Air travel is frequently associated with waiting. A pleasant in-flight experience is frequently accompanied by hours of waiting in line to check-in, Flight Change Policy, clear security, Airlines Change Policy, basic Check-In Policies, and board. Passengers, airlines, and airport employees are all frustrated by the situation. A long wait becomes an excuse to send a few angry tweets to the hashtag #iHateTheWait.

However, the lineups do more than irritate customers and airport employees. In-terminal stores account for a significant portion of airport revenue. When it comes to boarding, Americans, for example, are known as “gate huggers.” Because they’re worried about missing their flight, they generally drive-through stores on their route to their gate and park close to them while waiting to board.

Airline Industry Uses Digital Self-Services

The airline industry’s digital transformation has taken up the issue of improving passenger experience and reducing wait times in recent years. Airports and airlines are implementing self-service kiosks and new digital methods to improve the boarding experience. Changes occur in many areas:

• check-in
• passport control
• boarding process
• analysis of passenger flow
• luggage management

So, let’s talk about how technology may help with these parts of the vacation experience.

• Self-Service Check-In And Passport Control

According to the June 2017 SITA Passengers IT Trends Survey, nearly 98 percent of passengers travel with at least one mobile device. So it’s logical to imagine that they’d welcome the opportunity to use mobile check-in because it saves time and effort.

However, this is not the case. Face-to-face check-ins are still preferred by 46% of flight travelers. The transition to online check-in is underway, although at a slower pace than one might assume.

The good news is that travelers who check-in online through self-service kiosks or apps are happier than those who choose personal interaction with an agent in a traditional check-in line.

• Check-In Over the Internet

The rationale for the increased satisfaction with online check-ins is straightforward: Passengers want to feel in charge of their journeys, complete all requirements promptly, and avoid waiting in lines. Mobile apps and websites offer a terrific way to avoid waiting in lines.

Currently, most major airlines support online check-ins. A customer purchases a ticket online, checks in several days before departure via a mobile app or website, and obtains a boarding pass.

• Automated Passport Control

Passengers and airport staff, particularly Customs and Boarding Protection agents, must devote a significant amount of time and effort to passport control for international flights (CBP). This difficulty can be solved by installing automated passport control kiosks.

Passengers complete their identification at a kiosk and then display a confirmation receipt to authorities in a fast-track lane.

• Boarding with Biometrics

Airports and airlines use biometric data to speed up boarding and improve security procedures. Facial recognition, fingerprinting, and iris scanning are all examples of biometric screening. In addition, biometric data is far more trustworthy than paper data since it cannot be falsified. As a result, biometric boarding is faster for travelers than traditional passport control.

• Recognition of The Face

JetBlue announced the introduction of facial recognition technology at the beginning of 2017. JetBlue stated that this new method is all about customer convenience and national security and is supported by SITA software. JetBlue worked with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement the practice and has asked SITA to assist in the development of an integrated facial capturing solution.

• Iris and Fingerprint Scanning

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed in June 2017 that it was testing biometrics scanning at Denver and Atlanta airports. TSA intends to overhaul identification by scanning fingerprints and irises instead of boarding cards and other ID documents, allowing people to bypass TSA lines.

We, a private identity company, provide the software. The only snag is that travelers who don’t want to wait in queues must join our company, which costs $179 per year and is geared for frequent travelers. We are now present in 21 airports.

Self-services based on innovation should be implemented…

Today’s air travel necessitates the deployment of automated, digitally-driven self-services. Most airlines and airports are well aware of this: According to IATA, 80 percent of worldwide passengers will use a comprehensive self-service package established following the Association’s criteria by 2020.

The travel sector will save up to $2.1 billion by implementing self-services. In addition, because self-service checkpoints take up less room than typical security desks, it will minimize the number of queues and free up space in facilities. The use of flow metering instruments will increase retail income as well.

On the other hand, passengers will be given gadgets that will allow them to have complete control over their trips while also potentially speeding up the process. Visit our online Fly Policy website to read various types of airline or flight-related check-in and cancellation information.