Alaska Airlines announced Tuesday plans to improve technology in their airport lobbies that they hope will get travelers checked in and their bags on the way in five minutes or less, according to a media release.
Over the next three years, Alaska Airlines plans to invest $2.5 billion in improvements at their hubs in cities such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anchorage.
Checking in and securing a boarding pass before you even get to the airport is the first step to speeding through the process, the airline said.
By the end of 2023, kiosks will be replaced by iPad tablets, where travelers can pay and tag their checked bags.
Starting in the spring of 2024, lobbies will be upgraded to allow travelers to drop off their checked luggage with just a few scans.
The new machines will scan a traveler’s face, government-issued identification, and bags. A conveyer belt will then take the luggage on its way to be loaded onto the plane.
Even with all the new changes, customer service agents will still be available to assist travelers that may need extra help.