Qantas to Remove Domestic Boarding Pass Printing from Kiosks

[Port Power]

But thankfully we have app boarding passes! Complete with advice from the lounge dragon as she was announcing boarding to check that your app boarding pass will load and if not, go see her so she can print one out...

I have several times had boarding passes printed in the J lounge. Is it something that can still be done?

More to the question, if QF does do away with the check in machines, will lounges still be able to print them?

 

[justinbrett]

I have several times had boarding passes printed in the J lounge. Is it something that can still be done?

More to the question, if QF does do away with the check in machines, will lounges still be able to print them?

There will always be a need for a service desk to print boarding passes. Can't see why the lounges can't have them - especially if they're also handling disruptions.

BNE still prints them.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I have several times had boarding passes printed in the J lounge. Is it something that can still be done?

More to the question, if QF does do away with the check in machines, will lounges still be able to print them?

Presume so but I'm pretty sure if the app isn't working for well-heeled Plats and Golds, then there are going to be a few people out in the gate lounge who also can't get the app to work and don't have a lounge to go and print BPs from...

 

[jrfsp]

Broome still has the old style checkin, staff there to help but THE WORST Q lounge

Ever been to PHE, makes BME look luxurious

 

[Rangalad]

Broome still has the old style checkin, staff there to help but THE WORST Q lounge

Up there with the old BNE INTL F/CL “room”

 

[RichardMEL]

It's all fine and good that lounge staff CAN (and do) print BP's for any number of reasons, and gate agents can and do - again for a number of reasons. A change to self service not being able to print them will add workload at the various staffed points - be it in the lobby, lounge or gate.

And gate agents are usually busy enough as it is trying to get a flight out without joe bloggs wanting a paper BP for whatever reason because they couldn't do it online.

And yes, it's an ever diminishing number that probably want them (or need them due to tech or other issues) but I am sure the bean counters have a cost factored in per pax for this kind of interaction. ie each "can you print me a BP?" interaction is probably a minute or so of work per staff member. Maybe 30 seconds if one hands over a QFF card with barcode to scan. Those add up. Specially at a busy station with multiple flights and reduced levels of staffing.

I wonder if QF have thought this through and prepared for it.

 

[mbell1510]

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/airports/qantas-rolls-out-new-kiosk-check-in-and-bag-tag-system-to-halve-time-at-airport/news-story/690a847562937e45eb8c71f598555cb2

Looks like our worst fears have been realised with Qantas confirming that they are replacing kiosks with new ones that no longer have the ability to print boarding passes. Customers will instead be able to use a QR code to check in or line up to get one from a customer service agent.

Rollout out will begin in Sydney from September before spreading across the country.

The machines shown in the article look similar to ones Qantas have at Sydney International Terminal for economy class passengers, which allow you to print boarding passes. Unsure if that is what they will actually look like.

 

[sudoer]

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/airports/qantas-rolls-out-new-kiosk-check-in-and-bag-tag-system-to-halve-time-at-airport/news-story/690a847562937e45eb8c71f598555cb2

The new technology couldn’t come at a better time for the airline – and for customers – given recent scenes at Sydney’s domestic airport when passengers were met with chaos as staff shortages created kilometre-long lines.

Wonder how much QF paid for this puff piece given the existing kiosks had absolutely nothing to do with the recent delays.

 

[muppet]

“Before Covid, we were printing about 24 million boarding passes a year, and they can’t be recycled,” he explained.

“That’s for two reasons. One, they have the magnetic strip on them and secondly, they have customer information on them.

hmmmm magnetic strip …. really? when was the last time he used a boarding pass?

 

[TheInsider]

hmmmm magnetic strip …. really? when was the last time he used a boarding pass?

Like I've said before - they work and live in a fantasy land the idiots in Mascot.

 

[RooFlyer]

From the news release

you haven't checked in prior to arriving at the airport, you'll be able to use QR codes on the kiosks to quickly check-in and receive a digital boarding pass. Our customer service agents will be available to help you check-in if you don't have a smartphone, you're part of a group booking or have excess or oversized baggage.

Customer service agents? Is this Qantas they are talking about?

 

[TheInsider]

From the news release

you haven't checked in prior to arriving at the airport, you'll be able to use QR codes on the kiosks to quickly check-in and receive a digital boarding pass. Our customer service agents will be available to help you check-in if you don't have a smartphone, you're part of a group booking or have excess or oversized baggage.

Customer service agents? Is this Qantas they are talking about?

C'mon mate, nothing wrong with the airport staff.

 

[RooFlyer]

C'mon mate, nothing wrong with the airport staff.

No worries, mate, I was alluding to the withdrawal of staff by the management, not the performance of those few who remain.

And I was about to write, re your post Re Mascot above that “ there, we can agree on something”

 

[Rangalad]

Wonder how much QF paid for this puff piece given the existing kiosks had absolutely nothing to do with the recent delays.

FOC (free) tickets or upgrades via a contra

 

[dylarr]

Qantas press release here:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/flying-kangaroo-invests-in-new-customer-technology/

Including video demonstration:

The new kiosk hardware looks different to the red kiosks that have been deployed in recent times and actually looks quite good, in fact it looks like there is a even a slot to facilitate boarding pass printing as well (but obviously it is not being turned on).

The comments from Qantas on the news.com.au article about boarding passes not being recyclable due to containing magnetic strips - WTF?! Has he ever actually seen a boarding pass?

 

[TheInsider]

Qantas press release here:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/flying-kangaroo-invests-in-new-customer-technology/

Including video demonstration:

The new kiosk hardware looks different to the red kiosks that have been deployed in recent times and actually looks quite good, in fact it looks like there is a even a slot to facilitate boarding pass printing as well (but obviously it is not being turned on).

The comments from Qantas on the news.com.au article about boarding passes not being recyclable due to containing magnetic strips - WTF?! Has he ever actually seen a boarding pass?

The slot is for baggage tag receipts.
Those mag stripe boarding passes haven't been around for at least 10 years. This is why Qantas tech is so slow, they still believe it's 2008.

The kiosks are actually very quick and will be able to do international connections shortly, after check-in on phone. Saves more lining up.

 

[encryptededdy]

Including video demonstration:

Hmm. That video seems to imply that that bag tag prints automatically without any user input? I wonder if there'll be users who scan with the intention of getting a physical boarding pass printout and end up with a unwanted bag tag.

 

[TheInsider]

Hmm. That video seems to imply that that bag tag prints automatically without any user input? I wonder if there'll be users who scan with the intention of getting a physical boarding pass printout and end up with a unwanted bag tag.

Then the bag tag will just cancel out when the flight closes, if nothing goes into the baggage system.

Also correct, scan BP, automatically prints off 1 bag tag.

 

[sudoer]

The kiosks ... will be able to do international connections shortly, after check-in on phone.

So you need to line up at the international terminal after your domestic flight to get a paper boarding pass? Are they are moving the covid paperwork, visa, and passport validity check to that point also?

 

[TheInsider]

So you need to line up at the international terminal after your domestic flight to get a paper boarding pass? Are they are moving the covid paperwork, visa, and passport validity check to that point also?

No. Pre-covid you didn't need a paper boarding pass anyway and still don't. The issue was they originally turned off OLCI for international flights due to document checks.
New kiosks will do all the TIMATIC checks, where as the app or OLCI will take the 'required' documents.
Also document checks will be done via the app too soon.