News

‘Tag, you’re it:' Kiosks let Canadian travelers check bags (video)

March 8, 2011

Although Vancouver International Airport (YVR) implemented bag-tagging kiosks several months ago for its domestic passengers, it's now expanding the self-service system to its international and transborder sectors.

"Self-service continues to evolve and we want to be at the forefront of new self-service options for our customers," said Vancouver Airport Authority's Paul Mewett, director of simplified passenger travel.

In a story on Future Travel Experience, Mewett said airport staff is also making plans to redesign its domestic check-in area and to expand Automated Border Clearance available to returning Canadian residents.

More than 50 percent of eligible users take advantage of this service, which will continue to increase as we add additional kiosks and as we look at opportunities to expand eligibility," Mewett said.

YVR's use of self-service to enhance and simplify the passenger experience dates back to 2002 when the airport became one of the pioneers of common-use, check-in kiosks. Since then, the airport has implemented remote check-in options and as well as NEXUS, an expedited trusted-traveler border-entry program.

Mewett said passengers and airlines have embraced the self-service options.

"Passengers actually enjoy having control of all check-in and bag-tagging functions," he said. "For both the Airport Authority and our airline partners, the impact to operations is substantial; we now see significantly fewer queues in the check-in lobby and savings in resources, due to the available self-service options. "These savings allow carriers to grow their business without significant increases in staffing."