the massive queue right before check in closes for their flights.

    • Levathian on 06/01/2020 - 20:53

      Probably not a bad tactic lol

  • brad1-8tsi on 06/01/2020 - 20:36

    I make it known to a staff member and get ushered to the front - usually it's the priority check in counter

  • Noragrets on 06/01/2020 - 23:04

    I was travelling to auckland from Sydney. Checked in fine, ate some food and walked around thinking I had plenty of time. When I went into customs the line was pretty much out the door. I stood in line for 20 minutes and barely moved. I thought I was going to miss my flight when a customs officer came up and checked my forms. I think I wrote in red pen which he wasnt happy with so he took me up the front and let me re do it. Skipped the line. I'd say if he didnt walk past me I would have missed my flight. I arrived at my gate as they were boarding the plane.

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