British Airways announces plan that could see passengers fly without checking in

SCOTTISH air passengers could be checked in for flights automatically by the end of next year if a new trial being launched by British Airways is successful.

The airline, which flies from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen to Heathrow, Gatwick and London City, is thought to be one of the first in the world to issue boarding cards without the need for travellers to check in online or the airport.

BA claims the “revolutionary” move will “change the face of airline check-in as we know it”.

The trial starts this week at airports in France, with those passengers taking part being automatically assigned a seat and electronically sent their boarding pass 24 hours before departure.

BA intends to extend the trial next spring, then offer the optional service to passengers across its network by the end of 2013.

Frank van der Post, BA’s managing director of brands and customer experience, said: “Customers have so much to think about prior to a trip, be that finishing up in the office or getting the kids’ suitcases packed.

“We’re aiming to give them one less thing to think about by giving them the choice to be checked in automatically and sent their boarding pass electronically.”