Northwest introduces self-service check-in kiosks on Saipan, Guam

Northwest Airlines announced yesterday that it has introduced more self-service check-in options for travelers at Guam International Airport and Saipan International Airport with the recent addition of its self-service check-in kiosks.

Northwest is the first airline to offer travelers on Guam and Saipan the option of using self-service check-in kiosks, and Guam and Saipan are the first markets outside of Japan to receive kiosks—part of a deployment of more of its customer service technology throughout the airline’s 15-city Asia-Pacific network.

The four new kiosks are currently available for customers’ use in the lobby of both airports, and allow customers flying on electronic tickets to check-in for their flights from Guam to Tokyo, Saipan to Nagoya, Japan or Tokyo, and from both Guam and Saipan to the United States and other destinations.

Customers can also use the kiosks to select or change their seat assignment, add WorldPerks frequent flyers information and more. The kiosks are also equipped with passport readers, allowing customers to quickly enter the required passport information by swiping it through the reader. Northwest customer service staff will verify customers’ travel documentation prior to departure.

“The introduction of Northwest’s self-service check-in kiosks [on] Guam and Saipan will provide travelers with more options to expedite the check-in process and enjoy greater control over their travel experiences,” said Richard Parsons, manager for Northwest Airlines in the Marianas region. “Travelers worldwide are embracing the convenience, speed and control of Northwest’s customer service technology.”

Northwest first introduced self-service check-in in Asia in May 2003, when it expanded its comprehensive nwa.com Check-In service to customers originating their travel in Asia. The service allows customers to print their boarding pass and check-in over the Internet at www.nwa.com/gs.

The deployment of self-service check-in kiosks in the Marianas Islands is part of an aggressive customer service initiative at Northwest to expand the availability of kiosks to all 15 airports it serves in the Asia-Pacific region. Already, with 934 kiosks located in 198 airports, Northwest offers self-service check-in kiosks in more locations than any other airline in the world.

“In August, 73 percent of Northwest’s customers used one of our self-service check-in options to obtain their boarding pass,” said Al Lenza, vice president of distribution and e-commerce. “Our experience has been that after just one use of our kiosks or nwa.com check-in service, travelers become loyal users of this easy-to-use technology.”

The airline’s self-service check-in program first crossed the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in November 2002, when Northwest became the first U.S. airline to enable customers to obtain their boarding passes for travel from the U.S. and Canada to Asia, as well as to many destinations served in Europe, via its www.nwa.com Web site.