Mobile phones and PDFs to be used as Qantas boarding passes
A report in the Australian says that Qantas frequent flyers will be able to use their mobile phones or personal digital assistants as boarding passes from early next year.
The airline said yesterday that customers who wanted to avoid printing out a boarding pass would be sent a two-dimensional barcode that could be scanned at the gate.
The barcode is among a number of enhancements to be introduced, including the ability for international passengers to select seats online.
Frequent flyers booking international or domestic flights on Qantas.com will automatically be given the option to select seats and those who book through other channels will be able to do it via the online “manage your booking” service.
They will also be given the option of choosing their preferred check-in method.
“Customers who have selected in their profile to receive a mobile barcode will automatically received this parade 24 hours prior to their flight,” a spokeswoman said.
“Alternatively, customers may use online check-in and print their own boarding pass or choose check-in at the airport.”
Domestic customers without bags can go straight to the gate or drop off the bags if they have them.
International passengers who have opted for the barcode or to print their own pass will have dedicated counters to finalise formalities such as bag drops and passport checks.
Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said the system would give people the option of a paperless check-in and would make the process faster and easier.
He said the changes were part of a broader mobile strategy that included making more information and services available through portable devices, including the new iPhones.
However, the airline was unable to provide figures about internet usage and the take up of existing online offerings.
The spokeswoman was only able to say there had been a “steady increase” in domestic passengers using online check-in since 1996.
A Report by The Mole from the Australian
John Alwyn-Jones
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