Triangle Trip

On my last United flight, I had already selected by seat online, but I always like to look when I get to the airport when I go to the kiosk. The first kiosk approached rejected my credit card and said see customer representative. I had to go next door to the next kiosk which recognized my credit card. Using the credit card is probably the easiest and quickest method to pull your information.

I selected my flight, pressed check in, and then onto checking the seats. I like to check seats to a) get a better seat b) tell me about the # of people on the plane. This time however, the kiosk touchpad was a little out of sync. I had to press the button a few times to get each button to work. The worst part was I accidentally hit another seat number. I ended up with a ridiculous back middle seat. Immediately I tried to go back to my original seat, but the UP arrow button did not work.

For newcomers to seating, the kiosk only displays a few rows at a time, and you have to click up or down to seat the next rows. I looked for a cancel button, but didn’t see anything. I clicked EXIT thinking that would cancel but it didn’t. I had to start all over again and put my credit card in. I checked seats again, and confirmed it DID change my seat number to the back middle seat. I swiftly clicked back on my original seat. Fortunately no one in that span of time took my seat.

With a sigh of relief, I continued on the check-in process, I click next on the bottom right. The NEXT page is immediately an upgrade page. And the upgrade button is on the same spot as the next button on the page before. This is very tricky of united, because you have a tendency to hit next, next, next in the same spot. The DECLINE button is actually on the bottom left, the other side.

For experienced United travelers, we all know how many upgrade options they try to buy, or more mileage for more money. United travelers beware of the kiosk, it doesn’t let you zip through unless you really know it.

Big A out.

If you’re flying in the US, always check-in online as soon as you can.

Here are the reasons why:

1. For Southwest, you can get a better seat and avoid boarding towards the end of the plane.
2. For most carriers, you can pick an Exit row seat which is reserved for same day check-in if you don’t have status.
3. As I have recently experienced on (ghetto) Delta, they actually give up your seat if you do not check-in 31 minutes before the actual flight. Delta is actually treating their Medallion Gold members this way, image when you do not have status.

Most airlines also have mobile sites that allows you to check-in via your phone. However most do not work too well. I actually tried to check-in via ghetto Delta’s online site and it failed me. The recent experience will definitely prompt a letter to management,