Alaska Airlines said this week it is rolling out new tech-driven enhancements at Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to improve the passenger experience, including new ways to check bags and verify ID at the airport.
Alaska recently introduced new tabletops equipped with Apple iPad Pros in check-in areas that let travelers scan their boarding pass, print bag tags, and then self-tag bags. Alaska customer service agents equipped with iPad Minis are also on hand to immediately take care of guests at any Alaska touchpoint.
The carrier said people spend about eight and a half minutes in the ticketing lobby and new automation self-baggage check lobby will cut that time in half, letting its passengers bypass congested areas of the lobby.
“We’re thrilled to give our guests more choices that will enrich their travel experience,” said Charu Jain, Alaska’s senior VP of merchandising and innovation. “And our bag drop system powered by iPad is just the beginning.”
Alaska is also rolling out biometric technology to speed up our boarding process for international flights from SJC, including flights to Mexico. Passengers on those flights can now choose to board using facial recognition without ever having to exchange their documents with an agent. They simply scan their face and are on their way.
“Boarding with biometric technology uses facial recognition to verify identity and shorten security procedures for those passengers who opt into the programs,” said Jain. “While it will never be mandatory, we believe it is the future of travel.”
