JetStar launches SMS boarding pass in NZ

Budget airline JetStar has selected this country as the launch market for its recently developed SMS boarding pass technology. Customers can now board their flight using the unique SMS boarding system through their mobile phone via a standard text message when travelling between Auckland and Christchurch, extending to Wellington and Queenstown services in coming weeks.

The technology is currently limited to only single passengers travelling without checked bags, but from next month, it can be used by multiple passengers travelling together, such as families, with check in luggage. The technology will be utilised in the airline’s 18 Australian domestic airports before the December holiday period, the airline says.

Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan says the technology differed from the mobile solutions of other airlines and he believes it is a world-first, as it is universally compatible with almost all mobile phones, not just high-end WAP or internet enabled devices.

“Customers consistently tell us they want to have greater control over their travel experience and this new world-first SMS boarding pass technology will them save time and effort at the airport,” says Buchanan. “Given more than half of our customers travelling on Jetstar domestic services already use self-service options such as web-check or kiosks, we think the uptake for this additional choice of SMS technology will be extremely strong over time.”

Passengers travelling by themselves and without checked bags book their domestic New Zealand flight at Jetstar.com. At the site they will have the option of automatically checking in and having an SMS boarding code delivered to their mobile phone 24 hours before departure.

Upon arrival at the airport, passengers proceed directly to the flight departure gate where they present their phone with the SMS boarding code for scanning.

A paper boarding receipt will be printed, which will allow them to switch off their phone prior to boarding the aircraft.

Buchanan says the high penetration of mobile phones in this country makes it an ideal market to launch the SMS boarding technology.

The technology was developed for Jetstar by Melbourne-based company Sissit Group.