Online airline check in issues - can anyone help please?

[Newyearnewname20]

Sorry not an AIBU - posting for traffic.

On holiday atm and trying to check in for my flight back tomorrow, but the system’s not working.

It gets me as far as the stage where I’ve filled out all my details, it asks me if I want it to upgrade to business class, and then when I click no, it says it can’t check me in.

I’ve been trying to check in for the last few hours, and each time the same thing happens.

I’ve phoned the airline’s customer service helpline for advice, but was just on hold the whole time (stayed on hold for about 40 mins). Have also tweeted the airline but not heard anything back yet.

This has never happened before when I’ve done online check in. Can anyone help please? Thanks!

Which airline is it? How stressful!

travelling to us?

they select a few passengers for on site check in. maybe that's why?

ive had this a few times and is always fine. The best was Finding out I couldn’t check in because I’d been given a long haul upgrade, but for others just normal check in at airport.

Sometimes you can’t check in online because the system picks you out for extra security, happened to my dd14 last time we went to the US, give yourself plenty of time to get through the airport and speak to airline staff when you get there.

Also as per PP, I travelled on US flights where all passengers had to have enhanced security checks at the desk, so no online check in and wonder if some might still have covid checks etc.
where are you travelling and which airline

Is it KLM? I have problems checking in online with them sometimes.

Did you pick seats when you booked? In which case i'd just turn up and let them check you in there.

Happened to us last week with BA. I could check in OK but not husband on the same booking . Tried self check in at the airport, said successful but no paper in the machine to print boarding pass!
Had to go to the desk, along with hundreds of other people to check in. Chatted to people in the queue who were there for the same reason….

Thanks everyone! It’s a short-haul European flight with Austrian Airlines, from Vienna to the UK. It’s so strange as it’s never happened before, and flying out from the UK to Vienna was absolutely fine.

Not sure how people can help here. You’ve not even said what airline it is

Just get there early tomorrow and check in person I guess.

Try a different browser.

Refresh your cookies.

Try a different device.

Thanks Meraas, I’ve now mentioned the airline. I’ve tried to check in on my laptop, my phone, DP’s phone, both on the Internet browser and the airline app, and it’s still not working unfortunately.

Have you got luggage to check in to the hold? If so, I wouldn’t even bother with trying to check in online, just go to the desk.

If it’s Austrian it means the online check in availability is full and you’ll need to check in at the airport. Once a flight goes 3/4 online checked they close it.

Flissy luckily no luggage to check in - just hand luggage.

Charlotte thanks, that’s really helpful! I didn’t realise Austrian works like that as never taken it before and they didn’t mention anything at any point in online check in. Hopefully it should all be fine when we turn up at the airport to check in tomorrow.

It could be the time, the time on the laptop/mobile should be the same as back home. Could be extensions that stop cookies.

This happened to me on one occasion - BA flight.

When I checked in at the desk and asked why, I was told that as I had booked seats next to the emergency exit, they needed to see me to check that I had no mobility problems.

Have you booked such seats?

This happened to us yesterday flying to London. It was with BA and they'd oversold them flights - hence why we couldn't check in. Thankfully we were put on a flight four hours later and will be suitably compensated!

Yes this happened to me recently. I forget the explanation but I just checked in at the airport instead - no biggie. But of course leave yourself extra time to do that.

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately still no luck checking in online, so we’ll just head to the airport tomorrow and check in there.