Self Check-In Coming To Hawaiian’s Honolulu Lobby

Rendering of new self-service check-in "islands" at the two Hawaiian Airlines ticket lobbies at the Honolulu International Airport.

By Sonia Isotov

As early as June 2011, Hawaiian Airlines customers will be using new self-service “islands” to check-in at the Honolulu International Airport.

Located in the middle of two completely redesigned lobbies at the Honolulu International Airport, six new circular check-in modules are replacing the traditional ticket counters; four  in Lobby 2 and two in Lobby 3 in Terminal 2.

Customer services agents will still be available and circulating around each check-in island to help customers at the eight self-service check-in stations on each island. Travelers can use the self-service stations to check in for any scheduled interisland, mainland or international flight on Hawaiian.

The company explained in a statement that the new design is the result of two years of industry research and motion studies conducted by Hawaiian to find a solution to long lines and bottlenecks during busy periods and speed up the check-in process. The innovative, free-flowing floor plan eliminates one of three check-in steps and also removes the limitation of having designated counters for various destinations, meaning customers entering the lobby will be able to go to any of the new 48 self-service check-in stations that are available, cutting peak period wait times by up to 75 percent.

Each check-in station will be equipped with technology that allows customers to weigh their luggage; pay for fees, upgrades and other services; and print luggage tags. Customers will then place their checked luggage onto a single conveyor belt where the luggage will be checked and screened by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), before being loaded onto their flight.

The entire renovation is funded by Hawaiian Airlines who expects to spend $6 million to transform both lobbies by June.