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Self Check-In Kiosk
Definition of Self Check-in at Airports
It is a service that allows you to check-in using various methods and avoid long queues at the airport. In case you haven’t checked in for your flight online before arriving at the airport, you can check-in using the self-service check-in kiosks at the airport. In a self check-in counter, you can key in your PNR (Passenger Name Record) and after confirming your seat, you can take your boarding pass and move straight for security check.
Read MoreYou should check-in at a check-in desk if there are no self-service check-in kiosks at the airport. The airport monitors will show to you which check-in desks you can use to check-in for your particular flight. Over the last few years, airlines operating in busy airports around the world have been educating clientele on the benefits and use of self-service kiosks and online check-in services. And while the queue remains, either for luggage check-in or for the use of kiosks themselves, the pure cost savings have encouraged the airports to have more kiosks. Furthermore, in a short time span, self-service check-in has practically become “the norm”. Airlines are adopting self-service check-in at a rapid pace as a means to save costs and increase efficiency, while today’s tech savvy travelers simply expect to check-in when and how they wish. Flawless performance through all channels is a key factor since the smallest dysfunction can have a negative impact on your operations and on your brand.
How to Use the Airport’s Self-Service Check-In Kiosks
Nowadays, nearly all airlines are using self-service check-in kiosks. Gate agents are there to help, but you must check yourself in for your flight and print your own boarding passes.
Read MoreIt is important to point out that you are more likely to get bumped if you check in late. This is what happens out there. Most airlines will bump those passengers who check in at the last minute if a flight is full and no one volunteers to take a later flight. There has to be an order, and an airline won’t bump a premium passenger or ones who pay higher fares. That leaves economy class passengers, and the late ones will draw the short straw if involuntary bumping is necessary. Given these points, if you have never used a self-service check-in kiosk before, here is what you will need to do the next time you go to the airport: - Look for Kiosks at the Airport When you get to the front of your airline’s check-in line, you will see a row of kiosks that look like free-standing computer screens. Your airline will have an employee available there to help you attach baggage tags and place your bags on the conveyor belt, but you will first need to check in for your flight at a kiosk. - Identify Yourself Find an open kiosk. The kiosk will prompt you to identify yourself by entering a credit card, typing in your flight confirmation code (locator number) or entering your frequent flyer number. Enter your identifying information using the touch screen. You will be able to touch a “clear” or “backspace” key if you make a mistake. - Confirm Flight Information You should now see a screen that shows your name and air travel itinerary. By touching “OK” or “enter” button on the screen, you will be asked to confirm your flight information. - Choose or Confirm Your Seats You will be able to review and change your seat assignment during the check-in process (You can visit SeatGuru.com for more information about seat assignments of different airlines). Be careful. Some airlines have their seat assignment screen default to a page which will try to entice you to pay extra to upgrade your seat. If you have swiped a credit card to identify yourself, skip the seat upgrade option unless you really intend to use it, as the airline has already captured your credit card information. You should be able to change your seat assignment at the kiosk, provided there are open seats on your flight. - Indicate Whether You Will Be Checking Bag If you have checked in for your flight online before, you might be able to scan your printed boarding pass at the kiosk. When you scan your boarding pass, the kiosk will identify you and begin the luggage check-in process. - Whether you scan your boarding pass or identify yourself with personal information, you will be asked about checked baggage. You might be able to enter the number of bags you want to check, but some touch screens use an up- or down-arrow system or “+” and “-“ keys. In that case, you will touch the up arrow or plus sign to increase the total number of bags. You will need to press “OK” or “enter” to confirm the number of bags you are checking and verify that you will pay the fees for each bag. Use a credit card or debit card to pay those fees at the kiosk. If you do not have a credit card or debit card, consider getting a prepaid debit card before your trip begins so you can easily pay your checked bag fees at the kiosk. You will need it on the airplane, too, as many airlines no longer accept cash payments for in-flight food or beverages. - Print and Collect Your Boarding Passes At this point, the kiosk should print your boarding pass (or passes, if you have a connecting flight). The customer service representative will walk to your kiosk or gesture for you to come to the counter. He or she will ask whether you are traveling to your destination city. Identify yourself and place your bags on the scale. The customer service representative will check your ID, tag your bags and put the bags on the conveyor belt. You will receive your luggage claim tags in a folder or by themselves. If you receive a folder, you can put your boarding pass inside, too. If not, you will need to keep track of your luggage claim tags during your trip. The customer service representative will tell you what gate to go to. You can also find gate information on your boarding pass. You are now checked in, so you should head to the security checkpoint. - Multichannel: Let Your Customers Choose Typically, airlines’ goal is to provide the best possible customer service; however, they want to keep it simple. That’s why they’d like one answer for all self-service check-in modes. Managed through a single interface, Self-Service Check-in provides a seamless service through all channels, allowing passengers to check-in via the airline website, smartphone, SMS or at the airport kiosk.
History of Self-Service Check-in kiosks
Self-service check-in first emerged about 20 years ago, but was rudimentary and only used by a few airlines on a few routes. The current versions of self-service check-in services are much more different from these first models, having been developed in late 20th century.
Read MoreFurthermore, Air Alaska was the first to receive a SITA kiosk back in 1997, and since then nearly more than 5,200 have been installed at close to 200 airports around the world. During this time kiosks have reduced queuing and improved the journey for hundreds of millions of passengers by providing fast and easy check-in. The history of the kiosk at airports continues to grow, as the percentage of passengers who check-in at a kiosk has risen to 20% worldwide and is expected to continue. The introduction of online and mobile check-in over the last few years has proved to be hugely popular, and with more than half of passengers carrying smartphones, the trend to check in using personal devices is set to rise. Already some 31% of smartphone holders use mobile check-in frequently or occasionally. In addition, services such as self-baggage tagging and bag check at kiosks now allow passengers to experience true end-to-end self-service check-in. In recent years inventive uses for kiosks have been introduced at airports, including kiosks which allow passengers to file a missing baggage claim quickly and simply without the need for an agent. Fifteen years on, this kind of kiosk remains an important fixture at the world’s airports, continually evolving both in appearance and service capability to provide the services that passengers want, quickly and easily. - Advantages of Self-Service Check-in Services: - You do not have to stand in line at a check-in counter. By using touch screens and following step-by-step instructions, you can quickly complete check-in formalities. - You may choose an available seat using the seat map. - After filling in the requested information, boarding passes and bag tags are printed. - Service is available in several most spoken languages *Disadvantages of Self-Service Check in Services: It is stressed that there are few problems which still exist with security. For example in most of airlines: - One problem is that passengers could use any card with their names on it to search for a reservation, in which it can pose a problem where more than one passenger has the same name. In this case a passenger can easily gain access to another traveler’s personal information easily, and even worse, his or her boarding pass. - Also security risks were not the only concerns late 2001. Network reliability is also paramount to their proper running of such as solutions. According to Henry Harteveldt (one of the most well-known and respected analysts and advisors in travel industry) some airlines have already experienced problems where an airlines servers or data links have gone down, taking the kiosks with them. “Given the staff cutbacks by most airlines, that practically guarantees a delayed operation, not to mention grumpy passengers. Looking at the airline industry, security risks are at a minimum.” * Ineligible Passengers: Ineligible passengers to use Self-check in kiosks are: - Passengers whose reservation has not been confirmed. - Passengers who have no an electronic ticket. - Passengers requiring special assistance. - Passengers with an infant under 2 years of age.
FAQ
How do I get my boarding pass on my phone?
Read MoreWhen should I check-in for my flight?
Read MoreCan my boarding pass be scanned from my phone?
Read MoreWhat is self check-in at airports?
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