Finnair has become the first airline in the world to enable passengers to check in via a mobile phone text message.  oneworld’s Nordic partner, widely recognized as one of the industry’s IT leaders, introduced the service this month, initially for members of its Finnair Plus frequent-flyer program flying from its Helsinki home and Stockholm hub.
After activating the service, passengers check in by answering a text message sent to their mobile phone before each flight departure. They are sent back a second text message confirming their departure gate and seat number.  Passengers are automatically allocated their preferred seat, whenever possible.  This enables them to go directly to the departure gate, bypassing the normal check-in procedures, if they are only traveling with hand baggage.  If a customer has baggage to check, he or she can leave it at a fast bag drop desk in the departure hall.
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