Discount airline Virgin Blue Holdings expects to start rolling out self-serve kiosks at airports later this year to allow passengers to check in faster and to minimize the need for more check-in staff as the airline grows. Virgin Blue managing director Brett Godfrey said the kiosks initially will allow people checking in without luggage to use their credit card or lounge membership card in an ATM-like machine to check in more quickly.
In the next phase of development, the machines would be able to print bag tags to allow people with check-in baggage to also use the facility. Once people had their boarding passes printed out and had tagged their own bags, they would then go to a manned desk for the usual security checks. Godfrey said the airline was also pursuing home check-in and phone check-in options. The rollout of the kiosks, which is expected to take 12 months, will start at Brisbane airport in November this year.
