Continental Airlines eService Check-In Rates Break New Record Over Thanksgiving
HOUSTON, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today
reported a new record for one-day eService check-ins over the Thanksgiving
holiday, with more than 65,000 passengers using self-service check-in on
December 1 -- representing 63 percent of originating eTicketed customers
traveling in the domestic U.S.
That surpasses Continental's previous record of more than 51,000 customers
using the airline's eService Centers on October 11 of this year.
For the month of November 2002, a record 1.24 million Continental
customers checked in using eService Centers, representing a full 62 percent of
all domestic eTicketed customers, and 56.3 percent of all domestic customers.
Continental's eService Center kiosks and related software are produced by
Lake Mary, Fla.-based Kinetics, Inc., a leading provider of technologies for
the e-commerce and self-service industries.
"The popularity of self-service check-in continues to increase among our
customers, who recognize the consistent reliability and convenience of our
eService Centers," said a Continental spokesperson. "Continental is the first
U.S. airline to have more than one-half of our customers use self-service
check-in on an ongoing basis -- about two-thirds of all customers who are able
to check in using self-service. Self-service gives time back to our customers
and makes our airline more efficient. It's a win-win scenario for everyone."
"Now that airline passengers must have boarding passes prior to entering
airport security, the use of self-service is not just a luxury, but a
necessity," said David Melnik, president and chief executive officer of
Kinetics. "Continental's forward-looking thinking has given it a competitive
edge that will help its customers avoid lines and simultaneously help the
government implement new security requirements throughout the U.S. air
transportation system."
Continental operates more than 670 eService Center check-in units at 113
U.S. airports, representing the largest number of deployed self-service kiosks
of any U.S. airline. Self-service check-in typically requires less than two
minutes -- far less than the time typically required to check in at a
traditional ticket counter.
Continental customers with eTickets flying in the domestic U.S. can use
eService Centers to check in, to check luggage and to print boarding passes
and receipts using a touch-screen display. Customers also can select seats
using an interactive seat map, change flights and add a frequent flyer number.
Frequent flyers with OnePass Elite-level status also can confirm or stand by
for first class upgrades when eligible. Continental agents are available to
provide assistance.
Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline and has more
than 2,000 daily departures. With 121 domestic and 90 international
destinations, Continental has the broadest global route network of any U.S.
airline, including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and
carries approximately 45 million passengers per year on the newest jet fleet
among major U.S. airlines. With 48,000 employees, Continental is one of the
"100 Best Companies to Work for in America." Fortune ranked Continental the
No. 2 Most Admired Global Airline and No. 30 Most Admired Global Company in
March 2002. For more company information, visit continental.com.
Kinetics, Inc., based in Lake Mary, Fla., is a leading provider of
technologies for the e-commerce and self-service generation, producing
hardware and software solutions designed to give travelers greater control
over their travel experience, and help businesses capture more revenue, expand
their distribution channels and enhance customer service.
More than 20 million passengers annually at 120 U.S. airports use
Kinetics' kiosk, pda/cell phone and Web-based self-service technologies. More
information can be found at http://www.kineticsusa.com.
Roger
EWROPS