Check-in desks turned into self-service kiosks, which developed into at-home check-in and later, pop-up check-in counters. Now, check-in is going vocal with voice check-in.
Virgin Australia will become the first airline outside of North America next week to simplify the check-in process to one line, literally, through its new Amazon Alexa service.
Instead of lining up or logging onto a website, answering 101 questions and then patiently waiting for the boarding pass, the carrier’s Velocity Frequent Flyers can just activate the voice technology and say, “Alexa, ask Virgin Australia to check me in”.
Just one sentence and the boarding pass is delivered straight to the traveller’s phone.
That’s it. That simple.
The new service will be available for the airline’s loyalty members from next week. According to the carrier, it’s the first in many new technological initiatives travellers can expect from the airline.
“Allowing our passengers to check-in for their flight with Amazon Alexa is a very exciting addition to our existing skill in the Alexa Skills Store.”
Cameron Stone, Virgin Australia Chief Information Officer
Through voice technology, Virgin Australia Frequent Flyers can also use their voice to access their flight departure time (Alexa, ask Virgin Australia what time my flight departs), booking reference (Alexa, ask Virgin Australia for my booking reference) and flight number (Alexa, ask Virgin Australia what my flight number is).
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