BA to drop baggage checks

British Airways (BA) has announced that it is to implement a "fast bag-drop" system.

The airline intends to remove check-in desks, which will be replaced with "across-the board self-service check-in" for UK domestic passengers, and to roll the system out across its operations.

It also hopes that the new measures will prompt an end to queues at check-ins that have traditionally been feature of airport departure lounges.

Passengers who have purchased their ticket online will be able to leave their baggage at the former check-ins, which will still be manned, and then use a printed pass to gain access to their plane.

BA expects that around 80 per cent of its consumers to be using the bag-drop method by the time it transfers into the new Terminal 5 building at Heathrow, which is set for May 2008.

Commenting on the measure, Martin George, BA's commercial director, said: "Making the airport experience simpler and speedier for our customers is the cornerstone of our vision for Terminal 5 and we want to introduce many of these improvements now, ahead of our move."

Posted by Just the Flight, 19 March 2006 18:39

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