The airline industry is a very important sector of the world. Facilitating seamless air transportation for millions of people is quite a challenge.
One particular concern airlines have is how to handle passenger luggage to prevent theft and damage. Thankfully, technology is saving the day through bag drop kiosks. In this guide about bag drop kiosks, you will learn all about them and whether they are ideal for your business.
What is a Bag Drop Kiosk?
A bag drop kiosk is an innovative machine that allows airports to automate the process of checking in passenger bags. Bag drop kiosks are small booth-like machines, usually attached to a check-in kiosk for boarding passengers.
How to Use a Bag Drop Kiosk
Here is a list of steps to follow when using a bag drop kiosk:
Begin Check-in Online or on the App
The first step of using a self-bag drop kiosk is starting the check-in process. Most airlines have an app where customers can begin the check-in process. After printing their boarding pass, the customer walks up to the bag drop kiosk and scans a code.
Print and Attach the Bag Tag
A prompt will appear, asking the passenger to confirm personal details like name, destination, flight number, and baggage allowance. After completing this step, they will be asked to print the bag tag. The passenger will then attach the tag to their luggage while keeping the removable part.
Drop the Bag at the Designated Area
After following the steps above, the passenger drops their bag on the conveyor belt, which takes the luggage to the sorting area.
Verification and Confirmation of Baggage Drop
As the bag moves to the sorting area, the passenger gets a confirmation message saying the luggage has been received.
Features of Modern Bag Drop Kiosks
Below is a list of the most common features of bag drop kiosks used by airlines.
Fully Automatic Self Bag Drog
This kind of bag drop kiosk automates the entire process, from weighing the luggage to activating the bag tag, thus offering seamless operations to airlines.
Hybrid Self-Bag Drop
Some bag drop kiosks come with hybrid services that feature automation and staffed assistance. This increases the speed of operations by allowing users to complete the check-in process via automation while supporting passengers who need human assistance.
Smart Path Technology
Smart path technology is a streamlined system that allows passengers to complete the bag drop process seamlessly. This technology uses biometric data to speed up many parts of the check-in process, thus giving passengers a smoother customer experience.
Self-Service Functionality
This allows passengers to complete the check-in and bag-drop process without assistance from airline staff. This also reduces wait times and long queues.
Express Bag Tags
This feature is used by some airlines because it also helps to streamline the bag drop process. It involves allowing passengers to print their bag tags at home, using their mobile phones, or with the help of a self-service kiosk.
Compatibility with Oversized Bags
Many airlines require passengers with oversized baggage to go to a staffed counter for repackaging or paying an extra fee.
However, some bag drop kiosks can handle oversized luggage. Such machines usually come with larger conveyor belts and user-face options that allow passengers to declare oversized luggage and complete the necessary processing.
Real-time Baggage Tracking
Bag drop kiosks can help travelers keep track of their luggage in real time. This reduces the risk of losing passenger luggage. It also builds trust with airline brands.
Multilingual Interface Support
Airports are usually swarming with people of different nationalities. For this reason, bag drop kiosks should have multilingual capacities.
Ideally, such machines should support the most popular languages used in a particular region. This eases convenience while boosting customer satisfaction.
Types of Bag Drop Kiosks
There are multiple types of bag drop kiosks. These types include:
Single-Step vs. Two-Step Bag Drop Kiosks
The first classification of bag drop kiosks is the single and two-step machines. Single-step bag drop kiosks allow passengers to complete the check-in process at once. This involves doing everything, including checking in, boarding pass printing, bag tag printing, and putting their luggage into the baggage system from one counter.
In contrast, the two-step kiosk involves a separate process for check-in and bag drop. With the two-step bag drop, users complete the check-in process at a separate counter before coming to the bag drop. While the one-step bag drop is more seamless for passengers, it tends to be slower. In contrast, the two-step process is quicker and cheaper.
Manual Assist vs. Fully Automated Systems
The manual assist bag drop features an airline personnel that helps users throughout the process. The airline staff helps users with verification and other things like payment for extra luggage.
Other bag drop kiosks usually come with a fully automated process where users complete the entire process without the help of airline staff. With automated bag drop kiosks, there is still always a support staff around the corner to assist users who might have problems navigating the technology of these machines.
Standalone vs. Integrated Bag Drop Kiosks
Airlines use standalone kiosks solely for the bag drop process. In contrast, integrated kiosks combine multiple aspects of the bag drop process with automation, thus offering ease and efficiency. The advantage of using integrated kiosks is they help airlines conserve space by reducing the need for separate counters.
Benefits of Using Bag Drop Kiosks
Here is a list of advantages that you will enjoy from using bag drop kiosks.
Speeds Up the Check-in Process
The first and most important benefit of bag drop kiosks is that they reduce time spent on the check-in process. These machines automate the process of checking passenger bags.
It allows airlines to run more efficiently while ensuring passenger items are not misplaced. The enhanced efficiency also boosts customer satisfaction.
