DELTA Air Lines has begun trialling a telephone check-in service for its transatlantic business passengers.
The service, which is being tested for two months at Gatwick and Manchester, is part of the carrier’s plans to increase its share of the business-class market, and coincides with the completion of its BusinessElite cabin refurbishment on all UK-bound aircraft.
The telephone check-in service allows BusinesssElite passengers with hand luggage to call up to an hour before flights depart to check-in.
On arrival at the airport, customers collect a boarding pass from Delta’s ticket desk after their booking and passport are checked.
Vice-president Europe Stephan Egli said the system will be enhanced if the trial proves telephone check-in reduces waiting time at airports.
“The end game is for us to offer the service to customers with baggage for the hold,” said Egli.
Delta’s new BusinessElite cabins, replacing separate first and business class cabins, will be completed on all UK-bound aircraft by June 1.
Delta will then launch a multi-million pound advertising campaign in the UK for BusinessElite. A central theme will be Delta’s claim that the new cabins offer 52% more legroom than British Airways’ Club World.
Egli said Delta’s alliance partners, including Swissair, will have similar products to Business- Elite for passengers travelling on codeshare flights.
Meanwhile, Delta’s plans to bring Air France into its Atlantic alliance with Swissair, Austrian Airlines and Sabena are still ongoing.
Egli, who was in talks with Air France last week, said: “The discussions are of a high intensity.” However, he said no date has been set for completion of negotiations.
Delta faces a challenge for Air France from the KLM/Continental Airlines group.