BA offers mobile check-in

British Airways now has mobile phone check-in available in with delivery of boarding passes that reduces the airline check-in costs.

Passengers can use their mobile phones to check in for flights on British Airways departing Suvarnabhumi Airport and take over the roles of both travel agencies and even check-in staff.

In the long run, it will help save the airline in commission payments and allows it to reduce staff at the airport check-in counters.

By visiting http://ba2go.com using a mobile device with wireless connectivity, British Airways’ customers have the same access as given travel agencies. They can view fares and timetables in real time, as well as select seats and check-in individuals, groups and families for departing or return flights. British Airways posts fares on its website that compete directly with local travel agents. It is also committed to phasing out commissions across its network in the long-run.

Passengers can collect the boarding pass at the British Airways check-in desk at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Or they can have the boarding pass faxed or emailed for printing later. If they check-in from a computer with a printer they can print the boarding pass at the same time as they complete the check-in procedure.

Essentially, the passenger is taking on the function of a travel agency completing a process that would normally be handled by travel staff. If they complete the whole process from booking to seat selection and print out of confirmation and boarding pass they will have saved the airline the cost of paying commission to an agency.

They are also taking over some of the functions of the airline’s check-in staff saving yet another layer of costs. There are no price advantages for assuming these roles and if there is a hitch they have no recourse to request compensation or damages.

Passengers must also be aware of their time zone. The airline is urging customers to check and double check their flight itineraries if they are taking flights leaving after midnight, including flight BA0010 scheduled to depart Bangkok at 0020 every night for London.

The airline admits that some passengers miss their flights by arriving at the airport 24 hours later, due to the misinterpretation of departure times and dates.

As a further safeguard when booking flights on ba.com, passengers are sent an e-mail to confirm the booking, and another e-mail reminder before the flight.