Carriers Debut Internet Checkin
<B>Carriers Debut Internet Checkin</B>
A few carriers, both in the United States and abroad, have debuted Internet checkin, a time-saving convenience for e-ticketed passengers pioneered last year by Alaska Airlines. Now, Northwest domestically and British Airways overseas have followed suit, enabling travelers to print out boarding passes directly from their PCs.
Northwest Airlines earlier this month launched the technology through its commercial Web site for outbound flights from the carrier's Memphis hub. In the spring, a handful of corporate clients beta tested the service, which is expected to be available throughout the network by next year. Northwest chose Memphis for its population size and good working relationship with agents in the area.
Passengers from 24 hours to 90 minutes before departure can access www.nwa.com/flighttools/checkin from any Internet-connected PC. When prompted, they input their ticket confirmation number, WorldPerks frequent flyer number or a major credit card number. They then answer a series of required security questions before printing the boarding pass. At the airport, passengers can go directly to the boarding agent and bypass all checkin lines. For now, passengers traveling with luggage need to check bags at a special line.
Meanwhile, British Airways has become the first airline to offer online checkin for international flights. The service commenced with a handful of corporate clients with extranet links to the airline, but BA is scheduled to roll out the service to all 200 of its best customers by March 2001.
While Northwest passengers can print out their own boarding passes and show them at the gate, this is not yet possible for BA passengers because of the added complications of international departures. Instead, travelers have to pick up their boarding passes at the airport, where they also can drop off any baggage. BA claims this process takes no more than a couple of minutes and queues at the collection point are minimal to nonexistent.
The new BA service also allows travelers to choose their preferred seats from a map of the cabin. Online checkin can be carried out between one and 24 hours before departure.
One company taking part in the BA trial is Andersen Consulting, initially among its BA Executive Club members. "The online facility offers a quick and extremely convenient way to check in," said Jo Wilcox of the Andersen travel department. "Advance checkin from our home reduces the hassle of waiting around at the airport, allowing our people more time to concentrate on business."
Similarly, Singapore Airlines earlier this year developed an e-mail-based checkin system. The process currently is for passengers originating in Singapore only, but the carrier is exploring the possibility of expansion abroad.
Ahead of the curve, Alaska is poised to improve its Internet checkin system (BTN, March 6). The carrier said instant baggage checkin at airport kiosks in Anchorage and Portland soon will be installed.