Anyone heard that Qantas are replacing check-in with self check?

[Rayfinger]

Hi,
long time watcher and first time poster.
Has anyone heard that Qantas are removing check-in counters for all classes and replacing them with self-check in kiosk/bag drops? International kiosks will still have someone there to assist but domestic just have a check yourself in kiosk and bag drop. Darwin Airport have just refreshed their 'experience' citing the usual spin of 'we are helping you check in faster and reducing queues', neglecting to mention that it's solely there to ensure less staff are needed. I asked in Darwin if this was a temporary setup and they said it's not. Business class, families, older people, everyone has to check themselves in. I also asked in Adelaide at the Business check-in and they also said this with part of the plan for them too. I saw at least 4 older people needing assistance and there being only 1 Qantas person there who was already tied up with a family who needed help. Combine this with flights in the middle of the night and it's got the makings of chaos.

If it wasn't for the uniforms check-in may as well have been Jetstar. And yet they still try to have priority boarding for J class and FF Gold so on one hand they cut back and on the other try to serve. For a full service airline I've got a problem with not having people there to assist or provide some of the service or value add that's required. Especially when travelling with connecting flights or similar.

Has anyone else experienced this or heard Qantas want to implement it?

Have just passed through Darwin QANTAS check in. Flight time 1630 (QF845), bag drop not open until 1430. All kiosks, one staff member visible. At 1430, many bag drops not operational (closed gates) and one with open gates has malfunctioning screen. On completing screen entry, I look Ip to see sign behind bag drop advising that Q tags not accepted. This is not indicated anywhere else ( and contrary to QANTAS website re Darwin). Have to return to kiosk, then queue for operational bag drop again. Bag drop machines all look swish and new, but service not adequate.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Rayfinger

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Airlines around the world are moving to more self-serve check-in options. It saves them a lot of money on staffing and theoretically makes queues go by faster since it's much easier to deploy several check-in machines versus several manned check-in desks. With that being said, sometimes you do need that human help. Some examples that come to my mind include:

• A messed up ticket on Air Canada for which self-checkin was not available, requiring the check-in agent to get on the horn with AC to reissue the ticket
• Self-check areas requesting I pay for checked bags because the dumb machines don't understand how frequent flyer status works
• Checking bags through on separate tickets but with same carrier/alliance partner
• Checking in a bag super early (i.e. 6 hours prior to departure)
• Checking in for a flight with Lufthansa because their system thinks Canadians require ESTA (they don't and aren't part of the VWP either). This interestingly required me calling the station manager at Frankfurt since the agents also insisted on the same thing, and it took the station manager to correct them and for them to over-ride the system (that's the last time I'll fly LH to the US).

-RooFlyer88