Guys, the 20th century is about to dawn...
I fly with BA just about every week. I cannot remember the last time I went to a desk (except to drop off a bag). They have:
*traditional check-in counters
*check-in counter at paddington (where the LHR Express train goes from)
* check-in at the lounge or gate (if you have an ATB ticket)
*telephone check-in (available from 15.00 day before flight)
* on-line check-in (available from 24 hrs before flight)
- the last two only available to members of the FFP, so they have all your details/know where you live, etc.
So my usual practice is to get on the net the day before my flight & select my seat, then stick my FFP card in the machine at the airport, which spits out my boarding card, and away I go. If I happen to have a bag, they have a 'fast bag drop' counter where they tag it - takes about, oh, 30 secs.
All means I miss the interminable queue. I am astounded that these things haven't hit Australia yet (but then again, why should they bother - it's not as if they have to compete or anything... )
But wait!! We have a 22% owner who has all this technology - maybe we could just buy it off-the-shelf from them!!
This stuff is old-hat, dudes. Maybe PJK was right when he described Australia's geographical position...