The four major global airline alliances have reached agreements with Heathrow Express to set up individual check-in desks at Paddington station in London.
Global alliances will be grouped together with branding for Star Alliance, Oneworld, Qualiflyer and Wings prominently displayed.
Individual airline brands will also be included when the desks become operational on June 23.
Heathrow Express marketing director Jeremy Job said the number of desks allocated to each alliance had yet to be finalised.
“All four major alliances will have their own brands. Television screens will also be on the desks which will change to give names of airlines,” he said.
Oneworld is understood to have secured almost half the desks. This will give British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Canadian Airlines, Iberia and Finnair a big selling tool for prospective customers.
Currently, passengers on BA, American, Canadian and British Midland can check-in at Paddington with just hand luggage. Job said systems for taking full luggage were due to come on-line as the desks open.
“The benefit will be that passengers can get rid of luggage and get boarding passes at Paddington,” said Job.
Airlines are also finalising arrangements with Heathrow Express for including the ú10 one-way or ú20 return rail ticket in the airline ticket. British Midland and Emirates already have this service, but Job said he BA and Swissair are also considering the move.
While the new check-in desks, integrated tickets and baggage drop-off are mainly aimed at business passengers, Job said there were initiatives for leisure travellers.
He said talks were being held with tour operators and flight consolidators to allow them to sell Heathrow Express tickets as part of packages. Consolidator Hamilton Travel already offers the service.
Job added negotiations were also taking place with agents to enable them to sell more of the rail tickets. Agents currently offer tickets from booklets.
However, Heathrow Express has obtained an International Air Transport Association code so it can be included in computer reservation systems.
The code of 2E complements Paddington’s of QQP.
Other plans designed to get 6m annual passengers using Heathrow Express by 2001 include extending the line to St Pancras to attract customers based in the north of England.