Qantas customers will have the ability to check in for their flight from their hotel from July 2006, thanks to a partnership between the airline and the Accor group’s deluxe hotel brand, Sofitel.
Qantas Group General Manager Customer Product and Services, Ms Lesley Grant, said the initiative was aimed at streamlining the travel experience for the airline’s customers.
„Giving customers the ability to check in for flights at external locations means less wasted time at the airport and a much faster, seamless travel experience,“ she said.
Ms Grant said the service would initially be available at Sofitel hotels in Sydney and Melbourne and expanded to other Sofitel locations in Australia over time.
„Hotel guests will be asked if they want to check in for their Qantas flight, and receive their boarding pass when they check out of the hotel.
„We will also be installing self-service QuickCheck facilities throughout Accor’s hotel network in Australia, which will be the first time such services will be offered outside airports in this country on such a scale,“ she said.
Ms Grant said Qantas was pleased to be working with Accor on the initial launch of this service given their expertise as the largest hotel operator in Australia, offering 111 hotels, including the Sofitel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, All Seasons and Formula 1 brands.
„We believe the ability to check in before leaving the hotel will have great appeal, particularly for business travellers.“
Ms Grant said Qantas was investigating a range of other initiatives to further ensure customers enjoyed seamless travel.