Check-In Mania: why?

Andy Kev. · 30 Dec 2018

I've just booked a four night city break in Berlin for the new year. Today I got an email from the hotel offering me the chance to book in now so as to save time when I get there. Uh? It's a hotel, not a b****y airport!

Does anybody know what this is all about?

marcros · 30 Dec 2018

Probably an attempt to speed up the check-in process. If they can get you to prepopukate the required info, and save 25-50% of the time taken, they can reduce the staff needed. They have also probably found that a frustration if travellers is having to wait a few mins to check in, so pre-checking in reduces this too.

Rorschach · 30 Dec 2018

Done this many times at a Premier inn. You give them all the info they need and it make check in faster.

doctor Bob · 30 Dec 2018

They are trying to help, if you arrive at a busy time there maybe 20 people in front of you and you may be waiting 30 mins or more.
Up to you but it's much easier to do it online.

Andy Kev. · 31 Dec 2018

Thanks for the replies and now I see the rationale.

Nonetheless, I will check in when I get there. I have an aversion to being "processed" although it seems to be an increasingly unavoidable part of modern life. In more practical terms, hotels tend not to be busy in early January and I'll be arriving late in the afternoon so the prospect of a queue doesn't present itself. I'll bear the option in mind for busy places at peak times though.