Self-serve baggage drop system launched at Vancouver International Airport

The CheckedItExpress self-bag drop unit at Vancouver International Airport. (Vancouver Airport Authority)

Travellers can now check in their large bags quickly with Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) new self-service bag drop system.

After checking in at a kiosk, passengers can send their bag off at the CheckedItExpress self-bag drop unit, which is anticipated to be four times quicker than the previous method, with average time processing rates at eight seconds with no assistance required.

The drop unit has ramps so that bags can be wheeled from the floor onto the conveyor, and it uses superior camera technology to accurately read the bag tag. If the bag is overweight, the conveyor belt will not process the bag.

The CheckedItExpress self-bag drop unit at Vancouver International Airport. (Vancouver Airport Authority)

“We strive to deliver an outstanding experience for every traveller that comes through YVR,” says Craig Richmond, President and CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority, in a statement.

“This is an exciting time for us and offering solutions that are more accessible, efficient and intuitive enables us to prioritize speed and ease of movement for everyone, which improves overall traveller satisfaction.”

The CheckedItExpress self-bag drop unit at Vancouver International Airport. (Vancouver Airport Authority)

This new technology is being introduced to YVR as it uses less space and helps reduce congestion in the bag drop area of airports. This can reduce the need for costly terminal expansions and save valuable airport space for other uses, such as passenger amenities.

More of these bag drop units will be installed at the terminal over the coming year, and it is all part of YVR’s strategy of increasing the infrastructural capacity needed to accommodate the airport’s rapid passenger growth.

Airport officials forecast YVR will see 29 million passengers in 2020 and 31 million passengers in 2022, up from over 24 million in 2017 and 20.3 million in 2015.

“As passenger numbers continue to increase, the need for innovative approaches to solve global processing challenges is profound,” said Chris Gilliland, Director of Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) for Vancouver Airport Authority.

The CheckedItExpress self-bag drop unit at Vancouver International Airport. (Vancouver Airport Authority)

YVR’s ITS division worked with New Zealand-based Glidepath to develop the new baggage handling technology, and they will market their bag drop units to other airports around the world, which will provide YVR with a new non-aeronautical revenue stream.

ITS also developed the airport’s BorderExpress – full-service border control kiosks that accept all passports, improve processing times, and reduce terminal space and labour costs. Since the kiosks were first introduced to YVR in 2009, over 1,300 kiosks have been sold to 39 airports and seaports around the world.

YVR recently began its $5.6-billion expansion project, which includes a significant expansion of the terminal building.

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