Star Alliance Automates Checks for Travel Docs Requirements

Singapore Airlines will be the first carrier to introduce the new 'Auto Doc Check' service developed by Star Alliance. The automated service is intended as a quick and easy way for agents and passengers to verify at check-in that the passengers have all the required travel documents for their itineraries. Star sees the service as being particularly useful when dealing with multi-country travel itineraries. Credit: Star Alliance

Star Alliance is claiming an airline-industry first with the launch of an automated service intended to simplify the task of verifying passengers' travel documentation requirements.

The verification task often can be complex, especially when check-in agents have to deal with passenger itineraries involving travel to several countries.

Singapore Airlines will be the first carrier to start using the new, software-based Auto Doc Check service, developed by a joint initiative involving experts from 11 Star Alliance member airlines. Other Star carriers plan to use the product in the future.

“Up to now it has often been a challenge for check-in personnel and passengers to keep current about what documents are needed for traveling abroad,” said Lee Hock Lye, Star Alliance's vice president, products and services.

A typical example facing check-in staff would be the need to ascertain whether a Singapore resident traveling to Australia and then to South Africa on a British passport needs a visa for any part of the journey.

“With ‘state-of-the-art technology’ now evaluating the passenger’s travel documents and deciding if the passenger is allowed to travel, Auto Doc Check is taking the guesswork out this decision,” Lee said.

Auto Doc Check returns a concise 'Yes,' 'No' or 'Conditional' response at check-in. Travel warnings and conditions associated with the rules of the destination country are presented on the agent's screen in an easy-to-understand format that is accessed by the airline's host passenger information system and individually tailored for its passengers.

The new Star Alliance service uses an extensive database containing travel rules for every country in the world. Despite the potential protection it offers passengers and airlines, the alliance cautions passengers to continue to ensure that they have the necessary documentation prior to travel.

Auto Doc Check also will expand the scope of off-airport check-in initiatives, especially for international travel, said Star. The same service that will be used by airline check-in agents also will be available to passengers checking in via the Internet or at self-service kiosks.

“Once a passenger indicates the documents he plans to carry with him, Auto Doc Check immediately lets him know if he has sufficient and valid documents or not,” explained Lee.

This should reduce the number of times at the airport that passengers need to have their identification and travel documentation verified by airline and security personnel, since their document checks will already have been performed at the first point of check-in, Star Alliance said.

The alliance predicts airlines also will derive important benefits from the service. If a passenger is allowed to travel without the proper documents, he or she can be turned away at his or her destination and the airline can face heavy immigration fines. Auto Doc Check will reduce this risk and flight delays also will be reduced, since it will take agents less time to process customers at check-in, according to Star.

“Carriers are looking for ways to significantly expedite check-in processes and Auto Doc Check does just that,” said Lee.

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