Cracking the code for paperless boarding of international flights
Print Edition
FAST paperless check-in and boarding procedures for selected overseas flights are now available at Pudong International Airport.
Pudong allows passengers to use a QR code sent by an airline to their mobile phone when they book a flight to complete check-in, customs clearance, immigration inspection, security checks and boarding.
They can also shop at duty-free stores by scanning the code on their phone.
Many Chinese airports already have paperless check-ins for domestic flights that reduce waiting times and cut costs.
“The paperless procedure is expected to reduce passengers’ waiting time by a third, and is most convenient for business travellers without check-in luggage,” said Hu Zhihong, general manager with the Shanghai Airport Authority.
Passengers can spare more time to shop and dine at the terminal buildings, Hu said.
The service was initially opened for passengers of Cathay Pacific Airways and will be expanded to other carriers soon, he said.
Zhang Lian, a consultant based in Singapore, was the first to complete an international paperless check-in.
The passenger with Cathay Pacific’s Flight KA803 to Hong Kong finished all the check-in and inspection procedures with his mobile phone within five minutes.
“Thanks to the new service, I needn’t wait in a long line at the airline’s counters,” Zhang said. As a frequent business traveler between Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, he usually only has a small carry-on backpack.
“I’ve experienced similar services in Europe and Singapore, but the procedure here was smoother,” he added.
Passengers with large luggage still need to check it in at the airline’s counter, but they can complete their check-in with their mobiles.
About 60 percent of passengers on domestic flights at 36 busy airports on the Chinese mainland have been using self-service check-in, said Hou Kan, regional director of airport, passenger, cargo and security North Asia with the International Air Transport Association. However, it was more difficult to start such a service for international flights as Immigration and Customs had to adapt their system to QR codes on mobile phones, Hou said.
China Eastern Airlines is streamlining its procedures to allow passengers on its overseas flights to begin paperless check-in soon, said Liu Bing, the airport service manager with the Shanghai-based carrier.
China Eastern now has 250 overseas flights at Pudong and 80 at the Hongqiao airport.
Air China, Asiana, Singapore and Spring Airlines as well as Emirates are making preparations to launch the paperless service at Pudong airport soon, said Hou.
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