New systems to be installed over the next few years – but no biometrics yet.
Self-service kiosks have been in use for over 20 years. However many airports use a mix of kiosks and desk check-in.
Common use kiosks have also been in use for almost 20 years. Many airlines still have their own kiosks at airports.
Auckland International, the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand, is now going full-scale self-service and common use.
Over the next few years, the airport is replacing around 100 existing check-in desks with self-service kiosks and self bag drops
The airport says the new systems will bring a real step change in the departure experience for international passengers, allowing them to check-in at a kiosk, print their baggage tags, and then use an automated bag drop.
When complete, the new self-service kiosks and bag drops will be common use, meaning they are available to all passengers no matter what airline they’re flying with.
That means multiple airlines can use check in from the same kiosks at the same time, creating additional capacity and efficiency within the check-in hall.
The airport has released a video about the new check-in:
The first new common use self-service kiosks and bag drops will be in place this summer.
International passengers will initially use them with selected airlines.
To keep international check-in operating while the switch is underway, a zone-by-zone approach will be taken to convert the check-in hall to use the new self-service devices.
Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer:
“If we look at international best practice, travellers can save up to 13 minutes across the check-in process – that’s all the steps needed to get you checked in and your bags dropped off – with wait times for the self-check options typically no more than five minutes. That’s far quicker than you’d generally experience at a traditional check-in desk.
“While we will be increasing the footprint of the terminal’s check-in space, and work is underway to prepare the terminal for this expansion, it is a modest increase in size because we’re able to make the space we have got run more efficiently with the introduction of this technology.
“That allows us to focus the building upgrade on better amenities and improving traveller flows in and around the terminal, plus a refresh of the interior look and feel.”
Biometric enabled kiosks
Biometric scans are beginning to replace physical IDs and boarding passes, fast-tracking airport processes and providing real-time data for the different organisations within the airport system.
The new kiosks have biometric capability built in.
The airport is considering what role biometrics will play but it won’t be within the initial roll-out.
Self-service already in use at Auckland
Auckland already has several self-service systems in use as do some of the airlines, including Air New Zealand.
Mobile self-service check-in kiosks at Auckland
In 2016, Auckland added 45 mobile self-service check-in kiosks.
Passengers used the kiosks to check in, print boarding passes and tag bags by themselves. They then took the bags to the airline bag drops. Just like the new ones will do.
Biometric bag drops
Also in 2016, Air New Zealand introduced biometric self bag drops at Auckland.
It’s not clear what will happen to these.
