CoatChex Offers Convenient Solution to Coat-Carrying Conundrum Faced by Flyers Bound for Warmer Climates
Jackie Reddy February 02, 2015
Those lucky enough to escape a New York winter for warmer climates face just one problem: While they’re basking in the sun, what should they do with their unwanted and unnecessary winter coats? For JetBlue Airways’ passengers departing from Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), CoatChex could be the solution.
With CoatChex, passengers can securely store their winter gear at the airport for just $2 a day. When JetBlue customers drop off their items at a kiosk, they can input their return trip details on a tablet, which allows CoatChex to have their belongings ready when they land.
As a security measure, a photo of the passenger and their item is taken to ensure that the correct traveler collects it. Should passengers’ travel plans change and they decide not to return via JFK, CoatChex will mail their items back to them for free. For additional convenience, CoatChex is entirely digital, meaning there’s no need to worry about misplaced tickets.
“Everyone loves the concept,” Eric Loos, CoatChex’s vice president of operations, told New York Daily News. “It makes sense for customers and the airlines. We’re moving coats out of the overhead bins.”
While some overburdened JetBlue passengers have embraced this service, not many know that checking their bulky winter clothing is an option. A trial CoatChex booth debuted at JFK in early 2014. It was replaced last November with a circular station situated just beyond security.
Although passenger uptake is currently low, CoatChex hopes to roll out the service to additional airports later this year.
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i was wondering year's ago why no one has figured out this is needed. Hopefully we'll see this at more airports soon.
Only for Jet Blue customers ?? Or to any one ?? Thanks
How novel. Coat storage has been available at NRT, HND and KIX (and no doubt other airports) for many many years. In South Korea, both major airlines offer (used to offer?) this service for free. I'm sure I've seen it in Germany also.
CoatChex hopes to roll out the service to additional airports, but has no plans to roll it out to other terminals at JFK??? So was this designed only for JetBlue passengers, period???
Taking a page from ICN...also, this wouldn't work on international flights to the US because everyone has to go through immigration first. So, if CoatChex puts the booths where check-in is, that could work.