Speeding Flight Check-In At Self-Service Kiosks
The number of self-service kiosks in airports has doubled since increased security measures began slowing down the check-in process in the fall of 2001. An estimated 25 percent of travelers in the United States have used automated kiosks to avoid long lines when checking in, receiving boarding passes, and rebooking flights.
A Forrester Research study shows that self-service check-in benefits the airlines as well as the passengers, typically saving them over $3 for each customer who uses a kiosk instead of a ticket-counter agent.
Many airlines are capitalizing on these benefits by increasing their kiosk services and providing incentives for customers to use them.
SpeedCheck, a common-use kiosk system developed by IBM and Arinc of Annapolis, Md., is in the initial phase of trial at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. If the system is a success, other airports may install common-use kiosks, which allow passengers to check-in for several different airlines on one terminal, to further eliminate unnecessary delays and costs.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the New York Times Online (02/03/04); Jones, David. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/03/business/03kiosks.html “‘We’re Making Rapid Progress” [ON CYBER SECURITY] Newsweek (01/29/04); Barrett, Jennifer