I am having a hard time seeing how this will speed things up. Passengers still have to be ID checked and the an employee would have to put the bad on the belt.
Looks like Qantas is getting quite a bit of backlash on their self-service options as well:
WABENNER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2270 times:
Airlines are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel for cost savings. So pay to send your bag and tag it yourself. I have no doubt that the legacies will be charging for carryons within 12-24 months. I think they all want to, but no one wants to go first.
BlueBus From United States of America, joined Feb 2011, 81 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2248 times:
Quoting WABENNER (Reply 1): I have no doubt that the legacies will be charging for carryons within 12-24 months.
I wouldn't be too surprised. I am a bit shocked that this is coming from American. The story also says Delta is interested in doing this. I thought maybe Allegiant or Spirit would have started this.
USAIRWAYS321 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1806 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2207 times:
Personally, I would have no problem tagging my own bag and dropping it at the counter. I wouldn't be bothered by that additional step - I already choose my seat, and print my own boarding pass at the kiosk or online, so why not slap the bag tag on there before heading to the agent. However, I certainly won't blame anyone who is annoyed by this move.
From a business standpoint - this seems like it might create more headaches than it's worth in savings. Like the OP said, the ticketing agents will still have to verify ID for any passenger dropping off a bag, and they will certainly want to check the tags to ensure that they are both properly applied to the luggage, and accurately printed (correct destination/routing, dark enough ink, etc.) It just doesn't seem like an upgrade in efficiency to me.
AABB777 From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 449 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2207 times:
I experienced the QF self service bag drop and tag a few days ago in MEL. It was my first time, so it was a bit confusing at first, but I have to say it was pretty easy once you read the instructions. The system also automatically allowed me to change to an earlier flight - it initiated the change, not me. I was impressed. I can QF FFs speeding through the process after their first time. I wouldn't mind seeing it come to the US with AA or another airline.
aznmadsci From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 3542 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1949 times:
A few years ago, I had tried this at MUC before boarding a MUC-TXL flight. Tagged my own bag after stepping off the UBahn. Then when it came time to board, I used the self-boarding lane. While I know it reduces the number of airport staff, it was a pretty cool idea. But then I'm one of those who likes self-checkout at grocery stores.
Edited ...
I have yet to try CO's self-boarding at IAH, but have seen the gate. Does anyone know if it's still there at E4?
[Edited 2011-03-14 18:07:40]
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jgw787 From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 204 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1898 times:
Anything to speed up the line. I would love to just print out my boarding pass at home then go to the airport and print my tag and put it on the belt and then just go to my gate...but since I fly UA I still have to get in line for bag drop instead of having a bunch of machines around and a bag belt by the wall like NZ
aklrno From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 691 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1873 times:
I use check-in machines and tag my own bags in New Zealand all the time. The OP and others makes it sound like an onerous task. I find that lifting the bag out of my car is more work, but I don't expect someone to be in the parking lot to help me.
There are plenty of self check-in machines. I scan my OLCI doc, take the boarding pass and tag from the machine, apply the tag to the handle (10 seconds if you are unfamiliar with it, otherwise 5) and take the bag over to the belt where some nice lady (its always a lady it seems) checks my work before I drop it on the belt. I proceed to the security about 30 seconds after arriving at check-in. Beats waiting in line while some gate agents types the next chapter of his/her novel while I wait.
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