Who has the best airport check in?

Question

I am doing an assignment on customer experiences and thought I would do the "Airport Experience" as it is one of the worst experiences we subject ourselves to as customers.

Is there anyone anywhere that does it well and why?? In Sydney, everyone else is more or less the same... long lines, poor aesthetics, surly staff etc.

Particularly keen to hear if technology is involved in the few that do it differently and better and how it is implemented.

Answer 1

It has to be Koh Samui airport in Thailand. Open air, picturesque, blending with the environment, and an excellent experience. One of the extremely few airports one actually enjoys travelling through.

Answer 2

It must just be a good time to check in earl january coz my experience was rather good. Although they were domestic flights i must add. I flew with Qantas in Sydney to Brisbane and I was served almost straight away. And from Brisbane I flew with Virgin Blue and I did wait a couple of minutes (but that's literally) however there was a storm coming and I was meant to get a flight 4 hours later. The person behind the counter actually changed my boarding pass so that I was on the next flight to Sydney instead of 4 hours later.

Answer 3

The ones like VirginBlue in Australia thay have both internet checkin (where you print your boarding pass at home) and also machines at departures where you can checkin yourself are good as they mean you dont have to queue with others bt only works if they have enough 'bag drop' counters open. As more people are using this system the need to monitor ir or else you risk waiting longer to drop yourbag than if you had checked in as normal!

Answer 4

Southwest Airlines in the US has a very nice boarding pass Internet system. If you log on and get the boarding pass 24 hours before the flight, you board first. I have found the Southwest Airline people to be very helpful and friendly.

Of course, we still have to deal with airport security. Another reason to destroy all terrorists and terrorist-sponsoring states. I remember when we could just walk on the plane...

Answer 5

Unfortunately, like most things in life you have to pay for 1st or business class to get a better experience at the airport. !st and business class passengers have their own check-in counters usually with liitle or no lines, and you get priority baggage handling, lounge privileges and a dedicated line when boarding. In Bangkok, Thai Airways has a separate check-in lounge for 1st and business class passengers, which is separated from the rest of the terminal and you are greeted curbside and escorted into a lounge type room where you relax on sofas and are given something to drink while the staff checks you in, and the lounge you use before the flight has a spa and jacuzzi to relax in before your flight. In San Francisco, Cathay Pacific shares a 1st and business class lounge with British Airways where you have a private entrance into the plane, no need to go the gate or stand in line, just board right from a door in the lounge. It's also amazing how polite the personnel is and how well everyone treats you when flying a premium class. So there are better experiences out there, you just have to pay for it.