Finnair to Launch World’s Easiest Check-In Service

Finnair has plans to offer its customers what it is calling "the world’s easiest check-in service".

From 28 November 2012 onwards, Finnair will check in customers automatically and send boarding passes to the customer’s mobile phone.

The check-in confirmation includes the seat number and a link to the mobile boarding pass.

The automatic check-in service is available to customers who have provided a mobile telephone number when booking the ticket. Customers are always advised to provide a current mobile phone number when making a booking, as on exceptional circumstances, Finnair sends information via text message to customers. The service is automatically turned on, when customer's information is filled in their Finnair Plus profile.

Check-in via SMS service has been available since 2004. Previously, customers had to reply to a Finnair text message confirming their check-in. Now this is unnecessary, as the check-in is completed automatically.

For morning departures, customers receive check-in confirmation and boarding cards the night before, between 17:00 and 19:00. For other flights, customers are checked in about three hours before departure. If the customer has already checked in, no message will be sent. Check-in for Finnair flights opens 36 hours before the flight’s departure.

If customers wish to change seating or check in accompanying travellers, this can be done either by the link in the mobile boarding pass or on the Finnair website.

At the airport, the mobile boarding pass must be opened and presented to the authorities.

The mobile phone must have an internet connection to open the link, otherwise, the customer needs a paper boarding pass, which can be picked up at an automatic kiosk or the Bag Drop desk.

Checked baggage can be left at the Bag Drop desk during normal check-in times.

The new check-in service will be available on Finnair flights and Flybe-operated AY2000-series flights departing from Helsinki and other airports in Finland as well as from select European airports.

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