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Self check-in at the airport
CaptainObvious_
Posts: 3,881 Forum Member
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Who's flippin' idea was that? >:(
Is it only at Edinburgh? and only Easyjet?
What happened to their hologram people at security as well? Must have been tossed out with the move to the other side of the terminal
Is it only at Edinburgh? and only Easyjet?
What happened to their hologram people at security as well? Must have been tossed out with the move to the other side of the terminal
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Must admit, we needed help at the Easyjet check in at Edinburgh. Totally confusing, and we still had to stand in another queue after checking in to hand in our luggage! It was absolute chaos - even the easyjet staff were getting confused when there was more than two people in a party.
No - but what's the problem? Is it better or worse than checking in online?
The return journey however was a nightmare. 90 minutes standing in a queue despite already being checked in and a guy sitting on another check in desk for "priority boarding" touting for us all to pay £20 to jump the queue.
He had 2 paying passengers in all the time we stood there.
If it's a non-refundable ticket then it's kinda academic whether you checked in or not.
At the end of the day it's all about money. The airline/airport pay nothing to that machine. It matters not one jot that the passengers have to queue twice and the whole process takes longer, cost is the bottom line.
It's terribly sad. Out of all the automation we see in daily life I think airports are still one place which work a lot smoother with more actual people and less machines, at least on the passenger facing side of things. An experienced check in agent can check in a family of 4 including their bags in under 1 minute (I know, it used to be my job). On a machine it takes 5 or 6 minutes and that's before you've even joined the line to drop your bag.
Online check in is great too, you can check in, select your seat and print your boarding card at home the night before and arrive at the airport in your own time. Mobile check in is growing in popularity, most major airlines now have an app that allow you to do everything needed and without the need to print anything and carry around all that paperwork. Not at my airline. Passengers are more than welcome to check in at the desk with an agent selecting seats and tagging luggage, we never force passengers to use the kiosk or need proof that it's not working before checking them in. We're one of the largest carriers at Heathrow's Terminal 2.
I wish the airline I work for was like that. Also in T2, we have to send people to the kiosk first and check in agents have been told to send them back to the kiosk should anyone try and bypass it (business class excluded). If it doesn't work the kiosk supervisor will send them to a dedicated desk for people who couldn't get the kiosk to work. Some of the time the kiosk itself even tells people to go to a desk after making them go through the whole process only for it to fail at the end. I used to sit and time passengers checking in on the kiosks vs a desk. Never once was it faster on the kiosk. It could be down the software in use, but I just think the majority of travellers, who aren't frequent, would rather have that human interaction and someone else do it for them. I think it should be optional, sadly the powers that be disagree.
I personally don't have a problem with it. I was through and into departures within 30 minutes of being in the airport.
ah, I think I haven't explained it properly.. I check in online, that's brilliant- I meant checking in my hold luggage when at the airport.
I felt the same about self checkouts for ages. This seems a whole different kettle of fish though.
I don't like change
However, though automatic machines when coming back to the UK at Manchester airport have never worked for me once.