Reduces Queues and Congestion
One problem that many airlines face with the bag drop process is increased queues and congestion. The longer it takes to complete a passenger’s check-in, the larger the congestion grows.
Using bag drop kiosks helps airlines cut down on such queues, thus improving customer satisfaction.
Minimizes Staffing Requirements
Another advantage of using bag drop kiosks is that they allow airports to reduce staff while maintaining high efficiency. The automation offered by these kiosks reduces the need for extra hands in the bag drop kiosk. By reducing staffing requirements, airlines can also increase accuracy.
Lowers Operational Costs
Getting a bag drop kiosk is another way that airlines reduce their operational costs. These machines bring efficiency and speed to the bag drop process. As a result, airlines can save on employee costs.
Customization and Integration Options for Bag Drop Kiosks
Airline Branding and User Interface Customization
Airlines should be able to add brand images and logos to these kiosks. This will help users associate the smooth service they receive with the airline.
Integration with Airline Check-in Systems
These kiosks should also integrate with an airline’s check-in system seamlessly. This will increase the efficiency of the airline’s operations. It will also ease real-time baggage tracking and data analytics.
Compatibility with Mobile Boarding Passes
Bag drop kiosks should be compatible with mobile boarding passes as it is more common for passengers to begin the check-in process from their phones.
Security Features and Compliance with Regulations
Airline companies should also ensure that their use of bag drop kiosks meets the highest security standards. Likewise, they should ensure that using these machines complies with standard regulations.
Challenges and Solutions in Implementing Bag Drop Kiosks
Technical Issues and Maintenance Requirements
Maintaining bag drop kiosks to prevent untimely faults can be quite challenging. Sometimes, these system faults also affect the machine’s performance during times of high traffic, like holidays.
Ensuring Passenger Adoption and Ease of Use
Some passengers struggle to use bag drop kiosks due to their technology. This can increase the time spent in the bag drop process. However, having dedicated staff to help passengers is a great way to ease adoption.
Handling Oversized and Special Baggage
Some bag drop kiosks can’t handle oversized and special baggage. Some airlines get around this by having a staff who attends to passengers with oversized luggage.
Meeting Security and Regulatory Standards
Airlines sometimes struggle with using bag drop kiosks in a way that meets security and regulatory standards.
Future Trends in Bag Drop Kiosk Technology
Contactless and Biometric Integration
After COVID-19, the demand for contactless technology in public facilities has increased considerably. This has also increased demand for contactless bag drop kiosk technology.
Experts say bag drop kiosks of the future will offer improved biometric integration with facial recognition and thumbprint scanning.
Artificial Intelligence for Predictive Maintenance
Artificial intelligence technology could also impact bag drop kiosks in the future. Experts say AI technology can be used to predict the maintenance of bag drop kiosks. This will help airlines detect and fix faults in their bag drop kiosks ahead of time.
It will also reduce system faults during times of use by passengers, thus boosting airline operational efficiency.
Enhanced Real-time Data Analytics for Baggage Tracking
Real-time data analytics for baggage tracking is also a very important factor for many passengers. Yet, current bag drop kiosks are limited in the range of real-time baggage tracking services they offer.
Experts say bag drop kiosk technology will improve, offering improved data tracking capabilities.
Increased Adoption of Self-Service Technologies at Airports
With expectations that bag drop kiosk technology will improve in the coming years, experts predict that airlines will adopt more self-service technologies.
Furthermore, there are expectations that single-step bag drop kiosks will become easier to operate, a factor expected to boost the use of these machines at airports.
Tips for Airports and Airlines Implementing Bag Drop Kiosks
Finding the right bag drop kiosk might be no easy task. However, the following list will show essential factors you must consider to help you make the best buying decision.
Selecting the Right Kiosk Type and Features
Firstly, you must identify the right kiosk type for your business. To do this efficiently, you must narrow down your specific needs. This will help you determine if a single-step or two-step bag drop kiosk is better for your business. Furthermore, if you need to cut down on employees, then getting a fully automated bag-drop kiosk might be the best solution for you.
Training Staff and Educating Passengers
Your staff and customers must be able to navigate its use seamlessly to get optimal efficiency from the bag drop kiosk you choose. The best way to get such seamless use is by educating your customers on using these self-service machines.
If you aim to improve efficiency with your bag drop process, getting a support staff with your automated bag drop kiosk machines will be very helpful.
Assessing Return on Investment (ROI)
Another factor you should consider is how much you stand to gain from investing in a bag drop kiosk. Aside from money, other viable returns include shorter wait times and reduced queues. Increased customer satisfaction is also a major return on investment.
Collaborating with Technology Vendors
Companies should assess how much assistance they will receive from vendors of this technology. This will help them navigate problems like system malfunctions.
Conclusion: Detailed Guide About Bag Drop Kiosks
Bag drop kiosks are an innovative solution that helps passengers check in their luggage with ease. These machines help airlines boost customer service by reducing wait times and long queues during the bag drop process.
If you need more help selecting a custom bag drop kiosk, we at BestKiosk have everything you need. Do not hesitate to contact us today to enjoy a free quote.
