LAX, Other US Airports To Expand Self-Service Check-Ins

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — More travelers flying in and out of LAX and other airports nationwide will soon be using new technology to get where they're going.

KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports a new survey suggests more U.S. airports are moving toward providing passengers with a more "connected" traveling experience - which would also result in staffing cuts.

By 2017, an estimated 86 percent of airports nationwide will invest in multi-service kiosks, self-bag drop and self-boarding services, according to the SITA / ACI Airport IT Trends Survey.

As many as 3 in 4 airports also project their passengers will use self-service and mobile-based check-ins in 2017, the survey found.

While only about 5 percent of global travelers use a mobile device to check in for their flight, that number is expected to triple in the next three years, according to researchers.

In fact, an estimated 90 percent of airports nationwide are expected to provide flight status notifications to passengers on their cell phones, nearly double from the current 50 percent of airports.

At LAX, about 50 electronic kiosks were installed at the Tom Bradley International Terminal so passengers can scan their passports and customs information to expedite their arrival.

SITA CEO Francesco Violante said the trend is just the first glimpse of a future reality.

"This is the age of the connected traveler with nearly all passengers carrying mobiles, tablets and other devices," said Violante. "It is vital that airports invest in the infrastructure to support the changing expectations of these passengers."

And while some travelers concede that the new technology could cost a few jobs, others say it may also lead to new ones.

"They can get better jobs," said one passenger. "There's other jobs out there."