Fully automated check-in at airports is to become the norm in Paris’ airports as they roll out automated baggage drop-off points in the next year.
Paris-Orly has been testing machines developed by Aéroports de Paris since November 2011 that apparently register check-ins in 15 seconds.
The system works by scanning a boarding card, then using the machine to check the name and baggage weight before sending the luggage to the airline. Passengers are given a baggage receipt similarly to the stickers already received.
The roll-out in Paris comes as more passengers print their own boarding passes at home before travelling or at self-service counters but still need a counter to register bags. It will now be installed throughout Orly’s west terminal by the end of this year and at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at the beginning of 2013.
“Passengers have adopted this technological innovation very quickly. Apart from obviously saving time, this free service also means the baggage drop-off stage runs smoothly. So it is doubly positive: for the passengers and for the airlines as well,” said François Rubichon, deputy CEO of Aéroports de Paris on the system.