DALLAS — Alaska Airlines (AS) celebrates the opening of its newly renovated terminal at Portland International Airport (PDX) by introducing innovative technology to enhance the passenger experience.
The airline’s goal is to get travelers from the lobby to security in five minutes or less. PDX is the first location to implement these innovations.
The airline’s new system aims to give passengers more autonomy during their journey. A key feature is the specially designed iPad-based baggage tag stations that print baggage tags by scanning a mobile boarding pass.
Alaska has partnered with Embross, a self-service technology specialist, to develop automated bag drop stations. These stations scan and accept checked baggage and securely verify travelers’ identities using government-issued IDs without the need for employee intervention.
Comments from Alaska Airlines, Embross
Charu Jain, senior vice president of innovation and merchandising at Alaska Airlines, said, “Nearly 90% of our passengers now check in before arriving at the airport, so we’ve introduced our lobby experience of the future in Portland. It simplifies baggage drop-off and quickly guides guests through the lobby so they can take advantage of everything the new terminal has to offer.”
Myles Tzelepis, Chief Technology Officer of Embross, emphasized that the new baggage drop at PDX utilizes cutting-edge computer vision technology. This innovation brings convenience and efficiency to automated baggage handling while ensuring compliance with TSA ID screening requirements and passenger security standards.
This technological overhaul at AS’s second-largest hub represents the airline’s commitment to improving the airport experience, giving passengers more control over their travel process and reducing the time spent in queues, something every passenger will appreciate.