TACA Introduces Check In Express To Reduce Airport Line Ups
Flying to other countries from Costa Rica on TACA airlines will be much easier the company said as it announced its new service "Check In Express", as customers with electronic tickets can now check in by way of the internet at any time up to three hours before the flight.

The company's website www.taca.com will allow customers to enter their personal information and check in, greatly reducing the time spent at the airport counter.

The new service will allow any Taca customer with a computer, an internet connection and a printer to check in and print out a boarding pass which is then presented at the airport counter.

Customers can choose their seat preference - isle or window, front or back of the aircraft - and can do so for up to 8 other passengers on the same reservation code.

The Check In Express began on July 1 and TACA officials expect that 10% to 15% of its 3.5 million customers a year will use the new service and it expects its use to grow with time.

Carlos Molina, director of services at TACA, said that the new service, which he qualified as new to the market, will, among many things, reduce the check in lines at the airport counters and reduce the lead time passengers need at the airport.

Currently, airlines recommend arriving at the airport up to 3 hours ahead of the flight, which most of the time is spending in line waiting to check in and getting a boarding pass. The new service will allow passengers using the Check In Express to arrive only one hour before the flight.

"The Check In Express is an alternative for our customers to check in by way of the internet in the comfort of their home or office. They can print out a boarding pass and if they have no luggage to check in, passengers can by-pass the check in counter completely and go directly to the boarding gate. In most airport passengers can go to a special counter where they can check in their luggage and facilitate the 'airport' process", explained Molina who added that the service is available to all customers and all flights that the airlines operates.