This is creative more than actually useful or a great deal, though I can’t help but cover it (thanks to Frankfurtflyer for flagging this).
In this post:
Pay €99 for private check-in counter in Vienna
Airlines try to monetize all kinds of premium services, ranging from priority check-in to priority boarding. However, Austrian Airlines’ newest initiative takes that a step further. The Star Alliance airline is now selling access to a private check-in counter at its Vienna Airport (VIE) hub.
The airline describes this as a perfect option for a honeymoon trip, bachelorette party, or family vacation. The idea is that you not only get access to a check-in area that’s exclusively for you, but you can even customize the area, by adding a personal touch. The check-in counter can be booked online for €99 per 30-minute block.
These private check-in counters were previously reserved primarily for corporate clients, but the airline is now expanding this offering to all passengers “due to high demand from the group travel segment.” Of course group travelers can still use the normal check-in counters, so this isn’t a requirement.
Here’s how the experience works:
- Reservations are required at least eight days before departure, and are available for all departures from Vienna with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, or SWISS
- The private check-in counter must be booked for a minimum of 30 minutes
- Passengers can customize their check-in counter according to their wishes, with a personal message of up to 66 characters, or a logo on the screen
This is a cute & funny concept
I can of course see merit to a concept like this for group travel. If there are a bunch of people who are traveling on the same flight, there’s not only convenience to having a dedicated counter, but there’s also a “cool factor” to having the unique branding of the group.
The aspect of this that I find a bit funnier is the thought of setting this up for a family trip, a bachelorette trip, etc. Again, I guess this could create some laughs, and the pricing isn’t unreasonable, when you consider that a dedicated counter is being kept open just for you, and the staffing it requires.
At the same time, check-in is usually a pretty efficient process nowadays. Most people check-in online, and those who have checked bags can just go to a bag drop zone, where they can quickly get their bags tagged. Assuming you don’t want to book an unnecessarily long slot, you’d also have to time your arrival at the airport pretty accurately, so that you don’t miss your window.
Bottom line
While airlines try to monetize the airport experience in many ways, selling access to a private check-in counter is a unique concept that I hadn’t heard of before. I can’t imagine this has wide appeal, though perhaps there are situations where this could make sense for group travel, or as a bit of a joke for a special trip.
What do you make of Austrian Airlines’ private check-in counter concept?
@Ben, is that going to be a counter in the regular check-in area for economy? Or maybe in the premium (Business class and Senator) area? Or yet somewhere else?
Connections for people finishing a Danube cruise might be one use case
Maybe this can be useful for an already buzzed group that might slightly loud and boisterous at the meet up.
This will *surely* be an airline blogger's delight! We fully expect Ben to try this out! :)
I much prefer checking in and dropping the bag at the city train station. Now if they would just resume the VIE MIA flight.
I've never had more than a one person ahead of me in the *G area at VIE, and even when not eligible for that, the self service bag drop never takes more than 5 minutes (and that's the pesimistic end of it). So it's quite useless for practicalities but it can be a fun thing to do when travelling with a group. But then I'd maybe consider the VIP services available at VIE.
I'm thinking this would be good for elderly family members you book tickets for.
"GRANDMA SUSAN CHECK IN HERE THEN CALL ME"
I used to travel to and from BKK and used Thai business class most of the time. They had a sort of private check in area with a nearly personal assistant for those flying business at the time. I once had a companion with me who still speaks about how luxurious and privileged that felt (but then, we continued through a semi-private security channel and directly into a great lounge). So, I guess it can...
I used to travel to and from BKK and used Thai business class most of the time. They had a sort of private check in area with a nearly personal assistant for those flying business at the time. I once had a companion with me who still speaks about how luxurious and privileged that felt (but then, we continued through a semi-private security channel and directly into a great lounge). So, I guess it can add something to the airport experience.
I actually see how this must be appealing for the DYKWIA's and wannabe-VIPs whose ego is bigger than their fame. Imagine them going around the airport, asking staff where 'the private check-in area' is in a just too loud voice, despite knowing bloody well where to find it. It must be amazing for their ego's. Austrian may want to add an extended package including fast track and lounge, so their ego boosting experience doesn't end within a few seconds when receiving their boarding pass.
It may actually work for some companies sending workers with tons of luggage or special equipment, who need some assistance at check in anyway. Hence the logo and text thing, I guess: it's easy to recognize your employer's logo.
For families? Not really. Families with small children already have special check in and security opportunities at lots of European airports (and I think VIE is one of them), and most of them fly economy anyway to save costs. Adding €99 to the bill won't make sense.
Those are the scenarios that make the most sense to me:
Smaller company/non-corporate - Types that either have extensive luggage or pieces requiring specific handling. Trekking/ski resort guiding companies.
Expats / Seasonal workers - O&G/Mining contract workers, people who spend ~half the year somewhere else.
International Conference destinations - OPEC etc, which have security personnel, although I'd guess many are flying private.
Why would anyone want to spend 30 minutes checking in? Unless the space has all the features of an excellent lounge, surely the objective is to get through check-in ASAP.
Watch half the people in these groups use the normal check in counter and then realize they had a special one available
Seems like would be better packaged with priority security and lounge access
That would be $499, please
@f15x28: Sir, this is Europe, they don't use USD.
Sure, sure... The personalized message is all fun and games until someone has their spouse drop them at the airport and the message board says, "I'm leaving you."
Or someone decides to use an inappropriate logo and either gets the airline in hot water, or the airline refuses to use the logo and gets sued by the passenger for breach of contract
@f15x28: Sir, this is Europe, it doesn't have a ridiculous claim and sue culture like the USA. And I'm pretty sure the airline has such eventualities covered in the ToS.
For years, AA has offered Five Star Services, which can be purchased with cash or points. Depending on the airport, it might include Flagship check-in, an escort, lounge access, and (depending) a golf cart ride or tarmac transfer. At one point, it offered expedited private Customs clearance for international arrivals. A person can opt for the service robustness that suits their needs. Perhaps there's an article about FSS wanting to be written.
@ Fred Farkle -- Appreciate the idea, but see here:
https://onemileatatime.com/guides/american-airlines-five-star-service/
:-)
Excellent.
This could be particularly fun (and good value) for a bigger themed event, or for something like a bachelorette party/girls trip. After all, 99 euros for one person is very different than 16.5 euros per person
I guess it seems just about as appealing as paying extra to have a private self-checkout at the grocery store where I have to do the labor myself anyway, and am trying to avoid as much as possible spending 30 minutes there unnecessarily. Well, good on them if they can get anyone to cough up for this add on.
I would think the check-in counter is staffed (not self-serve) and the 30-minutes block is what you are entitled to, not obligated to spend there.