armeee
Jul 1, 09, 5:45 pm
In the Ottawa Sun online.........
OTTAWA — Canadian airlines will soon ask passengers to check in their own luggage at the airport.
Transport Minister John Baird called the decision to allow self-serve baggage tagging at Canadian airports a “first” in North America. His department expects the move will help airlines control costs by freeing up valuable space that would otherwise be required for additional check-in counters as airlines add more travel destinations.
“It could potentially save airports money on expansion,” Transport Canada spokesman Brad McNulty said.
But he insisted the change won’t jeopardize security.
“The principal concern is (that) letting passengers print and fix their own tags reduces the care and control over the baggage,” he said.
New security requirements will ensure the baggage tagging system is at least as secure as the conventional method, McNulty said.
The federal government will allow airlines to use the technology as of Wednesday.
WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer said self-serve baggage tagging will reduce lineups.
Previously, passengers with luggage had to line up twice — once at the self-serve kiosk to check in and again to drop off their bags with an airline attendant. Now, all the work can be done at the self-serve kiosk.
Once the program is fully implemented, one-stop shopping might mean longer lines at the self-serve kiosks, but Palmer said those lines will move a lot faster.
He said WestJet will keep counters open for customers who prefer the service and said the change won’t mean any reduction in staff.
Air Canada and WestJet have been testing the service in airports in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto for nearly three years, and say customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
WestJet is now studying where to extend the service, while Air Canada has announced it will offer the service in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax in the coming months.
OTTAWA — Canadian airlines will soon ask passengers to check in their own luggage at the airport.
Transport Minister John Baird called the decision to allow self-serve baggage tagging at Canadian airports a “first” in North America. His department expects the move will help airlines control costs by freeing up valuable space that would otherwise be required for additional check-in counters as airlines add more travel destinations.
“It could potentially save airports money on expansion,” Transport Canada spokesman Brad McNulty said.
But he insisted the change won’t jeopardize security.
“The principal concern is (that) letting passengers print and fix their own tags reduces the care and control over the baggage,” he said.
New security requirements will ensure the baggage tagging system is at least as secure as the conventional method, McNulty said.
The federal government will allow airlines to use the technology as of Wednesday.
WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer said self-serve baggage tagging will reduce lineups.
Previously, passengers with luggage had to line up twice — once at the self-serve kiosk to check in and again to drop off their bags with an airline attendant. Now, all the work can be done at the self-serve kiosk.
Once the program is fully implemented, one-stop shopping might mean longer lines at the self-serve kiosks, but Palmer said those lines will move a lot faster.
He said WestJet will keep counters open for customers who prefer the service and said the change won’t mean any reduction in staff.
Air Canada and WestJet have been testing the service in airports in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto for nearly three years, and say customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
WestJet is now studying where to extend the service, while Air Canada has announced it will offer the service in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax in the coming months.