When booking a trip through United Airlines, our originating flight is with Great Lakes. Upon attempting to check in and print boarding passes, I'm told I cannot do that on line, and must go to Great Lakes at the airport to check in. Great Lakes will check luggage to the final destination, but not the humans! They will only check you in on Great Lakes, and do not provide boarding passes or check-in for United. Instead, you must check in and get the rest of your boarding passes at United, when you arrive at the next stop. However, United gives your seats away, as you have not checked in. I've called United and Great Lakes, and there is no solution to this problem. I thought United could check us in electronically, but they can't. Does anyone else experience this problem? Can it be resolved?
Posted by
Chicago, il, usa
77 posts
Hi Kathy - am a flight attendant with....hmmm.... and I have to say, I think you are correct. I don't think Great Lakes will check you in any further than your original departure. It's insane and really puts the pressure on the traveler. This will sound silly, but have you called United? 1-800-241-6522? What is your itinerary? How much time between flights?
Posted by
OP
Aztec, NM, USA
4 posts
Yes, I called United, thinking maybe they could check us in electronically, and email our boarding passes, but they could not bypass the same place at which I cannot print boarding passes. They reassured me that we will have plenty of time in Denver to check in and get boarding passes for the flight to Milwaukee. It's about 45 minutes between flights, but from our last experience, the actual time in which to speak to a United person is only about 15 minutes before the next flight takes off. We leave from Farmington, NM on Great Lakes. I spoke with them, and there was nothing they could do.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
Electronic check-in is only available within 24 hours of your flight's scheduled departure time.
Posted by
OP
Aztec, NM, USA
4 posts
I know. But you cannot check in or get boarding passes for United if the originating flight is Great Lakes. They tell you to get them when you arrive at the United terminal, but by that time, United has given your seats away, as you have not checked in yet.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7053 posts
but by that time, United has given your seats away, as you have not checked in yet What makes you believe your seats will be given away? I've had this request more than once to check in while at airport (i.e. I could not do it online). If you show up within the time window, they will not give your seat away. They probably just don't have their systems integrated online so they make you do it at the airport. My advice is "don't worry about it"
Posted by
OP
Aztec, NM, USA
4 posts
It already happened to us the last time we flew with United, with the originating flight Great Lakes. We arrived at the United Terminal about 30 minutes ahead of time, and our seats had been given away, as we had not checked in yet. But they were nice about it, and "bribed" some other passengers, who kindly gave up their seats for us. I just don't want this to happen again tomorrow.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
If you have a smartphone or an Ipad, download the United app. You can then use your device to check in and receive a mobile boarding pass. No need to print anything.