Easyjet has pipped Ryanair to the post by becoming the first budget airline to offer online check-in [Ryanair's online check-in system begins on March 16 - see Ryanair takes low-cost travel a step further]. It means that passengers can check-in from their home or office, print their own boarding passes and if carrying hand baggage can go straight to the gate once they reach the airport. Easyjet claims that online passengers needn't reach the gate until 15 minutes before flight departure.
Until now passengers have usually had to stand in line even if they had no bags to check-in. The online system has been trialled since early February. So far it's available on all routes from London Stansted, London Gatwick and Edinburgh airports, and Easyjet is in the process of rolling-out the service to customers across the UK. By April, 90% of Uk passengers should be able to take advantage of online check-in.
Other recent innovations of interest to business travelers include: no weight limit for hand baggage [although a size limit applies], self-service check-in kiosks and "early bird transfers" where passengers who arrive early can be switched to an earlier flight.
These will soon to be followed by a 'speedy boarding' trial, where Easyjet will charge passengers a small fee should they wish to be amongst the first to board the planes.
For more information go to www.easyjet.com
Report by Alex McWhirter
