Having traveled a time or two, upon arrival at Port Columbus airport today,  I immediately steered us away from the self-check-in-kiosks toward the agent line because it seems that for international flights the automated systems eventually direct us there anyway. When the helpful Delta employee encouraged us to leave the line and use an available kiosk, I resisted for only a couple of seconds…

Then started repeated attempts to get the scanner to read our passports, as it seemed not to like the plastic covers that protect them. After removing the cover, Susi scanned her passport and the kiosk asked for our destination. Final? Next? It wasn’t clear, so again the helpful Delta employee gave us guidance. We entered Atlanta, and it displayed both of our names the itinerary through to Botswana.

Then it was time for more passport fun, as we, and the helpful Delta employee, repeatedly tried to scan Dave’s passport. Eventually the helpful Delta employee removed the cover and threw (well, dropped) it on the floor. Finally the machine believed that we had both presented our passports, and asked about our checked baggage. We indicated 2 bags each, which is the limit that we can take without additional charge on these flights.

Next the screen told us, “Sorry. Kiosk can not check you in. Please see an agent.” Dave (seeming just a bit huffy?) immediately took his two bags and went to the end of the now much longer agent line. Susi wisely asked for help, and an agent came to her assistance at the kiosk. Meanwhile, Dave, with his luggage, navigated his way back through the lines of people to rejoin her there.

We put each bag in turn on the scale so that the helpful Delta agent could affix baggage tags and return them to us to take to the TSA inspection point. The agent looked at us with puzzlement as she began helping another passenger and said once again, “Please take your bags to the TSA for inspection.” We inquired if the airlines still use boarding passes, to which she pointed toward the recalcitrant passport scanner and replied, “Yes. The kiosk will print them for you.” We waited expectantly as we glanced back at the queue of people eagerly eying the apparently available kiosk in front of us.

Soon another helpful Delta employee came by to encourage us to move our 4 bags to the TSA. When we asked about boarding passes, he said, “What? They didn’t print?” and then proceeded to begin the check-in process at the kiosk again. Soon he gave up in an huff and moved behind the counter to what I guessed was a more powerful kiosk for helpful Delta employees.

A few minutes of behind the scenes magic worked wonders, and the helpful Delta employee very cheerfully brought us our boarding passes and made sure we understood everything. We thanked him, shook his hand, and were soon on our way.

After this brief encounter, our hope is that the helpful Delta employees get a chance to give a seminar to the Delta information systems. It sure would be great if the Delta computer systems were as effective and cheerful as the helpful Delta employees!

Over lunch a few moments later, having already passed through the TSA security checkpoint, Susi and I reflected that the little bumps we encountered are very minor compared to the knee replacement surgery that our friend is experiencing right at that moment. Our best to you, Terry! Hopefully this knee goes as well as the first one did!!