NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Starting Friday, Oct. 14, British Airways becomes the first airline to offer online boarding pass capability on nonstop international flights from JFK, Newark and Boston to London Heathrow Airport, enabling UK-bound passengers to print their boarding passes on their own personal computers at home when checking in online.
A full twenty-three hours before their flight departure, passengers may check-in and choose their own seat.
The introduction of the Online Boarding Pass is part of British Airways' drive to simplify the travel experience for its customers. It will streamline the check-in process and further increase the facilities available to passengers, which already include Online Check-in on the airline's website, ba.com.
"Our customers have told us that they value ease, simplicity and choice when making travel plans. We are confident Online Boarding Pass along with other ba.com time-saving facilities will prove to be a popular development with our passengers," said Robin Hayes, Executive Vice President The Americas, British Airways. "For them, the time-saving and convenience of printing out their own boarding passes and controlling their own travel itineraries will be a huge benefit."
The Online Boarding Pass, complete with a unique barcode, enables passengers with hand baggage to by-pass conventional check-in desks and go straight to the security area. Passengers taking checked baggage also print their boarding passes online and then use the British Airways Fast Bag Drop facility near the airline's check-in counters at JFK, Newark and Boston to check their bags.
British Airways has worked closely with the airports and the United States Transportation Security Administration on the introduction of the Online Check-In system. By the end of November, passengers departing all other British Airways gateway airports in North America will have the online boarding pass capability.
British Airways has been investing significant resources in making the passenger travel process much easier by embracing the benefits of technology and automating the many processes involved in planning, booking and traveling with the airline.
Visitors to British Airways newly improved ba.com website will find pertinent travel information about their journey in just one click -- helping to prepare for a stress-free and relaxing trip. The highly popular 'manage my booking' section of ba.com has been revamped to offer customized, relevant travel advice to passengers, tailored to their specific travel needs.
A 'checklist' option has been introduced to the site enabling customers to view a handy point-by-point list of tasks that will help ensure their trip goes without a hitch. These options include:
-- The quickest and easiest way to check-in for their flight.
-- Speeding through the airport -- including whether they can print
their boarding pass at home before departing for the airport;
-- Passport and visa information -- including whether they are
required to enter Advance Passenger Information before they
travel and, if so, how to do it online before reaching the
airport;
-- How many pieces of luggage they can check-in for their flight and
maximum weight limits;
-- Films, television and radio shows available on their flight;
-- Details about the airport they are flying from and to --
including car-parking information and how to connect between
flights when appropriate;
-- City guides about the destination they are visiting.
Currently more than one and a half million customers visit ba.com every week. In May 2005, 25% of all British Airways customers worldwide serviced their booking on ba.com; this represents a growth in usage of 140% over the previous year.
The British Airways logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1862