The Carrier's Largest Self-Bag Drop System
Launches at Orlando International
Airport
Photos and video of self-bag drop available
HERE
MIRAMAR, Fla.,
June 13,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines' (NYSE: SAVE)
Guests can now breeze through check-in at Orlando International Airport (MCO) with the
addition of the airline's award-winning self-bag drop with
biometric photo-matching. Spirit today celebrated 30 years of
service in Orlando with the
official unveiling of 19 newly installed self-bag drop units at
MCO. It's the largest set-up of its kind for the carrier at any
airport and more than triple the size of Spirit's next largest
self-bag drop operation.
Self-bag drop allows Guests to check bags directly without
working with an agent. Spirit's machines are also equipped with
biometric photo-matching capability that compares a scan of
government-issued identification with a photo of the Guest for
verification. Following an initial testing period at MCO with both
manual ID check and biometric opt-in, the solution will eliminate
the need to hand government-issued identification to an agent when
checking baggage.
"We've grown to become largest ultra-low-fare carrier at MCO,
and adding this convenient, self-service option is a significant
investment that gives our Guests more control over their journey
while spending less time in the lobby," said Mike Byrom, Vice President of Airports &
Crew Services for Spirit Airlines. "We thank the Greater Orlando
Aviation Authority for their partnership as we celebrate 30 years
in this community, and we appreciate the opportunity to provide
More Go for travelers to enjoy all that Orlando has to offer."
Spirit developed the nation's first biometric photo-matching
solution for domestic air travel in 2019 with its partner Materna
Intelligent Passenger Solutions (IPS) North America. Spirit was also the first to
pursue combining it with automated self-bag drop capabilities to
reduce interactions and increase efficiency. The system is also
operating at Atlanta (ATL),
Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas Fort
Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles
(LAX), and it was recognized for two prestigious awards: the "2021
Best Airport Innovation" by the APEX/IFSA Awards, and the Skift
2021 IDEA Awards Winner in the Aviation Category that honors the
companies, projects and campaigns driving the travel industry
forward.
Here's how the solution works:
- Guests start by tagging their own checked bags after checking
in at the kiosk and then proceed to the self-bag drops.
- Guests are advised of the biometric option after scanning their
boarding pass at the self-bag drop unit. They may either opt in and
continue unassisted or opt out for agent-assisted service.
- Once the Guest opts in, the unit instructs them to scan their
ID on the built-in hardware.
- The unit compares its scan of the photo on the ID with a facial
scan captured by its on-board camera, along with comparing ID
information with the Guest's reservation details. None of the data
is transmitted to any government agency.
- A successful match initiates the rest of the bag check-in
process. Guests are instructed to place their bags on the conveyor
belt attached to the unit, which then scans the bags, weighs them,
accepts payment for any additional services, and sends them
straight into the airport's checked baggage system without further
action from the Guest.
Spirit Guests currently check up to 8,000 bags a day on peak
days at MCO, each of which represents an agent interaction that can
be streamlined. Testing data show the new procedure drops average
processing time to just 70 seconds per Guest, reducing time spent
at bag check by 30 percent. Additionally, Guests can take advantage
of the time savings and reduction in interactions whether they're
travelling domestically or internationally.
The self-bag drop system uses software capable of analyzing key
physical features on more than 50,000 forms of ID from nearly 200
countries that a Guest could potentially use when traveling in
the United States. Combined with
the units' scanning hardware, the software confirms the
authenticity of an ID and rejects fraudulent documents before
Guests check their baggage.
The self-bag drop system will complement Spirit's large presence
in Orlando. The airline currently
offers service from MCO to more than 50 destinations, including 11
international destinations. Spirit added service from MCO to ten
new destinations in the last two years alone. Orlando is home to one of Spirit's Flight
Attendant training centers and one of its operations control
centers (OCC), and MCO is home to one of the carrier's largest
Pilot and Flight Attendant crew bases.
Soar With Us
There is no limit to how fast and how far you can grow within
Spirit. We're growing and hiring Pilots, Flight Attendants,
Aviation Maintenance Technicians and other roles across the
company. Visit spirit.com/careers for information.
About Spirit Airlines:
Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the
best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable
travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our
Guests to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat
assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi — something we call À La
Smarte®. Our Fit Fleet® is one of the youngest and most
fuel-efficient in the United
States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S.,
Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests
to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are
committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we
live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation. Come save
with us at spirit.com.
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SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc.