NewsBite

International travellers to be offered mobile check-in

Every airline operating out of Australia will be able to offer travellers mobile check-in for international flights from today.

Travellers queue at check-in. Picture: Kathleen Skene.
Travellers queue at check-in. Picture: Kathleen Skene.

Every airline operating out of Australia will have the option to offer travellers mobile check-in for international flights from today.

Qantas, Air New Zealand, Emirates and Singapore Airlines have been testing the process in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs for some time now, in an effort to streamline the international check-in process.

It means travellers will be able to download a boarding pass on their mobile phone instead of going to a check-in desk and receiving a paper pass.

However passports will still be required to be presented at the Customs and Border Force security check, and at the departure gate.

Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the move towards automation at the border was a key focus for the Federal Government.

“Last financial year more than 21.4 million travellers were cleared through the border departing Australian international airports,” Mr Tudge said.

“These increasing volumes mean we are always looking for ways to clear legitimate travellers efficiently and seek out those of interest to law enforcement.”

He said the mobile boarding passes would complement existing capabilities such as SmartGates which provided a faster, simpler border process for travellers while maintaining border security.

It would be up to individual airlines whether to offer the mobile check-in option for travellers with some already using the electronic method overseas.

Australian Airports Association chief executive Caroline Wilkie welcomed the change.

“This will make the journey through the airport even easier, complementing airports’ work to create a more seamless passenger experience,” said Ms Wilkie.

“It is good to see changes like this supporting a faster, easier check-in process for passengers.”

A Qantas spokesman said mobile check-in was now available to travellers to all destinations, other than those in the US, which would be added in October.

He said the airline had trialled digital boarding passes between Australia and New Zealand in cooperation with Border Force over the past year.

“Using digital boarding passes has already been popular with our customers who have used their mobile devices to help make their travel experience more seamless,” he said.

Singapore Airlines also indicated it would progressively roll out mobile boarding passes at Australian airports, in addition to the trial sites of Adelaide and Canberra.

“Singapore Airlines offers mobile boarding pass for departures from select cities on our network, including Singapore,” a spokeswoman said.

“Mobile boarding pass is not available for those customers who require visa or credit card verification to completed at check-in.”

Automated bag drops already in operation at international airports will complete the “self check-in” process.

Robyn Ironside
Robyn IronsideAviation Writer

Robyn Ironside is The Australian's aviation writer, and has twice been recognised by the Australasian Aviation Press Club (in 2020 and 2023) as the best aviation journalist. She has been with The Australian since 2018, and covered aviation for News Corp since 2014 after previously reporting on Queensland state politics and crime with The Courier-Mail.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/international-travellers-to-be-offered-mobile-checkin/news-story/12467709852f6374c66cc429c0ea4ecf