Welcome to the future of check-in: Air New Zealand's new bag drop

Air New Zealand wants to speed up the check-in process for customers with its new self-service bag drops.

Air New Zealand are planning to speed up the check-in process by implementing self-service bag drops.

Five new automatic self-service bag drops are now available for use by customers departing from Auckland International Airport and another eight are on the way.

The new system works with the airline's existing online check-in process and the self-service kiosks allowing for a more streamlined check-in experience.

The system uses the same technology as the recently implemented SmartGate passport system, where customers scan their passports and boarding passes through biometric cameras before placing their bags on an automatic scale to be sent through to baggage handling.

The implementation is part of a larger project to digitise the airport experience.

"We can now streamline the check-in process for our customers at Auckland International Airport and provide a more seamless airport journey," says John Whittaker, Air New Zealand group general manager airports.

"It will reduce the time it takes for our customers to check in and free up our airport team to interact with customers and support them through the self-service process should they require assistance."

The self-service bag drop follows the introduction of Airband - a wristband that tracks the journey of unaccompanied underage passengers, updating guardians of their progress.