News

Virgin Australia soars into check-in/bag-drop kiosks

Virgin Australia plans to roll out new check-in and bag-drop kiosks. The bag-drop kiosks are designed to be converted from a self-service solution to a manned check-in station per customer convenience.

November 20, 2015

Virgin Australia plans to introduce a new line of check-in kiosks and bag-drop desks at all its terminals in the country by next year. The bag-drop desks will be able to convert from a self-service bag drop to a staffed check-in counter per customer convenience, according to a report by Australian Business Traveler.

The kiosks will first be deployed on Nov. 22 at the Perth T1 terminal. The deployment will consist of 28 check-in kiosks and several hybrid bag-drop desks, designed to work as both a bag-drop kiosk and as a check-in desk for staff. The goal of the deployment is to get terminal staff out of the traditional check-in desks and on the floor interacting with travelers.

"It's almost a concierge setup," Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said in the report. "When you walk into the terminal there will be staff standing ahead of the kiosk to greet you and guide you through. But if they notice there's a queue building with a lot of people needing assistance, they can switch the terminals over and move back behind them." 

The check-in kiosks are designed with a magnetic strip reader to read customer's Velocity Frequent Flyer card. By next year, the company plans to upgrade the reader in order to read the smartchips that are embedded in the cards.