One of the things that irk me when checking in for international flights is that I am stuck behind this family who has chosen to have the entire kitchen sink and overweight bags. Here I am a single traveler with my trusty Rick Steve's Suitcase and carry-on bag. The airline should have a family checkin for both domestic and international flights. For those travelers with luggage that meets the requirements then have an express lane.

Another thing airlines do poorly is having understaffed counters for international flights. They know the amount of people flying long before the checkin counters open so why not open all counters assigned for the flight? Possibly instill a Time Slot method like at the DMV. On your Itinerary it will say Checkin between this time and this time or checkin via the internet and drop your bags at the WebDrop. This way customers can sit down and only come to the counter 10 minutes before their time slot. If a passenger has overweight bags they are required to call the airline 24 hours before to get an earlier timeslot to deal with any special cases.

Serve complimentary alcohol on US flag carriers. I wish this economy picks up and airlines will give a complimentary hot meal, hot towel and alcohol in Y Class. On international and domestic flights this would be cool. A friend flew United going to Europe and Lufthansa on the return. By far Lufthansa was the winner.

I booked a flight on Lufthansa with one flight on Brussels Airlines and we get hot meals and free booze. The funny thing is the cost of the flight was less than the US Carrier and the connection times were better avoiding JFK and any American Airport. My criteria is to clear customs at SFO as opposed to JFK. I get so stressed at JFK knowing I have one more flight to make on an already long trip. It costs more to connect via JFK so it seems.

On boarding the flights have the e-reader(Public Transit fare gate style boarding gates like they have at FRA.) You put in your boarding pass on the scanner and the gate opens when its your turn. If it detects your in the wrong group it won't let you in. If you have been upgraded or your seat assignment changed it will reprint the boarding pass and you can use that to open the gate to board the flight. A computer kiosk can be setup before the e-gates to do more complicated bookings/ change flights/ seats etc. With many languages there is less need for agents checking the boarding pass. On international flights the e-reader will say"Please Scan Passport" this will automatically add the Passport info to the reservation if it has not been done at checkin. Just sit around in the waiting lounge. In fact just have a sitting area before the e-reader gates and don't open the electric gate separating the concessions from the gate until 5-10 minutes before boarding. It would be less stressful for domestic and international flights. Since gates change all the time this e-reader can be used for any airline.

Have clear announcements if the gates change. Install easy to read monitors throughout the gate area including Flight Info Departure Screens at all gate areas. On the flight info screen list Meals being served, flight departures/arrival time/aircraft/ Boarding group who can use the e-reader etc. There can be multiple readers that are flexible to be used for different class of service. This would eliminate the gate agent at the gate. Instead have a Service Agent at the e-reader in case something goes wrong who can tour the gate area to answer questions with a PDA device as opposed to people lining up at a desk.

On arrival from an international flight have more ground staff meeting the flight. One desk should be for those with tight connections. Have the onward boarding pass ready to go at the gate. Instill a special Fastrak line at Customs/Passport Control for those with tight connections.

Install more automated kiosks where you can scan your itinerary or boarding pass to get a new boarding pass for delayed flights.

On the airplane have an area with one or two kiosk where you can print your boarding pass free of charge if you don't have a mobile device.

Airlines know it takes a long time to board and deboard a plane make use of 2 jetbridges where its supported even on domestic planes to separate first class from Y.
If an agent is having a bad day then counsel the agent before the agent goes AWOL on a passenger. If the a gent is stressed reassign him or her to another task for the day. Don't put grouchy agents at the ticket counter or gate areas. Its not fair to the passenger that they need to deal with a staffmember who is not fit to do their job.


Provide constant updates on a delayed flight. If the airline knows a flight arrived 1 hour prior to the departure of the flight especially an itnternational flight don't lie to the customers and say we will be boarding on time. It takes awhile to clean and cater the aircraft. When a flight is really delayed provide food vouchers not $2 but a decent voucher enough for a good meal. If its going to be uber late book hotel rooms.

Offer Cart Service to help passengers with or without disabilities to and from Customs/ Baggage claim boarding flight. Possibly have a special Customs lane whereby the Officer can walkup to the cart and scan the passports while the passengers are sitting on the cart. Customers board a Green Cart at the gate for nothing to declare and a Red Cart for declared items. The cart them continues to the baggage claim etc.

If the baggage claim is on the lower level those who need assistance can get a wheelchair to take them down after the cart parks at the elevators. For departures have a cart take passengers to security and a wheelchair through the process where another cart meets the passenger to take them to the gate.

Possibly have a special jetbridge where a cart can go down to the boarding door where an aisle chair is provided for disabled passengers and the rest can just walk on.

The list can go on but this is my 2 cents on how the airlines can improve.