Cut the queues and check-in on-line

For the first time, British Airways’ top corporate customers will be able to avoid the queues at the airport and check-in for their flight on-line from the comfort of their own office or home up to 24 hours before the flight departs.

British Airways is the first airline to offer international on-line check-in. Selected companies have started to trial the new system via their British Airways’ extranet.

The easy-to-use system even allows customers to choose their favourite seat from a map of the cabin, as well as directing them to fast bag drop and boarding pass collection points, saving them valuable time at the airport.

Simon Parks-Smith, British Airways Head of Business to Business E-commerce, said: "Our business customers have identified speed on the ground as one of the key priorities when travelling on business. On-line check-in is one of the first examples to show how e-commerce can improve services for our business customers. We are confident that the trial will be successful and plan to offer the service to our top 200 corporate customers by the end of March 2001."

Jo Wilcox, Travel Services Department at Anderson Consulting who is taking part in the trials said: "The on-line facility offers a quick and extremely convenient way for our travellers to check-in. Advance check-in from home or the office reduces the hassle of waiting around at the airport, allowing our people more time to concentrate on business."

On-line check-in will be trialled initially with Executive Club members travelling on specific e-ticket routes. The service will be extended to the majority of routes and to all employees of the company by the end of the year.