Finnair poised to start offering automated mobile check-in

Scandinavian airline Finnair is to start offering its customers automated mobile check-in from later this month.

Scandinavian airline Finnair is to start offering its customers automated mobile check-in from later this month.

The service will be made available for all customers who give the airline their mobile number when booking a flight from November 28 onwards.

Check-in confirmation will include the seat number and an electronic boarding pass sent to the customer’s phone.

Check-in via SMS service has been available since 2004. Previously, customers had to reply to a Finnair text message confirming their check-in; now this is unnecessary, as the check-in is completed automatically.

For morning departures, customers receive check-in confirmation and boarding cards on the night before, between 17:00 and 19:00. For other flights, customers are checked in about three hours before departure.

If customers wish to change seating or check in accompanying travellers, this can be done either by the link in the mobile boarding pass or on the Finnair website.

At the airport, the mobile boarding pass must be opened and presented to the authorities. The mobile phone must have an Internet connection to open the link.

Otherwise, the customer needs a paper boarding pass, which can be picked up at an automatic kiosk or the Bag Drop desk. Checked baggage is left at the Bag Drop desk during normal check-in times.

The service will be available on Finnair flights and Flybe-operated AY2000-series flights departing from Helsinki and other airports in Finland as well as from select European airports.