British Airways is trialling a new service to provide passengers with the option of using automatic check-in.
The airline claims the initiative –part of a £5 billion investment – will “change the future of airline check-in as we know it today”.
A trial with selected flights from France this month will see invited passengers given the option to be checked in automatically.
They will be automatically checked in 24 hours before their flight, assigned a seat and receive boarding passes electronically.
The automated check-in trial will be extended to a larger group of travellers in the spring.
The aim is to make the service an option for all passengers by the end of 2013 if the trials are a success.,
BA brands and customer experience managing director Frank van der Post said: “Customers have so much to think about prior to a trip, be that finishing up in the office or getting the kids’ suitcases packed.
“We’re aiming to give them one less thing to think about by giving them the choice to be checked in automatically and sent their boarding pass electronically.
“Then they just need to drop off any bags and make their way to the plane.”
Van der Post added: “We’re known for our innovation at British Airways and I’m excited that we are continuing that tradition by trialling a revolutionary service that will make check-in even quicker and easier for our customers.”