Qantas to Remove Domestic Boarding Pass Printing from Kiosks

[Port Power]

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?

There is usually a queue of people around that poor service staff member, not nearly as relaxed as the video shows.

And I cannot believe how long the baggage machine takes to acknowledge the QR code on my smartphone! Positioning it just right is not always so easy.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

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?

And didn't they say they are closing CSO (edit to change to CSA) counters at domestic airports.
So these CSO/As, will they be the roving type.
With an ipad and a stylus,......?
And a portable handheld printer?

 

[jakeseven7]

And didn't they say they are closing CSO (edit to change to CSA) counters at domestic airports.
So these CSO/As, will they be the roving type.
With an ipad and a stylus,......?
And a portable handheld printer?

No, there are still printers in the service hubs at centre of array of kiosks.

 

[willclan]

I can just imagine a few oldies without smart phones turning up at the gate without a boarding pass, what happens then, will they do something at the gate to allow boarding?

 

[Port Power]

I can just imagine a few oldies without smart phones turning up at the gate without a boarding pass, what happens then, will they do something at the gate to allow boarding?

Not so long ago this would have been so true. However, these days I have yet to meet anyone under 80 who doesn't have a computer they regularly use, any many more over 80 who travel a lot and are very computer literate. For the few left over who do not fly very much, there is usually a family member or neighbour who would print a boarding pass at home for them. Nevertheless there is always a crowd around the roving service staff at every airport.

 

[jb747]

Not so long ago this would have been so true. However, these days I have yet to meet anyone under 80 who doesn't have a computer they regularly use, any many more over 80 who travel a lot and are very computer literate. For the few left over who do not fly very much, there is usually a family member or neighbour who would print a boarding pass at home for them. Nevertheless there is always a crowd around the roving service staff at every airport.

We move in different circles. I know lots of people in their 70s, at both ends of the decade, who are technically challenged.

 

[docjames]

Have they fixed the issue where when you do domestic self-bag drop (eg, as a family / party of 2 or more), the 2 bags the WP checks get priority handling then the remaining bags get no status so when you arrive at your destination you end up with two bags coming first and the remainder in the last drips and drabs (defeating the purpose of priority/QP status)?

Otherwise it may as well be 100% counter bag drop for anyone with a mixed-status group……

 

[RooFlyer]

Have they fixed the issue where when you do domestic self-bag drop (eg, as a family / party of 2 or more), the 2 bags the WP checks get priority handling then the remaining bags get no status so when you arrive at your destination you end up with two bags coming first and the remainder in the last drips and drabs (defeating the purpose of priority/QP status)?

Since when did WP bags come out first?

 

[TheInsider]

Have they fixed the issue where when you do domestic self-bag drop (eg, as a family / party of 2 or more), the 2 bags the WP checks get priority handling then the remaining bags get no status so when you arrive at your destination you end up with two bags coming first and the remainder in the last drips and drabs (defeating the purpose of priority/QP status)?

Otherwise it may as well be 100% counter bag drop for anyone with a mixed-status group……

If you check in and get bag tags on the kiosk then this hasn't been an issue for years. If the bags are pooled, it will automatically default to the highest tier for 'head of the baggage pool'.
If people were to get bag tags separately on the same PNR then this would result in individual status, if all were selected, then as above.

 

[SJF211]

Have they fixed the issue where when you do domestic self-bag drop (eg, as a family / party of 2 or more), the 2 bags the WP checks get priority handling then the remaining bags get no status so when you arrive at your destination you end up with two bags coming first and the remainder in the last drips and drabs (defeating the purpose of priority/QP status)?

Otherwise it may as well be 100% counter bag drop for anyone with a mixed-status group……

Never had it work properly for me. I often travel with my mother but for some reason every time we check in at DRW at staff check in the baggage tags get printed in her name, with no status. Have asked specifically for them to be printed as mine but still they come out as hers with a “sorry.” At the kiosks I select myself and it still prints hers? No clue why.

 

[drron]

Since when did WP bags come out first?

It has happened to me.......as an AA plat on an AA flight.

 

[SJF211]

New signs at DRW, all of which were completely ignored by everyone since you still need to go to a manned desk, no seperate lane for just bay drop.

 

[RichardMEL]

No, there are still printers in the service hubs at centre of array of kiosks.

indeed. this saved me on one occasion when some phat fingers had somehow selected I had dangerous goods to check in doing OLCI on app and thus could not get a BP until I saw a human at the airport. Luckily staffers there were quickly able to resolve the fool.

the issue still remains though of actual staffing levels to be able to do this.,

time will tell.

 

[docjames]

If you check in and get bag tags on the kiosk then this hasn't been an issue for years. If the bags are pooled, it will automatically default to the highest tier for 'head of the baggage pool'.
If people were to get bag tags separately on the same PNR then this would result in individual status, if all were selected, then as above.

Not my lived experience.

Never had it work properly for me. I often travel with my mother but for some reason every time we check in at DRW at staff check in the baggage tags get printed in her name, with no status. Have asked specifically for them to be printed as mine but still they come out as hers with a “sorry.” At the kiosks I select myself and it still prints hers? No clue why.

Exactly

 

[wandering_fred]

I wonder what the mandatory rental fee will be, when it has been determined that Qantas is inappropriately requiring third party devices for people to fly in their airplanes.
Simply to permit wandering
Fred

 

[JohnK]

I can just imagine a few oldies without smart phones turning up at the gate without a boarding pass, what happens then, will they do something at the gate to allow boarding?

I have a smartphone but don't want to do OLCI and print/save 3 boarding passes or even just for me when I am flying.

It is much easier for an airline to print a boarding pass rather than expect everyone on the flight to be self sufficient.

 

[dvb2000]

So they'll be forcing everyone to check in online or queue at the "service desk".

Sounds like a step forward, as those who want to check in with a human, will now not be harangued and harassed by some Qantas employee with a KPI to push customers over to the "self-service" checkin machines, and a manager with big bonuses for reducing the amount of manual checkins at the airport.

Of course, Qantas is going to have to staff the checkin counters properly...

 

[Beano]

Please excuse me if my memory doesn't serve me well but even if you use a smart phone at the gate, don't they give you a slip of paper. The purpose of no paper BP is to save paper, but the slip of paper is smaller.

 

[sudoer]

Please excuse me if my memory doesn't serve me well but even if you use a smart phone at the gate, don't they give you a slip of paper. The purpose of no paper BP is to save paper, but the slip of paper is smaller.

I think the slip only prints if you scan your FF card at the gate so you have something to show FAs at the plane door. If you are using the app you don't get a slip of paper and just show them your phone screen. (didn't get a paper slip when scanning digital boarding pass on two flights last week)

 

[Beano]

I think the slip only prints if you scan your FF card at the gate so you have something to show FAs at the plane door. If you are using the app you don't get a slip of paper and just show them your phone screen. (didn't get a paper slip when scanning digital boarding pass on two flights last week)

Thnaks. I'm sure it was the app, but that was a while ago. I will get a chance to find out in a couple of weeks. I will be flying BNE-SYD then back to Wellington as Qantas will have stared "normal" flight schedules by then.