First Class check-in (AA)

[aussietravellers]

Is it necessary to do online check in when flying first class (with American Airlines specifically). Would it still be OK to just do check in at the airport at the desk? We have our seats assigned (booked) already so wondered if there is any advantage or point checking in online when flying first class and already having assigned seats? (when we would have to go to guest services or whereever necessary to do that) We will have luggage to check and can not do resort check in as after our flight from MCO to LAX, we get on a flight from LAX to Australia, so we need to check in for the international flight too so that our bags are checked right the way through and we can't do this at resort check in.

Would love some advise, I am not used to flying domestic within the USA so not sure how the system works there (like I have seen on Airline USA tv show that people get boarding passes at the gate we don't do that in Australia, we print our boarding passes or get them at the check in luggage drop counter at the airport, so just thought I would check).

Would love any advise.

 

[DebbieB]

Is it necessary to do online check in when flying first class (with American Airlines specifically). Would it still be OK to just do check in at the airport at the desk? We have our seats assigned (booked) already so wondered if there is any advantage or point checking in online when flying first class and already having assigned seats? (when we would have to go to guest services or whereever necessary to do that) We will have luggage to check and can not do resort check in as after our flight from MCO to LAX, we get on a flight from LAX to Australia, so we need to check in for the international flight too so that our bags are checked right the way through and we can't do this at resort check in.

Would love some advise, I am not used to flying domestic within the USA so not sure how the system works there (like I have seen on Airline USA tv show that people get boarding passes at the gate we don't do that in Australia, we print our boarding passes or get them at the check in luggage drop counter at the airport, so just thought I would check).

Would love any advise.

I would go to guest services at your resort and ask them to print your boarding passes. The reason is if there is some rare reason someone needs to be bumped, they usually go by the last to check-in.

 

[FoodLover]

Unlike Economy, First Class is not normally overbooked, so it would be rare for you to be bumped. That said, I agree with DebbieB - better safe than sorry, and it will only take a few minutes for Guest Services to print your boarding passes.

Mary

 

[pr surfer]

The representation of airlines in the US show airline is a bit inaccurate. 1- it's with Southwest Airlines who have always done things their own way, and 2- the most recent episodes were filmed over 5 years ago at this point.

With AA, especially in F (which is actually business on domestic 2-class aircraft), you can check-in online, at the counter, or in most airport, at a check-in kiosk. I suggest online check-in unless you plan on checking bags (free for first/business), since the agent will more than certainly reprint your boarding pass.

 

[prncess674]

If it makes you feel better you can check in online via your mobile phone (mobile.aa.com) but honestly if it isn't convenient for you to stop by a desk or check in via your phone or personal computer then just do it when you get to the airport. Also note that MCO does not have a dedicated security line for First/Biz/Elite passengers so you will have to go through the same lanes as the economny passengers.

 

[chamonix]

If you are booked in first class on AA, it's no trouble at all to check in at the airport at the ticket counter and get your boarding passes there. We do it all the time. As long as you check in on time at the airport there is no benefit to checking in early online--no one ever gets bumped from F as long as they get to the airport for check in on time. The first class check in line is never more than a couple people long, so shouldn't inconvenience you too much.

Since you cannot check your bags at WDW for an international flight and will have to check them at the airport anyway, I wouldn't waste any of my vacation time at the resort printing boarding passes. There is really no need. Why do it twice? Also, it's extremely unlikely American Airlines would bump an F passenger if it would make you miss your international connection. It is perfectly safe for you to check in at the airport, but again, just make sure you arrive to the airport on time to do so!

I fly over 50,000 miles a year on American (I'm Platinum) always in F, sometimes connecting to international, sometimes not, and I never do online check in and have never had a problem.

Now if you were flying coach on a domestic flight only, my advice would be different, but since you are flying in paid F connecting to international and checking bags you will have to stand in line at the airport anyway, so again, why do it twice? As for the Airline show, the people it showed getting boarding passes at the gate from Southwest airline were passengers who were being denied boarding and then rebooked for being drunk, or smelly, etc, not regular passengers.

 

[aussietravellers]

Thank you all so much for your replies .

We won't have a phone with internet access, roaming is just too expensive from Australia. I know somebody who forgot about roaming and got home to a $1000 bill, so we will not have a phone or internet to do online check in. We could do it at guest services but it's our last day in the USA, by the time we go, stand in line, wait for them to do it and print them up, we are losing time at WDW.

Airline USA over here in Australia probably has episodes from 10 year ago, I think we would be long way behind, but we love it! It gets us all excited about going to the USA and we think it's a great show, very amusing sometimes.

If you are booked in first class on AA, it's no trouble at all to check in at the airport at the ticket counter and get your boarding passes there. We do it all the time. As long as you check in on time at the airport there is no benefit to checking in early online--no one ever gets bumped from F as long as they get to the airport for check in on time. The first class check in line is never more than a couple people long, so shouldn't inconvenience you too much.

Since you cannot check your bags at WDW for an international flight and will have to check them at the airport anyway, I wouldn't waste any of my vacation time at the resort printing boarding passes. There is really no need. Why do it twice? Also, it's extremely unlikely American Airlines would bump an F passenger if it would make you miss your international connection. It is perfectly safe for you to check in at the airport, but again, just make sure you arrive to the airport on time to do so!

I fly over 50,000 miles a year on American (I'm Platinum) always in F, sometimes connecting to international, sometimes not, and I never do online check in and have never had a problem.

Now if you were flying coach on a domestic flight only, my advice would be different, but since you are flying in paid F connecting to international and checking bags you will have to stand in line at the airport anyway, so again, why do it twice? As for the Airline show, the people it showed getting boarding passes at the gate from Southwest airline were passengers who were being denied boarding and then rebooked for being drunk, or smelly, etc, not regular passengers.

Oh that is great. We will just check in at the airport. When we check in we will have to check in for both the AA flight and our Qantas flight at MCO and check the bags through from MCO to Australia (so we don't have to pick them up at LAX and recheck them in). We will have to go to the counter to check our bags so we will just do check in at the airport. Thanks

We love Airline USA, gets us all excited about our upcoming trip. We just don't seem to have the overbooking of flights like in the USA. I have never had a problem within Australia or seen or heard of people being bumped (unless they arrive after check in has closed).