Its a scan and stamp. I did manage to see the main passport control queue and while not earth shattering I'd say I saved myself at least half an hour.
Ah yes, I should have probably pointed out that BA generally doesn't pay for its handling agents to open up check-in more than 2.5 hours before departure at most short haul outstations. It used to often only be 2 hours beforehand, before EES. At Berlin I'm surprised there wasn't a previous flight whose check-in window overlapped but I suppose it's possible depending on the timings.
The thing that gets me particularly is airports with shared self bag drop desks (most major German/Nordic airports); these require precisely zero extra staff so the cost to opt in to these must be relatively small yet BA insist on having only manned desks at these locations. Allowing self bag drop would be a quick win in so many outstations, as they could advertise any time same-day bag drop without the staff overhead.
I came back from an airport in Europe recently where the check in only opened around 2.5h before departure (I have been at airports where it is 2h) and the self-check in desks were not activated until the check-in staff arrived.
Wait so even after they check in some hand baggage they still have so much it fills the overhead space too?
It's very frustrating that they don't email passengers on "extremely busy" flights in advance and offer to check hand luggage prior to security like other airlines do. I would certainly take advantage of that and resent having to traipse my stuff through the airport when they're just going to check it anyway (although I'll always check it at the gate, because life is too short to fight for overhead locker space).
Because in most cases that absolutely isn’t true (outside of peak vacation time) and is only a way to cover up that airlines don’t police carryon like they should
I don't remember taking a BA flight this year where it wasn't the case, but that's personal experience.
Personal preference I suppose. I would rather ditch luggage at the earliest opportunity and minimise what I'm carrying around.
Wouldn’t want a bag with essentials and valuable get lost or theft to happen on it
You might want to ask for that as Avios, if you plan on making future redemptions. There's a good chance they'd offer you 15k or even 20k.
I was thinking that - I may well get back to them and see what they'd be willing to offer.
If you want to guarantee a window seat, and don't have status, then you need to pay.
I haven't paid once over the last 3 long haul with BA, haven't had to deal with a middle seat yet!
Yes - in short. Had it with Austrian, Lufthansa and Swiss on same booking albeit got automatically allocated pretty decent seats.
If you don’t want to pay, try and checkin exactly 24 hours beforehand and you will be able to change your seat to an empty seat free of charge. If the seat you want is not available, do not check the box to collect your boarding pass, and you can keep going back to check if more seats have opened up. Note that with basic economy, you will always have to pay to change your seat, even at online checkin.
BA's seat selection fees are on the high side- they seem to charge about 3x more than Emirates charge, for instance- but pretty much all airlines charge seat selection fees now. If there's a specific seat or type of seat you want then you need to pay for it or you need to take the risk that it won't be available at check-in.
That is somewhat surprising. Usually seat selection is part of the benefit that comes with premium fares - be it business or premium economy.
