Customer Experience

Alaska Airlines moves forward with mobile check-in

Image provided by Alaska Airlines.

August 16, 2023

Alaska Airlines has announced further details in its previously announced plan to phase out self-check-in kiosks and introduce mobile check-in, according to a Forbes report.

The company is investing $2.5 billion over the next three years to make the check-in and baggage drop more convenient with the help of traveler's smartphones.

The airline will encourage travelers to download the Alaska Airlines app to check in and download a boarding pass on their smartphones. They will also be able to use a desktop computer to check in and send boarding passes to their phones or print them in advance.

Check-in in can be done up to 24 hours ahead of departure time.

TSA PreCheck members will be able to enter their traveler numbers to the app.

The app will also allow users to select and change seats, pre-pay for baggage and pre-order meals up to 14 days prior to departure,.

Travelers will also receive travel notices and change reservations if needed using the app.

For baggage tagging, stations will offer iPads where users will scan boarding passes and receive a printed tag to attach to their bags. They will also be able to pay for luggage at the bag tag stations.

Once tags are attached, users will drop off their bags with an agent at the airline's counter.

Machines at the stations will scan user's faces, their government I.D. and their luggage. The bags will then be taken to a belt to be loaded onto the plane.

The bag tag stations are expected to be in place at most airports this year.