News

Kiosks multiplying at North Carolina airport

August 3, 2003

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Airlines at Raleigh-Durham International are installing so many kiosks it will soon be difficult to get a boarding pass for a domestic flight without using one.

According to a report in the Raleigh News and Observer,carriers are racing to install the machines to get an advantage over competitors by cutting costs.

American last week began funneling all domestic coach passengers past its six kiosks. Air Tran added four kiosks last week at RDU and Southwest doubled its number of kiosks to four the week before.

Two weeks ago, Delta added seven kiosks and now has a total of 10. Continental has 12 kiosks, US Airways six and Northwest two at their respective RDU ticketing areas, the report said. See related stories, "Northwest e-ticketing reaches more than 30 million,"Delta strikes agreement with Continental to expand interline ticketing through kiosks."

Capabilities of the kiosks vary by airline. Southwest's and Air Tran's kiosks can't check bags, although the carriers say that technology is being developed. American's kiosks allow bags to be checked, but don't show bulkhead seats, emergency aisle seats or handicapped seats on seating assignments.