New technology continues to reshape the way travellers use the airport, and is close to making the entire check-in process completely mobile.
Currently, guests can use their airline apps or websites to check-in from home and print their boarding pass or use a mobile version to board their flight.
The only thing that’s really left for travellers to do at the airport is print off a bag tag, weigh check-in luggage and send it off.
Swiss Air Lines has taken away one of the above with new tech that allows guests to print their checked bag tags before they leave home.
Introduced this week, it essentially allows travellers to obtain all the flight documents before they arrive at the airport.
According to the airline, it has been introduced to minimise waiting times.
For now, it is only available for departures from Zurich Airport, including onward connections. It has already been offered on departures from Geneva since 18 August.
The new system can be accessed while checking in via swiss.com.
Despite the independent new system, all existing baggage allowances remain unchanged and travellers can only print up to four baggage tags during the web check-in process.
The new print-at-home baggage tags are produced in A4 format, and can then be folded and inserted into a transparent plastic pouch (see picture) which is attached to the bag.
The pouches are available free of charge at any SWISS airport desk, and can be re-used for all future flights. On arrival at the airport, the registered and tagged baggage can then be handed in either at the self-service bag drop machine if this is available (e.g. in Geneva) or at any staffed bag drop desk.
