Click HERE for photos and b-roll of self-bag
drop
MIRAMAR,
Fla., Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit
Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is now offering Guests in the Motor City a
speedy, self-service option to breeze through check-in. The carrier
has introduced its award-winning self-bag drop with biometric
photo-matching at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
Spirit leads the way as the first airline to roll out this
innovative technology at DTW. The six newly installed self-bag drop
units are located next to the Spirit ticket counter in the Evans
Terminal and were added through a partnership with the Wayne County
Airport Authority.
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 DTW 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 pioneered this cutting-edge technology to streamline the
check-in experience for our Guests and reduce time spent in the
lobby, and its arrival in Detroit
is an exciting first for DTW," said Jason
Fogelman, Senior Director of Airport Innovation, Standards
and Training at Spirit Airlines. "Spirit has a long history of
serving Detroit, and we thank the
Wayne County Airport Authority for their partnership and support in
launching self-bag drop at DTW."
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), Los Angeles
(LAX) and Orlando (MCO), 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 drop.
- 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.
"We are always looking for ways to improve the customer
experience at DTW and Spirit's self-bag drop units align perfectly
with our aim to take the stress out of travel," said Chad Newton, Chief Executive Officer of the
Wayne County Airport Authority. "We're proud to have invested in
the construction of the self-bag drop units to streamline our
passengers' check-in process and give them more power over their
travel experience."
Each bag checked by a Spirit Guest at DTW 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 traveling 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.
Spirit started service in Detroit in 1992 as one of its first
destinations and currently offers up to 34 departures from DTW on
peak days. DTW is also home to one of Spirit's Pilot and
Flight Attendant crew bases as well as a maintenance hangar where a
majority of the carrier's newly delivered aircraft are prepared for
service.
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.