Starting today, Czech Airlines passengers departing from Ruzyně Airport can conveniently check in for their flight by themselves.
Prague – Passengers will be able to do so thanks to self-serve kiosks that were put into live operation today, in cooperation with Prague Airport and SITA. The S3-type kiosks are of the newest and most modern generation, which was first installed at the airports in Prague, Stuttgart, and Budapest. Czech Airlines is gradually introducing the self-serve check-in option at other destinations – from 30 November, self-serve kiosks will be available at London Heathrow.
At Prague Airport, 9 self-serve kiosks will be available in Terminal 1 for the passengers of Czech Airlines and certain other airlines, and 16 in Terminal 2. Their launch is a part of the Czech Airlines e-Check-in project. “The introduction of this service is a logical outcome of Czech Airlines’ striving to keep up with worldwide developments and to apply cutting edge technologies that can bring passengers greater convenience as well as aid the company in the development of other services and products,“ said Peter Jusko, Vice President for Czech Airlines’ Operational Services, adding: “The new technology allows us to look farther into the future, to contemplate the introduction of services such as using self-service kiosks to pay for excess baggage beyond the scope of the conditions of carriage, upgrades to a higher class, or paid access to VIP lounges.“
How Do the Czech Airlines Self-Serve Check-in Kiosks Work?
Using the self-serve check-in kiosks is easy and fast. All passengers on scheduled flights operated by Czech Airlines, as well as on code-share flights that are handled through the Czech Airlines check-in system, can use the kiosks to check in. The condition is that a passenger is travelling on an electronic ticket and has his travel document on him. The easiest method of checking in is by manually entering the thirteen to fourteen-digit electronic ticket code. Then the passenger only has to select the seat number and print his boarding pass and his travel itinerary, if desired. If he does not have any baggage, he can walk directly to his departure gate via the security and passport check, without a needless wait. This entire process usually takes less than a minute. For checking in with baggage, special so-called drop-off counters are available, to which the passenger is directed by the kiosk itself, as well as by the distinctive navigation signage in both terminals. A passenger can subsequently change his seat number, even once he has been checked in. He can do so by scanning the so-called bar-code of his boarding pass. After making the change, he prints a new boarding pass. Passengers who have checked in at home through the Internet can do the same.
If a passenger forgets to print up his electronic ticket or does not have time for that, he can identify himself at the self-serve kiosk by one of two other means: either by placing his passport on the reading zone of the scanning device, or by inserting his payment card into the reader. “In the first quarter of next year, we are also planning to put into operation passenger identification by means of his personal identification card in the reading zone, or via an OK Plus Card or cards from other selected frequent flyer programmes,” specifies Pavel Haleš, Executive Director of the Czech Airlines Handling and Passenger Services Section.
Presently, Czech Airlines passengers can choose one of three ways to check in for their flight when departing from Prague Airport: assisted check-in at a desk at the airport, checking in from their office or the comfort of their home via the Czech Airlines website, or the presently launched check-in at self-service check-in kiosks. Czech Airlines also enables the so-called next-day check-in through its self-service kiosks, when a passenger can conveniently check in one day in advance, even with his luggage, for his morning flight. The service is available from 3 p.m. of every day for morning flights that depart before 9 a.m. on the following day. Czech Airlines also offers comfort in terms of the language mutations of the self-serve kiosk application. In addition to Czech, passengers can choose from the English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian versions.
Assistants Will Help When Necessary
If passengers do not know how to proceed when using self-service check-in kiosks or some other complications occur, trained specialised assistants of Czech Airlines Services, with have the appropriate language skills, will help them whenever they encounter difficulties. From five in the morning until nine in the evening, they will be available at each group of kiosks at both terminals of Prague Airport.
Exceptions from Check-in
There are several exceptions to checking in at the self-serve kiosks. For a complete list of these exceptions, passengers should consult the Czech Airlines website www.czechairlines.com, in the Information for Passengers Section. Kiosk check-in is not available to passengers travelling with a paper ticket, passengers travelling in a group of ten or more, passengers travelling with animals, blind passengers travelling with a guide dog, and also passengers on code-shared flights with those airlines that use a check-in system other than DCS GAETAN. In all of these cases, the self-serve kiosk will inform the passenger that this check-in method is not available to them and they will be referred to a traditional desk. “The exceptions concern only a very small percentage of Czech Airlines passengers. According to our estimates, about 50% of Czech Airlines’ passengers should be using the self-serve check-in kiosks once the service gets established,” adds Pavel Haleš.
Picture: Carstino Delmonte/ Touristikpresse.net
