Airline passengers given a heads up on queueing

Bald heads are being sought by Air New Zealand for a new "cranial billboard" campaign.

Successful candidates will have their locks shaved and branded with a temporary tattoo on the back of their bare head to promote new airport developments.

They will also walk away with $1000 for their efforts.

Casting calls are at Aotea Centre tomorrow, September 18, from noon to 2pm. People can register on the day, and it’s open to everyone.

Air New Zealand’s general manager marketing Steve Bayliss says cranial billboards are a way to tell people about the improved check-in experience at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch domestic airports.

The simplified check-in experience aims to get travellers through the airport faster, with Auckland domestic airport kicking off in late October.

"Tedious check-in queues have become a fact of life that travellers begrudgingly accept," Mr Bayliss says.

"You end up staring at the back of people’s heads, waiting for the line to move forward.

"So how better to tell our customers that Air New Zealand is going to do something about it at our three main domestic airports, than through messaging they can read while they’re standing in a queue themselves?"

The temporary message will last about two weeks.

It will alert people to the changes and direct them to the website www.changingthewayyoufly.co.nz.

Top Kiwi band Elemeno P will be performing at Aotea Square and TV3’s Brooke Howard Smith will MC.

There will be a free barbecue and refreshments.

Changes in Air New Zealand check-in areas include new layouts, new high-tech kiosks, a speedier process for checking luggage and a new generous baggage allowance.

Passengers will be able to select their seat online and have their boarding passes emailed to them along with their e-ticket, or sent directly to their mobile phone.

Customers will print their tags at the airport kiosks and take labelled luggage to the bag drop zones. The kiosks will also print boarding passes for those customers who haven’t checked in online.

Passengers travelling only with carry-on bags can skip check-in altogether and go straight to the departure gate with their boarding pass – using either their e-ticket or the boarding pass sent to their mobile phone.

Air New Zealand staff will be in attendance to help customers use the new kiosk technology and to assist those customers with special needs.

 

 

- © Fairfax NZ News