Finnair introduces check-in via Facebook

A social media check-in service, allowing passengers to link their Facebook profile with the seat map, has been introduced by Finnair.

Other travellers can see the passenger’s Facebook profile and the individual can see who else has checked in on the same flight and where they are seated.

After completing check-in, the customer can tell friends in their social networks where they are going to and their estimated time of arrival.

The first phase of the service only includes Facebook but more social networks will be added later.

The initiative, developed in partnership with Amadeus IT Group, only shows the customer’s public Facebook profile and is only visible to passengers on the same flight.

Using the social check-in service is voluntary, and customers can choose to travel “incognito” as before.

It is also possible to disable the social check-in at any time, preventing other passengers from seeing the social network profile in conjunction with the seat map.

The airline’s social media manager Aku Varamäki said: “Many people like telling their friends on Facebook where they are travelling.

“We wanted to make this a little bit easier and also add some value in the check-in process for those who want to see who they are travelling with and who are open to meeting new people.”

Finnair marketing vice president Jarkko Konttinen added: “We want to make air travel more social and find new ways to utilise social media during customer journey in ways that delight our customers.

“We’re proud to be front-runners in utilising social media and making air travel more social.”