IMHO I'm not convinced that it would free up space or prevent queues, would it? As others have said, the queues would simply relocate to machines and I think they would have to take up more or less the same space, allowing for luggage scales, etc. One previous post mentioned successfully using the new supermarket self check-out machines for the last three months... I also like using those too, but I have been held up by confused first timers using them and I've noticed the machines are quite easily confused by light items not registering in the bag, etc. Imagine all those annoying infrequent travellers trying to muddle through the airport check-in process on their own, with piles of overweight/outsize/illegal baggage they have to weigh and label, invalid security documents/tickets to process, squalling kids they want to sit next to, etc, etc, etc.

I suspect most of the ex check-in staff would probably still be employed. They'd be kept pretty busy working the new banks of machines, answering all the 'Help!' calls. Hey, perhaps they could all be carrying nice little trays of 'free' beverages too!

But actually I'm not quite sure why infrequent travellers checking in are much of an an issue for FT'ers anyway. Presumably most FT'ers are allowed to use either business or first class check-in desks already, aren't we? So the only way that we could benefit is if... Ah! I see your cunning plan now! ... Our 'special' desks stay open and 'persuade' those pesky, 'mega bucks' occasional fliers to go away and queue for a machine instead. Well, that's possible of course, but seems unlikely somehow. Oh how I wish we could have 'FT Members Only' desks at every airport! ^

Having said all that, I would actually quite like the opportunity to at least try using an automatic check-in machine. Since I'm almost always flying internationally, as others have mentioned here, I can't use them anyway.

Now if there were some kind of 'toll lanes' available at airport security checkpoints AFTER checking in... Particularly since 9/11, having more TSA lanes actually would make a big difference to my passage through airports and I guess I might be prepared to pay a few dollars extra to guarantee speedy access to the gate.