On-line check-in question

[Dusty Pete]

Has anyone ever had trouble with on-line check-in? We are leaving tomorrow and while I was able to check in and get my boarding pass, I am not able to get my husband's. I get a message saying he should check-in at a self sevice machine at the airport with an ID containing his birthdate. His is a frequent flyer ticket and he even received an e-mail this morning saying he could check-in on-line. I spoke with representatives from American Airlines reservations, aa.com and the Advantage Program and while they were all very pleasant and tried to help, none could come up with a resolution. This has happened before on other airlines. On his last two trips, he was able to check-in on-line for his departure trip, but not for his return. We think it is because of his name. It is very common, sort of like "John Jones." Has anyone had a problem like this and were you able to resolve it? Any suggestions on who to call? It is really not that big a deal, but I sure do like the convenience of on-line check-in. We are spoiled and don't look forward to that long line to check in at St. Thomas.

[flip-flop]

I had this problem and it was because I had been flagged as a "security risk" flier and put on the watchlist. No joke. This was several years ago, but of course, post 9/11. I think it was a combination of things that led to me getting on the list, no one else I booked for - husband, children, mother - ever had a problem. I hit enough flags to finally be tagged. Last name with one less R is a common arabic last name, I flew to Toronto for a one day visit, then I flew to Toronto again for a week but didn't use my return flight (weather craziness and a couple of us decided to rent a car and drive and we'd be home before the flight left the next morning), etc. Random things that all put together could have maybe seemed suspicious.

Coworkers also didn't have a problem. I was repeatedly, but not consistently, having a problem. Different airlines seemed to have not been working from the same page.

I was virtually strip searched when I was about 6 months pregnant (with child #1) and then the final straw was a year or so later when my passport taken away behind closed doors while I was left standing there going "WTF?"

It took a letter from me to TSA and copied to my congressman to get it cleared up. I never received any formal response but within a few months I noticed I was no longer getting not able to do online check-in or getting pulled for additional screening.

May not be the case for your husband, but if you are noticing it repeatedly its a possibility.

[loria]

oh WOW flipflop--that is some ordeal!!!! Dusty, if your husband is a frequent flier on the airline you are travelling with (AA, right?) and he has platinum or better, shouldn't he be able to check in via business class regardless of his seating status?--there is never a huge line in that check in at STT and we've always gotten thru quickly with no problems (i have never printed out our passes prior to getting to the airport)