British Airways has teamed up with AirPortr to create new convenient fast bag drop areas before heading to the departures concourse at its London flagship Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport.
Starting from July 19, British Airways passengers travelling from T5 will be able to drop off and check in their luggage with partner AirPortr as soon as they step off the Heathrow Express. The new fast bag drop service is free of charge to customers who have already checked in at home.
AirPortr also offers customers the opportunity to have their luggage collected and checked in from their home or office up to 24 hours before their flight, at rates from £19 ($26.2) onwards.
According to BA, with the first drop-off point planned at the Heathrow Express train platforms, customers will be able to quickly and securely drop-off their luggage at peak times, before travelling bag-free straight through to security.
AirPortr’s team will ensure that once collected, bags are sealed and monitored throughout the delivery process.
Passengers will also be able to track their luggage online from the moment it leaves their doorstep, or at the T5 key access areas, right up to the bag being loaded onto the aircraft. Customers using the services also receive digital bag tag receipts.
Director of Customer Experience Tom Stevens, said: “Ahead of July 19, BA has been busy investigating and trialling ways to ensure that we can offer our customers the smoothest journey through the airport possible.”
“We believe this contact less initiative with AirPortr allows our customers to avoid baggage check-in queues and move through the airport without the hassle of carrying luggage, as well as offering the reassurance that we are doing everything we can to ensure the safe delivery of their bags from doorstep to destination,” he added.
Randel Darby, CEO and Founder of AirPortr Technologies said: “We’re proud to be able to play our part in helping British Airways and its customers with the restart of international travel this summer.”
“Seamless, contact-free journeys through the airport are in everyone’s best interests and removing bags from the equation makes this possible for many more people,” stated Darby.
“As the specialist in this space, we’re excited to be working with British Airways once again to lead development of innovative new baggage solutions, for the benefit of customers travelling in a post-pandemic world,” he added.
As well as the AirPortr’s luggage service, British Airways also offers a special twilight baggage drop service the night before travel from Heathrow Terminal 5, when customers are able to deliver their bags to the airport terminal between 4 and 9pm the day before they travel.
“Customers can currently use VeriFLY on all flights to the US, Canada and France as well as on all inbound flights. The airline has also recently announced its involvement in IATA’s Travel Pass,” he stated.
“The digital travel solution will begin on British Airways’ flights from Heathrow to Geneva and Zurich,” he added.
