Just had this email arrive from British Airways. It sounds quite interesting.
“You demand a fast, stress-free journey through the airport, so I’m sure you’ll be interested to know that, as from 25 April 2006, all our UK Domestic customers will be required to check in for their flight either online* via ba.com or using one of our Self-Service Check-in kiosks** at the airport.
Don’t worry if you’ve never checked in online or collected a boarding pass from a Self-Service Check-in kiosk before. We have a simple guide on ba.com, and at the airport our staff will be on hand to help you at the Self-Service Check-in kiosks.
By checking in online, you can also choose to print your own boarding pass from a home, hotel or office printer, up to 24 hours before your flight. This means you’ll be able to head straight to the boarding gate on arrival at the airport.
What’s more, we’re converting our conventional check-in desks into ‘Fast Bag Drop’ desks, for you to check-in any luggage”
By: bmi-star - 24th March 2006 at 18:30
Excellent move IMO
By: Comet - 24th March 2006 at 18:19
Thanks for the explanation.
By: Mark L - 24th March 2006 at 11:12
How does this affect you if you are connecting to an international flight? I would have thought that with ordinary check in desks you checked in for the international connection at the same time as the domestic flight and just went through as a transfer passenger. Will we have to check in again at Heathrow after we land from Manchester?
Nope, the self service machines check you in all the way. Again in my experience they give you more options than you really get at the desk. You can choose the exact seat you want (not just “window” or “aisle”) plus the AA ones we used last week allowed you to view the standby list, and potentialy get on an earlier flight, again an option not necessarily given to you at a desk.
By: Comet - 24th March 2006 at 10:56
How does this affect you if you are connecting to an international flight? I would have thought that with ordinary check in desks you checked in for the international connection at the same time as the domestic flight and just went through as a transfer passenger. Will we have to check in again at Heathrow after we land from Manchester?
By: OneLeft - 24th March 2006 at 10:45
jobs will go and will continue to do so.
Yes, you are absolutely right, but right across the company not just at check-in, and not just as direct result of SSCI. You seem to think that the terminals are going to become ghost towns, devoid of human life except for passengers scratching their heads in front of blank check-in screens. This certainly is not the case.
If the low cost airlines keep eating into BA’s profits
They may keep BA on its toes, but as the worlds most profitable airline for several years and on target for the same this year I don’t think the loco’s have quite beaten BA yet.
they may be looking at pilot reductions soon
And this would concern me for what reason? If you look at my profile you’ll see I’m cabin crew.
Now that would be funny!
Hysterical.
1L.
By: Sunjet757 - 23rd March 2006 at 23:17
You better watch out oneleft. If the low cost airlines keep eating into BA’s profits they may be looking at pilot reductions soon, or if Willie takes it down the low cost option your may be working to similar conditions as some of the other ‘reputable’ low cost airlines!
By: TJC - 23rd March 2006 at 23:14
Well, there goes another 500 jobs in six months time. How far will this go? Possible emails in a few years ‘Following our amazing success with BA.com and other technology we no longer require staff and so we’ve introduced the fly the aircraft yourself for your added convenience’ or ‘earn an extra 500 miles if you sell duty free goods to your fellow passengers’.
Yup, knew it wouldn’t take long for Willie Walsh to get stuck in again.
O’Leary is a saint compared to him :diablo:
By: Sunjet757 - 23rd March 2006 at 23:11
Well, there goes another 500 jobs in six months time. How far will this go? Possible emails in a few years ‘Following our amazing success with BA.com and other technology we no longer require staff and so we’ve introduced the fly the aircraft yourself for your added convenience’ or ‘earn an extra 500 miles if you sell duty free goods to your fellow passengers’.
OK, so I think we all know I exagerated this one, however jobs will go and will continue to do so. Technology is great but when it all goes belly up at the airport who IS going to sort it out. There won’t be anyone left. If BA’s computer system is attacked by a virus and has to go off line for a few days I’d like to see the two remaining staff left at Manchester cope then.
Alternatively, is this BA’s answer to avoiding more strike action? Computerise everything and no one can walk out? Well, not unless the programmers have got a sense of humour and and signed up each self check in machine up as a fully fledged member of the TGWU! Now that would be funny!
By: OneLeft - 23rd March 2006 at 23:06
Chris,
The fast bag drop desks are really just check-in desks being used for another purpose, and they need the same number of staff, so yes ‘counter staff’ would be retained. The idea of staff reductions as a direct result of this was suggested earlier in the thread but is unlikely. If there was a mass problem with the self-service kiosks the desks and staff would just revert to being regular check-in desks.
The kiosks are always manned by check-in staff to show anyone that is unsure how to use them, and they really are easy to use. My 75 year old parents managed with them unaided.
They are now THE most popular way to check-in so they can’t be that bad, I really don’t see any problems resulting from this.
1L.
By: CWBalmer - 23rd March 2006 at 22:53
Maybe it’s just as well that all check in machines at the airports ALWAYS work eh? I dont think so….. Surely they would retain some counter staff…
and they assume that EVERYONE has web access or understands how to use one of the check in machines? dont get me wrong as I use both myself, but a lot of “older” people will struggle with this…
By: OneLeft - 23rd March 2006 at 22:40
as well as the above
Not sure where you are coming from Peter.
Apart from the possible reduction in staff numbers which bit of “the above” do you really think might come true?
1L.
By: 007peter - 23rd March 2006 at 22:18
Well, there goes another 500 jobs in six months time. How far will this go? Possible emails in a few years ‘Following our amazing success with BA.com and other technology we no longer require staff and so we’ve introduced the fly the aircraft yourself for your added convenience’ or ‘earn an extra 500 miles if you sell duty free goods to your fellow passengers’.
i personally think there customer service will go down as well as the above
peter
By: philgatwick05 - 23rd March 2006 at 16:36
This is an important step forward. Well done BA!
By: Mark L - 23rd March 2006 at 13:49
Personally I havent used a check in desk when I havent had to for about 2 years now, and I dont know anyone else that uses them.
Self Service and online checkin is quicker, easier, and more efficient for everybody, and the “I want to speak to a person” argument is pretty redundant in the 21st century in most service fields. bmi moved to this format a few months ago, AA seemed to be following it in the US last week at all the airports I was at as well, and I’m sure that the LoCos will be going this way when their investment in the technology takes off later this year across their networks.
By: Sunjet757 - 23rd March 2006 at 00:08
Well, there goes another 500 jobs in six months time. How far will this go? Possible emails in a few years ‘Following our amazing success with BA.com and other technology we no longer require staff and so we’ve introduced the fly the aircraft yourself for your added convenience’ or ‘earn an extra 500 miles if you sell duty free goods to your fellow passengers’.
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March 22, 2006 at 11:48 pm