BY JAMES WILKINSON
Qantas has rolled out its popular Q Card Reader check-in system on trans-Tasman flights in a boost to speed up the journey for business and leisure travelers.
Under the airline’s international ‘Faster, Smarter Check-in’ plan, the Q Card Readers – which are attached to Platinum, Gold and Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members’ luggage – will be available on flights to and from Sydney to Auckland and Wellington.
The Q Card Readers remove the need for bag tag stickers and also offer electronic check-in at the swipe of a frequent flyer card.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the roll-out of the system on trans-Tasman flights was about speeding up the journey for passengers at both ends.
“Faster, Smarter Check-in has proved so popular with our frequent flyers for their domestic travel, we are now implementing stage one of our international roll out with Sydney, Auckland and Wellington,” Joyce said.
“Our trans-Tasman frequent flyers can now scan their frequent flyer card and passport and retrieve their boarding pass within seconds of arriving at the airport. It’s all about cutting down the journey time for our customers.”
Joyce the trans-Tasman Q Card system would be available in Melbourne, Brisbane and Queenstown (New Zealand) before the end of 2011, with Christchurch coming online in 2012.
The airline also has plans to introduce the technology to other international destinations going forward.