Customers flying to New York on British Airways’ exclusive all-business class flights from London City will be able to tag their own bags from today (September 5).

 

For the first time anyone travelling on the double daily flights from the Docklands airport will benefit from revolutionary self-help technology.

 

London City was chosen as the second airport on British Airways’ global network to offer its customers the baggage technology which went live on European flights in March. It was first launched at Gatwick Airport in October.

 

Now customers on the airport’s only long haul flights can print and attach tags to their own bags at a self-service kiosk and deposit them at a bag drop desk.

 

The IT strategy at both London City and Gatwick airports follows the ‘Fast Travel’ initiative, which is part of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Simplifying the Business Programme, and involves introducing automated and self-service capabilities into an airport to simplify and speed up the passenger experience. In recognition of British Airways investment in new technology at Gatwick, IATA was awarded the airline a ‘Gold’ award in October.

 

The new process, combined with the option to check-in on line and print boarding passes at home or the office, eases congestion on the airport concourse, particularly at peak times.

 

It means customers can literally go from curbside to airside, even with checked-in bags, in 20 minutes thanks to technology which was designed specifically for British Airways.