Musings

… to do an online check-in. I’ve been spoilt by SIA. So used am I to its check-in system that I lose patience with other airlines’ check-in systems. For the last 3 hours, I’ve been trying to do an online check-in with an European airline, and my, is it taking a toil on my patience!

Guess that’s putting it rather mildly. As authentication, they ask for card number – either a credit card number or a frequent flyer membership number. I’ve been invited by German govt on a technology tour so I don’t really have the credit card information – ticket bought by German govt. Plus I don’t have a frequent flyer membership with that European airline. So I’ve been tearing out my hair, trying to understand why the alternative method for checking in online – the 6-digit reference number and my name – is turning up a weird response: booking reference has wrong details. After several tries, I ask someone else to type in, just in case my tired eyes are looking at wrong numbers and letters. 

Same response came back. I gave up. I’m calling the airline tomorrow to ask for an explanaation. By the way, phone check in is only for first and business class passengers which rules me out!

Even American airlines aren’t that difficult cos I’ve done check-ins on AA and Delta and it’s easy. 

Anyway, about that trip to Germany: it’s going to be a a blitz on German technology: 6 cities in 10 days ending in Hannover in time for the Hannover IT fair. Yes, I’ll be blogging about it from Tuesday/Wed this week, so stay tuned.

• James Bond and his toys
• Leaving Vegas …
• Reserve a restaurant by sending a text
• Beemer cars
• 1 week later …