Originally Posted by mwhitted
apudme You seem to be saying that there would be revenue generated from the fee AND agent personnel would be eliminated by re-directing people to the kiosks...
to avoid the fee.
You can't have it both ways.
Interesting. I think the fact that introducing a charge would make the 50% who *might* use the machine to actually use it, thus avoiding the charge and reducing the numbers using check in lines, allowing a reduction of check in agents.
The remaining hardcore 50% who refuse to use the machines would face even longer queues, and as gradually more machines are introduced, the charge could increase to weed out those whose elasticity of demand for the human check in is weakest.
So, at least in the short term, it *may* perhaps be possible to have it both ways.
For instance, when a modest charge was introduced to enter central London in a private car during the midweek daytime, people soon changed their habits and the plan was very successful at reducing congestion (eg as it might in encouraging self check in) and also at the same time succeeded in generating revenue to spend on improved public transport (eg reducing AAs costs by employing more AAgents).
In addition, to deal with the points about US regulations not allowing international itineraries to check in at these machines; the machine check in could be instituted now (I would imagine) in several countries for the at least inbound sector.
And once long overdue security improvements are introduced to machine check in such as photographing the traveller as he/she checks in allowing the photo to be compared to that on the passport and in FBI databases, and self-scanning documents (I know this is not secure, but I am sure they could figure out how to make it so) then this option will become more appealing from a streamlining of security procedures.
The cost of more kiosks is a fixed cost (mostly) and cheaper than training/retaining/paying and accommodating check in desks in the terminal.
Heck, I even self check out my groceries for the past three months, so this must be the way things will move.
As the last post says, it may prove unpopular, but the realities of airline finance right now do point to a hardening of service in favour of revenue, as we have seen from AA yesterday.....