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

[HudsonFish]

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?

 

[jrfsp]

Please don’t bring jetstar down with QF, they actually maintain manned desks at the vast majority of locations

 

[drron]

Welcome aboard @HudsonFish . Great name for a Qantas flyer. Having worked in Launceston for some time I learnt that they quite admired one of the favourite sons.
I wouldn't be surprised if this happens. SQ are going down this path as well. Don't like it but I don't think we can fight it.

 

[1022]

Do the new kiosks in Darwin actually have a check in function or have they rolled out the same ones as SYD and MEL where their sole purpose is to print bag tags? No kiosk check in at those airports and just one or two understaffed counters in the corner for international connecting check in. It’s grim.

 

[kpro]

As I recall Darwin didn't have any self bag drop facilities, meaning you had to wait for a counter to open if you had check in bags.

Could it just be that they're introducing bag drop in Darwin airport?

 

[Danger]

If it happens, it means another status benefit disappears.

 

[stm1sydney]

Gooder and harder, rusted-on Qantas customers, gooder and harder.

 

[UP4014]

All airlines would do if they could.

 

[justinbrett]

It seems unlikely to me they'd remove the service desk check in for pax with complicated bookings that the kiosk can't handle, and/or elite pax.

I've got a friend in Darwin at the moment I've asked him to confirm the situation when he comes back next week.

Every other time I've seen this done elsewhere in the world, they've always retained a service desk for manual check in - even if they discourage and/or hide it away.

 

[Seat0B]

Every other time I've seen this done elsewhere in the world, they've always retained a service desk for manual check in - even if they discourage and/or hide it away.

And QF really do try to discourage! We had a lot of luggage CBR-MEL (120kg - taking stuff to Seat Son) for a connecting international flight (next day, so had to retrieve luggage in MEL), and had never done this before. I just wanted to confirm all the arrangements with someone who might know of any issues. I'm A WP, Mr Seat 0A is an LTG, and we were literally yelled at from a distance for getting in the platinum line - which had precisely zero people in it other than us. We just ignored the rude staff member. She came over and tried to shame us into self check in and bag drop. I politely declined and said it was complex and I wanted to talk to a human about my arrangements. They are certainly being aggressive in trying to discourage people from using staffed check in. I don;t like it at all. Happy to self check when things are straightforward and I don;t have a lot of bags, but otherwise, I want a staffed counter.

 

[nancypants]

It seems unlikely to me they'd remove the service desk check in for pax with complicated bookings that the kiosk can't handle, and/or elite pax.

I've got a friend in Darwin at the moment I've asked him to confirm the situation when he comes back next week.

Every other time I've seen this done elsewhere in the world, they've always retained a service desk for manual check in - even if they discourage and/or hide it away.

I passed through overnight and noted the new kiosks, but as I wasn’t checking a bag didn’t pry further. There appeared to be some temporary walls implying work is ongoing. I will review on my return trip on Sunday and report back

 

[CMA222]

QF - the full-service-airline !! What a joke when OneStar outdoes them, which I always assumed was not possible for the no-service-airline. QF's plunge to the bottom continues and they tried to defend (PR spin) the plunge on SkyTrax listing where this year's rating was the worse in 20 years while it also scored a listing in Australia's 20 least trusted companies. The Spirit of Australia !

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There has been talk that QF wants us to be app handed.
And there will be no check in desks or kiosks one day.
Dont know when it will start.
Has been known on here for maybe 6/12/18 months/(?).

 

[PaulyB]

There has been talk that QF wants us to be app handed.

What does app handed mean?

 

[sap1l]

QF systems really do not like my passport. Every time I fly internationally, I need someone to manually check me in. If not for that, I'd be happy to self check-in, as it usually moves quicker anyway.

I don't think that check-in kiosks are a bad idea, provided that they are seamless to use. 10 check-in kiosks will generally move faster than 5 staffed counters. However, not everyone can use a self check-in kiosk, and I think that it'd be ridiculous if Qantas spins it any other way.

There has been talk that QF wants us to be app handed.

Until they actually produce an app that works all of the time without any weird caveats, this would be such a poor move. For example, you can't even check in for any flight in your itinerary if at least one is not a QF codeshare flight.

 

[SJF211]

At DRW. There is still a service desk as well as an integrated self drop off and staffed desk - for passengers having a problem dropping off by themselves but no proper check in as far as I could tell. Also no Q tags accepted at DRW.

 

[Lynda2475]

This has been the case at SYD Dom (and SYD Int if you are why with no status), MEL Dom, BNE Dom for well over a year. Guess other airports just catching up.

Im used to it now, and tehre always seems to be plenty of QF staff linger to help people who still havent worked it out.

I only use manned check-in if flying Internationally as I like a paper boarding pass especially where connections are with a partner airline.

 

[1022]

At DRW. There is still a service desk as well as an integrated self drop off and staffed desk - for passengers having a problem dropping off by themselves but no proper check in as far as I could tell. Also no Q tags accepted at DRW.
View attachment 336473

Ugh "Tag's" (sic) as per the pic, not your post SJF211!!

 

[nancypants]

Apologies, my flight was delayed and I thus exited the terminal quick sharp instead of hanging around for a look!

 

[justinbrett]

At DRW. There is still a service desk as well as an integrated self drop off and staffed desk - for passengers having a problem dropping off by themselves but no proper check in as far as I could tell. Also no Q tags accepted at DRW.
View attachment 336473

If that's the case then crisis over. Just go to the desk.