Finnair customers will soon have the option of dropping their checked baggage at a self-service bag drop unit immediately after check-in. Together with Finavia, Finnair will install 10 self-service bag drop units for Finnair customers in the departure hall of Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport by the end of May. Self-service bag drop units will also be introduced at Oulu and Turku airports later this year.
Increased automation is an international trend, also in the airline industry, and the self-service bag drop units offer passengers flexibility with respect to check-in times, while also balancing out peak periods and improving the efficiency terminal capacity utilisation.
“Customers are accustomed to handling many stages of their journey independently. Self-service check-in, for instance, is already used by over 80% of Finnair’s customers. Dropping off checked baggage at a self-service bag drop unit reduces the customer’s queueing time at the airport and speeds up the start of the journey,” says Johanna Bagge, Director, Helsinki Airport Customer Service.
The self-service bag drop units allow customers to tag and drop their checked baggage without assistance, provided that they have checked in online or at a self-service check-in kiosk. The baggage tag is printed at the self-service check-in kiosk. The bag is then placed on the belt at the self-service bag drop unit, with the passenger scanning the bag tag using a hand held scanner. The bag is then ready to go.
“Those of our customers who require assistance will still receive personal service from our baggage drop counters and departure hall personnel. Normal bag drop counters, where tags are printed for customers, will remain in use alongside the self-service bag drop units,” adds Johanna Bagge.
