Virgin Australia is set to streamline the airport check-in process by reducing the number of boarding pass scans required, as part of what the airline describes as a significant digital upgrade aimed at saving travellers time.
Automatic Bag Drop Recognition
Bag drop scanners will now automatically recognise luggage without passengers needing to enter prompts on the adjacent touch screen, cutting down on manual steps.
Enhanced App Features for Frequent Flyers
The airline’s mobile application is being updated to allow Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus Velocity Frequent Flyers to change their flight on the day of travel—a feature that previously required a call to the customer service centre.
Additionally, the app will enable passengers to fly earlier in the day if operational issues or adverse weather conditions are expected to disrupt later flights.
Industry-First Technology
Virgin Australia General Manager of Digital, Alex Plummer, hailed the update as another Australian-first initiative in technology. “Today’s update is a major step forward in our mission to be Australia’s most-loved airline; allowing customers to check-in, manage their booking and move through the airport in a way that’s never been done before by an Australian airline,” he said.
Fly Earlier and Fly Later Functions
While Qantas has offered a Fly Earlier function in its app for some time, Virgin claims its Fly Ahead and Fly Later functionality is new for Australian airlines. The automatic scanning of bag tags at check-in is also touted as an industry first, with the airline estimating it could reduce check-in time by up to 50 per cent. This figure was derived from a one-week trial at Mackay airport.
Priority Bag Drop for Frequent Flyers
A dedicated Priority bag drop area will be introduced for Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus frequent flyers as the airline seeks to compete with rivals in attracting high-spending, regular travellers.
The rollout will be implemented at Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Gold Coast, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Perth, Sunshine Coast, and Sydney airports, with most locations expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“In the year 2000, we were the first airline to launch online check-in, and this is just another chapter in a long history of innovating to make the customer check-in experience like no other,” Plummer added.
Bidding for Upgrades
The final component of the app upgrade will allow passengers to bid for upgrades to Business Class and Economy X, a feature already available on the Qantas app.
