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Online Check-In
A Convenient Time-Saver in the Security Age
Online airline check-in is the hot new trend among on-the-go travelers who seek to save time, avoid lines, efficiently navigate airport security and take-off on their adventure, according to Travelers Advantage.
Most major airlines now offer online service that allows you to check in, print your boarding pass or even change your seat assignments – all with the click of a mouse. You can get it all from the convenience of your home PC, hotel room or even aboard your cruise. And some airlines are even offering bonus frequent flier miles and other incentives for online check-in customers.
A recent J.D. Power and Associates study found that more than half of airline passengers are taking advantage of time-saving check-in options, with 38 percent currently using self-check-in kiosks and 17 percent checking in online through airline Web sites. The study also found that passengers using kiosks wait half as long for their boarding passes as those who interact with an airline representative. Passengers using electronic kiosks wait an average of 7.2 minutes for a boarding pass, compared with 14.2 minutes at the ticket counter and 9.4 minutes at curbside check-in.
Most airlines allow you to check in and get boarding passes online from 24 hours to 30 minutes prior to your flight, depending on the carrier.
"Airports across the globe feature electronic check-in kiosks that have become second nature to many savvy world travelers," says Julia Ryan, vice president of Travelers Advantage and TravelersAdvantage.com. "The next level of convenience in travel is online check-in, which allows you to print your boarding pass before you step out of your hotel room or set foot at the airport."
