Text-in: Jetstar adds SMS flight check-in technology

Australian airline Jetstar will use what it claims as world-first technology to issue boarding passes via mobile phone text message and 24 hour pre-enrolment check-in before the end of 2009.

Jetstar passengers who Web-Check for Australian domestic flights will be given the option to have their boarding pass and unique boarding code sent to their mobile phone via a standard text SMS message.

The project is part of an innovation investment to “revolutionise air travel”.

Jetstar says any mobile phone is compatible with the service as it does not require WAP or Internet access.

The SMS technology has been developed by the Melbourne-based Sissit Group, a Jetstar research and development partner.

The new SMS boarding system will be trialed at Melbourne’s Avalon Airport first.

Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan said the technology had been custom built the company, enabling it to introduce this method of SMS boarding pass and automated check-in for the first time within the aviation industry.

“It will improve service levels from Jetstar airport customer service personnel by freeing them to get on with the job of processing checked-in baggage,” Buchanan said.

“Retrieving a boarding pass for a domestic flight will now be as simple as receiving a standard text message 24 hours prior to travel and having that SMS message electronically scanned at the gate to produce a boarding pass if you do not have bags to check-in.”

Jetstar already allows passengers to “Web-Check” a flight three days in advance of departure and up to 10 days in advance of the return flight.

“Well over half of our existing domestic customers now utilize electronic check-in options in terms of Web-Check or Self Service Kiosks at airports and we believe this new service will be highly attractive to people whether they are frequent or irregular flyers,” Buchanan said.