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Definition

The Fast Travel initiative responds to consumer demand for greater convenience. It consists of six projects designed to offer a range of self-service options that give passengers more control over their journey

Projects

• Check in: allowing passengers to receive their boarding pass via self-service channels (web, kiosk and mobile phone) avoiding long lines at check-in desks
• Bags ready-to-go: enabling passengers to deliver their bags tagged and ready for acceptance by an airline check-in agent or a self- service bag drop
• Document check: allowing passengers to scan their travel documents at kiosks for data verification and onward transmission to government agencies, avoiding ID checks  at check-in desks 
• Flight re-booking: allowing passengers to get proactively rebooked and obtain a new boarding pass via a self-service channel such as kiosks in case of delays or cancellations, avoiding long lines
• Self-boarding: allowing passengers to self-scan their boarding token to gain entry to the aircraft, potentially using automated boarding gates like in a train or metro station
• Bag recovery: allowing passengers to report a missing bag via a self-service channel instead of waiting in line at a baggage claim service counter

 Background

• Customer demand for self-service options keeps evolving as technology progresses 
• Airlines need to reduce cost of operations while improving service to passengers

Targets

• 2011 target achieved: implement all Fast Travel projects at five major airports
• The target for 2012 is for 100 airline/airport using at least three Fast Travel solutions

Benefits

• Passengers:
• o Speed, convenience and control
• Airline: 
• Simplified processes, reduced costs and increased customer service
• Airports:  
• Improved use of existing infrastructure and better service

Status

• Seven pairs of airport/airlines implemented all  Fast Travel projects:
• Copenhagen/SAS
• Abu Dhabi/Etihad
• Beijing/Air China
• Auckland/Air New Zealand
• London Gatwick/British Airways
• Munich/Lufthansa

Savings

• Up to $2.1 billion annually across the industry

Updated: December 2011