FROM THE CEO

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about queues at airports as people make up for years of closed borders and the industry gets back on its feet. We’re doing a lot of work to make your entire journey as smooth as possible. Investing in technology is a big part of that and you’ll start noticing some differences at check-in.

First, a bit of history. About 12 years ago Qantas completely transformed the airport checkin experience by installing what were then cutting-edge check-in kiosks and automatic bag drops. This meant you no longer had to stand in a long line to get your boarding pass or drop off your bags – making the process faster and less stressful – and our airport teams could focus on helping customers who needed assistance.

In the past few years, we’ve seen a growing trend of people checking in online and via our app. The pandemic accelerated this shift. Now, more than 80 per cent of Frequent Flyers check-in before they get to the airport and that figure is climbing every month.

That’s why we’re rolling out next-generation kiosks that are up to four times faster, making the airport experience even smoother for our customers. Some of you would have already used the new kiosks at Sydney Airport, where we first trialled them. If you’ve checked in online, all you need to do is scan your digital boarding pass at the kiosk and it will automatically print your bag tag, without the need to press a single button. If you haven’t had the chance to check-in before you arrive, that’s fine too. Just scan the QR code on the kiosk screen with your phone and in seconds you’ll be ready. By September, we expect to have 140 of the new kiosks installed in major domestic terminals around Australia so you’ll be able to get to the lounge or gate and on your flight sooner.

Of course, our people will still be there to welcome you and help with check-in, baggage and any other travel needs. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, you can expect to see more efforts like this to improve your travel experience.

Thanks again for choosing Qantas and have a great flight.