Do you dread long check-in queues, lost luggage and lack of communication in the airports? Mobile technology could soon make all this irrelevant.When you walk into an airport in a few years, what will it look like? The first clue is that the rows of check-in counters will probably be gone. And, rather than looking for a departures board, you will probably be checking a personalised, location-sensitive update on the smart phone in your pocket.Reminder messages
“Indoor location tracking” via smart phones is expected to become widespread in airports in coming years, allowing airlines to know exactly where passengers are in the airport and send reminder messages to those who are not where they need to be.“We are at the dawn of a new age in airport passenger processing,” said a report, commissioned by technology provider Amadeus and written by respected industry consultancy Travel Tech, ‘Navigating the Airport of Tomorrow'.
“Mobile technology is providing a new platform to help airlines and airports transform the travel experience into something to look forward to rather than dread,” it said.
Seamless journey
It suggested that the key to making airline travel a seamless journey is mobile technology, which would allow airlines to keep passengers updated on all aspects of their journey, from flight departure time to luggage location.“The always-connected passenger will demand information and services delivered on his or her preferred personal computing device at all points of their journey,” the report said.
Mobile devices are extremely personal and, thus, passengers expect not just generic updates, but personalised communication that addresses their specific concerns.Fast-forward a few more years and it may not even be necessary to check in.The adoption of “near field communication” (NFC) could allow airlines to automatically check in passengers (with their permission) once they are inside the terminal zone.
“As NFC becomes more widespread, any interaction the passenger has in the terminal could trigger a check-in,” the report said.Near field technology could also be used for boarding, payments and personalised promotions on an opt-in basis.“The NFC technology has the potential to change every aspect of the airport experience,” the report said.The Navigating the Airport of Tomorrow report says all baggage will be “location aware” within a decade, meaning passengers with mobile devices will be able to see that their bag is on the plane.
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