United, Continental expand mobile check-in, boarding
You'll be able to use your smartphone for mobile check-in and mobile boarding passes for international destinations now, thanks to an expansion of the technology used by United and Continental Airlines.
United started the technology about a year ago with domestic flights, while Continental has had it for about four years. United offers the option at 62 U.S. airports, including Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, while Continental offers it at 70 airports.
To date, about 10 million passengers for both airlines have used the mobile technology, said Jared Miller, managing director of self-service and emerging technology at United Continental Holding Inc., the parent company of the two airlines.
“Our goal is to provide greater efficiency and control to the traveler,” Miller said.
As smartphone use increases, so has the technology surrounding the travel industry. Passengers just need to connect to a browser on their smartphone, go to United's mobile website for check-in and follow the prompts, just as if they were using their desktop computer. It also can be used to obtain the boarding pass. Passengers often get an e-mail confirmation with a link where they can obtain their boarding pass and they're able to print it as well.
United said this week it was expanding mobile check-in and boarding passes for those with international itineraries and at least 24 hours before departure.
It's now available for those departing from London, Munich, Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, Zurich, Moscow and Osaka. The company also plans to introduce the mobile technology at other airports, including Frankfurt, Tokyo Narita and Hong Kong later on.
“We're constantly looking at the customer experience,” said Miller.
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