FLYBE passengers could soon be charged for using the check-in desk at the airport. An airline spokesman denied that there were plans to introduce the charge straight away, but admitted it was considering levying a fee for people using the check-in desk in the future.
‘We have been on record in the past as saying that charging for check-in is something that we are looking at and that is still the case,’ he said.
He said the only airline currently charging for check-in was Ryanair, which levies a fee of £4 per passenger, but he would not be drawn on how much Flybe would charge.
The airline is currently installing self-service check-in kiosks at the airport and passengers will be able to use them or check in online for free.
Rival airline Aurigny said it had no plans to introduce charges for passengers using its check-in desk.
‘We are always looking at technological advancements to improve our customer experiences,’ said Malcolm Coupar, commercial director at Aurigny.
‘In doing so, we wouldn’t rule out the introduction of self service check-in machines in the future, but we certainly wouldn’t use them as a way of introducing yet another charge for our customers, which is something that Flybe is considering,’ he said.
Ian Taylor, Flybe general manager market development, said the airline was trying to give passengers as many options as possible for the check-in procedure.
‘We can see that there is an increasing number of passengers who wish to avoid airport check-in desks and are increasingly using our online facility,’ he said.
‘But given the fact that we have not been able to install the self-service check-in kiosks at Guernsey, it would be a little bit premature of us to decide what we are going to do.’
He said the aviation industry was changing all the time.
‘There are already airlines which are not offering as many services as Flybe do which charge for checking in,’ he said.
‘But, obviously, what we have to do is give passengers all the options before we decide what our policies will be,’ he said.
Mr Taylor said that more customers were checking in online because it was more convenient.
‘We are going to offer a variety of check-in methods and undoubtedly it will be passengers who decide which they use,’ he said.
‘You could almost say that if everyone was perfectly happy with the way the check-in procedure was now, why would we change it?
‘But we are finding that people are not always happy. These are the product changes people which want to see.’
He added that the airline’s market research showed passengers hated queuing at airports.
‘We are investing heavily in finding as many ways as possible which allow passengers to check-in,’ he said.
‘The issue is about making the whole process better for passengers.
‘It’s not about whether they are being charged.’
Deputy Bill Bell, External Transport Group chairman, said the airline risked alienating the elderly if they brought in a charge for the normal check-in procedure.
‘I think young people would be very adaptable to checking in on the internet or a machine but older people would not,’ he said.
‘They do not necessarily have the confidence to use modern technology.’
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