Nowadays, approximately 80 % of passengers check in by self-service means (40 % on terminals at the airport and 40 % outside the airport, via the Internet or mobile phone), and 70 % of passengers travel with baggage, 56 % of which  are potentially prepared to tag their baggage themselves and use a self-service baggage drop-off facility. 

Where to tag baggage: the key question

As regards the baggage tagging point, two principles can be identified depending on whether operators wish primarily to interrupt passenger movement through the airport as little as possible or to reduce waiting times to a minimum.In the first case, the idea will be for tagging to be carried out at the same time and at the same place as baggage drop-off.  This  “1-step” option  is risky because it may potentially lead to congestion in this single place where two operations are combined. In the second case, tagging will be carried out on a kiosk at the airport at the same time as the check-in or on kiosks dedicated to self-service tagging, but systematically before the baggage is dropped off. This “2 (or N)-step” option interrupts the passenger’s movement but ensures greater fluidity.The choice will be determined by studies conducted by airlines or airports on the behaviour of their passengers, and by the infrastructures in which they have to integrate themselves.

To adapt self-service baggage drop-off to existing infrastructures at minimum cost, it seems very worthwhile to convert a number of existing counters into automated baggage drop-off stations. Widely deployed WiFi-connected fixed or mobile kiosks enable the number of check-in and tagging points to be increased, reducing waiting times and the overall passenger transit time in the airport.

 SBDO – Self Baggage Drop Off – a modular IER solution

IER offers a modular solution which is easily adaptable to the requirements of the various sites and the limitations on available space. It consists of a light structure designed to adapt perfectly to existing counters and conveyors and supporting baggage control equipment (bar code readers and RFID readers), conveyor control panels and safety devices. It also comprises a baggage drop-off software application and a capacity for interfacing with DCS, BHS and IMS servers. Light and modular, it enables considerable reductions in deployment cost.  Lastly, this solution incorporates the passenger and baggage security control equipment, together with alert mechanisms appropriate for baggage drop-off requirements. It is accompanied by all study, design, installation and maintenance services, both for the hardware and for the software.