Star Alliance introduces new auto document checking

Star Alliance has just introduced a new system that automatically checks whether a passenger has the correct documents for international destinations, and is said to be particularly useful for those travellers having multi-country itineraries.

The “Auto Doc Check” will be in place at participating airline check-in counters, and will provide airline personnel and passengers with a “yes,” “no” or “conditional” response regarding whether the travel documents meet the necessary requirements.

Singapore Airlines will be first among Star Alliance’s member carriers to implement the screening system, and other members are expected to follow suit in the months ahead.

One example of how this new facility could prove useful: a passenger holding a British passport travelling from Singapore to Australia, and then from Australia to South Africa could determine if a visa was required for any of the countries they were visiting.

The “Auto Doc Check” will also be helpful for off-airport check-in, as passengers who are checking-in online will have access to the system - as they also will at airport self-service kiosks.

The vice president of products and services for Star Alliance, Lee Hock Lye, noted: “Up to now it has often been a challenge for check-in personnel and passengers to keep current about what documents are needed for travelling abroad.”

He added: “With ’state-of-the-art technology’ now evaluating the passenger’s travel documents and deciding if the passenger is allowed to travel, Auto Doc Check is taking the guesswork out this decision.”

www.staralliance.com