Qantas brings in new measures to make transtasman travel easier

Qantas operates 252 return services across the Tasman and says it is a step towards more seamless travel. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Qantas has introduced mobile check-in and digital boarding passes for passengers flying between Australia and New Zealand.

The airline operates 252 return services across the Tasman and says it is a step towards more seamless travel.

Until now, Qantas passengers flying the Tasman were typically required to queue up for a printed boarding pass.

The new technology allows eligible customers travelling between Australia and New Zealand to finalise check-in and passport checks online and head straight to the lounge or boarding gate after passing through immigration and security - all with the digital boarding pass on their mobile device.

Air New Zealand already has the system.

Qantas says theirs will initially work through web and mobile (Qantas.com) before being extended to the Qantas app next month. Qantas will now look to extend the service from its transtasman routes to other destinations on its international network.

How it works

Transtasman mobile check-in and digital boarding passes are available to:

▪ All passport holders (some visa restrictions apply).
▪ Direct flights between Australia and New Zealand.
▪ Qantas marketed and operated services.
▪ Single customer itineraries.

What about bags?

▪ Customers without baggage who have a boarding pass can head straight to the
boarding gate after passing through immigration and security.

▪ Customers with baggage who have checked in online can use the dedicated online check-in bag drop.

Access to Express Path services for eligible customers will also be embedded into digital boarding passes.

The Qantas move comes after it gave its backing to Australian and New Zealand government efforts to streamline border processing for customers travelling across the Tasman, calling for a renewed effort to make the experience more like domestic air travel.

Qantas International and Freight chief executive Gareth Evans said the initiative had been on the airline's agenda for some time.

"Seamless domestic travel has been a reality since Qantas pioneered smart check-in technology in 2010, but the barriers have always been a lot higher for international flights," said Evans.

"It's a great example of how industry and Government working together can change what's possible for travellers. The goal is ultimately to make this technology for international routes the 'new normal'."

The technology is expected to be in all the relevant airports by early next year.