AirTran expected to announce airport kiosks

ORLANDO--AirTran Airways plans to announce tomorrow that it will add self-service kiosks to some airports, a spokesman told KIOSKmarketplace.

AirTran had announced a new online service this week, ByePass, that allows customers to check in for their flights from their homes or offices at airtran.com. Customers can check flight status from 90 minutes to 24 hours before the flight's scheduled departure. Kiosks are a logical extension of ByePass.

Using AirTran's web check-in service, passengers are able to select seats and print boarding passes, receipts and frequent flier vouchers from their PCs.

"AirTran Airways is committed to offering innovative services that will make the flying experience more enjoyable. We are confident that our customers will appreciate the convenience of check-in at the home or office," said Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways chairman and CEO in a news release.

AirTran's ByePass news comes as Delta announced that by mid-May, it's redcoats will disappear from airports.

As part of Delta's "airport transformation," which includes more self-service ticketing kiosks and phone banks and fewer counter agents, the employees wearing red coats will turn them in for regular Delta agent uniforms.