Why do airlines without automated luggage drop-off want me to check in online?
It cannot be to increase the amount of people to actually take the flight.
Checking in at a manned terminal is so fast today that going somewhere to just drop off the luggage takes almost the same time to my experience.
The online-systems must be very expensive to setup initially and I cannot imagine that they have a good return on investment.
While a lot of the checkin is automated in the USA, Europe and Asia still do much more manual and still have the online systems.
Best Answer
The most obvious answer is that not everyone checks luggage. I go to the counter maybe 10% of the time that I fly, as I very rarely have bags to check.
Even if you are checking bags, the online check-in system allows much of the process to be completed before you arrive to drop off your bags. Depending on the airline and the flight, that could include everything from picking the seats you want, entering details of passports and visas that may be required, right up to paying for the baggage that you will be checking in advance.
For many airlines, all that is required during bag drop is to scan the pre-printed boarding pass, print off the baggage tags and attach them - far less than would be required if the passenger had not checked in already.
If nothing else, online check-in is a feature that is now pretty much considered mandatory by passengers. Personally if an airline didn't offer online check-in, I would hesitate before booking, and potentially book with another airline as a result.
As far as return on investment, the simple fact is that almost every airline in the world now days has online check-in. If it was not a net benefit to the airline - either from a cost perspective or from a potential lost business due to customer satisfaction - then this would not be the case.
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Should I check-in online if I have checked baggage?
In most cases, you will only need to go to check-in when you have checked-in online if you need to drop off an item of hold baggage. Please ensure that you are aware of the hand baggage requirements for your specific airline before you travel.Why do I have to check-in at the airport instead of online?
Following are a few of the reasons you might be forced to check in at the airport instead of online: You are traveling in a large group. Your first flight is operated not by the airline with which you're trying to check in, but by a codeshare partner.Can I go straight to security if I checked in online?
Travelling hand luggage only? Then bypass check-in and go straight to security as normal. If you are checking bags in you can go straight to the bag drop off points for your airline. Some airlines are now making this self-service where you print your own tags and fix them to the bags.WIZZAIR ONLINE CHECK-IN | What about 3 types of checkin ? How to book? Step by step practical video
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