China Southern is first with mobile check-in

China Southern Airlines has now become the first Chinese carrier to offer mobile check-in, another innovative step for the airline that sold the country’s first e-ticket in 2000 and introduced the first common-use self-service kiosk in 2005 and the country’s first online check-in option in 2006.

Mobile check-in initially will be available at Guangzhou Baiyun on flights to Zhengzhou and is expected to be expanded to other routes eventually.

CZ introduced check-in via SMS last September, allowing passengers to check in and select their seats via mobile phones, then pick up their boarding pass at the airport. The service launched yesterday produces a barcoded boarding pass sent to the passenger’s phone.

ATW reports that Air China plans to introduce the service on domestic routes leaving from Beijing shortly. It concluded a feasibility study last month and is awaiting approval from CAAC.

China Eastern Airlines also is committed to expanding check-in options. Chairman Liu Shaoyong said, ‘If we can’t get creative with information technology, we will always be at the mercy of domestic e-travel websites.’