They store what they need to forward to the border agencies. Which I think is name, dob, country and number and expiry date.

The verified checking the data entered matches what is in the chip.

All the data on the chip is cryptographically signed, so there is a way to prove that the passport issuer put the data there. If the data on the chip is changed or a fake chip is implanted it won't be signed by the passport issuer so the you know the data is fake. Also you can tell who the passport issuer is so say get a passport with NZ as the issuer but signed by a different country also know it's fake

As a passenger, what is the benefit? I’m sure there must be one because Steve is very happy but for me I didn’t know any better because I still had to present the passport in person at check in

Online checkin now no longer need to present your passport for validation (during boarding will still need to have passport so they know you had your passport when you got on the plane). Previously if did online checkin had to get passport checked at kiosk, checkin or at gate before boarding starts.

Will always have to present at physical checkin even if done online checkin as it is the quickest way to look you up and be sure they are looking at the right person.

I read this as not having to be called to the gate podium, or the lounge desk to have my passport checked.

The boarding pass/passport check at the boarding gate appears to be to confirm that the passport is physically with you.

The benefit as explained by others is that you don't need to get your passport verified either at the kiosk or by staff if you have checked in online. If you checked in online you still needed to use the kiosk when you turned up at the airport just to scan your passport, or give your passport to ground staff at check-in or the gate or give it to lounge staff to get this done. I never bothered with online check-in for TT flights as there were zero benefit in doing this when you still needed to rock up to a kiosk at the airport when you arrived.

Honestly it amazes me every time I sit in the lounge in WLG and keep hearing "Mr/Mrs/Ms X please come up to the counter with your passport". All these people who don't pay any attention to what it says during the OCLI process.

Thanks for this (and nzkarit for the same)

Are the benefits of this *largely* redundant for passengers that have check-in luggage? Or does this allow such passengers now to OLCI and then do bag drop?

Sorry - I just have no personal experience of TT flights and asking for a friend who has a potentially tight connection so good to think about these things in advance.

PS sbiddle you’ve got DM

The bag drop effectively requires you to check in to print a label so yea