SQ launches Automated Document Check at Changi

[MAN Flyer]

Singapore Airlines has started using an Automated Document Check facility at Singapore's Changi Airport. Jointly developed by experts from eleven Star Alliance member carriers, this system simplifies the task of checking travel documents requirements.

The Automated Document Check facility processes all visa, travel and immigration requirements of the countries in the customer’s itinerary and eliminates time-consuming manual verification by check-in staff.

“In short, our customers will spend less time at the check-in counter, even if his trip takes him through many countries and he can travel with peace of mind that he has all the necessary documents with him,” said Mr Yap Kim Wah, Senior Vice President Product and Services for Singapore Airlines.

Presently, when customers present the travel documents they have prepared, check-in staff will manually ascertain that the customers have prepared all the relevant travel and visa requirements for all their destinations. This is necessary as customers without the required travel documents can be turned away at his/her destination.

With the Automated Document Check facility, the system evaluates all the travel documentation prepared and carried by the customer, and gives a “Yes” or “No” response to inform the check-in staff if the customer has all the required documents to proceed with his journey. It presents travel warnings, conditions and visa requirements on the screen in a simple format that is customized for the customer’s journey. This is possible as the facility contains an extensive up-to-date database containing rules for every country. Nevertheless, customers are still responsible for preparing and ensuring that they have the necessary documents prior to their travel.

Other Star Alliance member airlines are planning to use the product in the future.

[jhm]

Presently, when customers present the travel documents they have prepared, check-in staff will manually ascertain that the customers have prepared all the relevant travel and visa requirements for all their destinations. [...]

With the Automated Document Check facility, the system evaluates all the travel documentation prepared and carried by the customer, and gives a “Yes” or “No” response to inform the check-in staff if the customer has all the required documents to proceed with his journey.

I wonder how many:

"Computer says no"

stories we'll get for people who want to do turnarounds etc!

[Kyo]

This would be super-useful for a *A-wide ticket.

I know with SQ after you book there's a pop-up window you can activate to check visa requirements by country, it would be handy to have a permanent link (or is there one already?!)

[matt_will_fix_it]

This would be super-useful for a *A-wide ticket.

I know with SQ after you book there's a pop-up window you can activate to check visa requirements by country, it would be handy to have a permanent link (or is there one already?!)

You can check here...

http://www.staralliance.com/en/trave...visa_form.html

[SQflyergirl]

"Computer says no"

In true Carol Beer style... it really ought to be "computer says noooooo"

[jhm]

This would be super-useful for a *A-wide ticket.

You mean like a *A RTW ?

To be honest, these systems are really meant for the benefit of the airlines (to speed up the checks which they make to avoid having to pay fines etc if a pax they carry is denied entry into a country) and not so much for the pax. As the press release says:

"Nevertheless, customers are still responsible for preparing and ensuring that they have the necessary documents prior to their travel."

I certainly wouldn't go on any trip simply relying on an automated program to tell me whether I've complied with visa and other requirements, e.g. length of validity of passport; whether the visa needs to be translated; whether an onward air tix or hotel accommodation is required; whether you fall outside the US Visa Waiver Progamme conditions; etc. For new countries, I always check a few months in advance whether I need to do anything (but luckily, holding a UK passport and a HKID+huixiangzhen, I've only needed to apply for a visa in advance for Vietnam in recent years).

[nickbot]

In true Carol Beer style... it really ought to be "computer says noooooo"

.................COUGH!!

[Kiwi]

I wonder how many:

"Computer says no"

stories we'll get for people who want to do turnarounds etc!

Indeed, and tight connections on separate tickets. As someone who often travels on odd combinations of tickets due to various limitations, changes of plans, etc, I have not been looking forward to this since it was announced by *A some time ago.

Potentially there may be issues for those who travel on multiple passports.

Earlier in the year I was almost denied boarding twice. Once on a LX flight where the agent had keyed in the wrong country code for my passport. The second time was to Iraq - the list of visa-on-arrival countries changes all the time. The gate supervisor had a printout and my country was not on the list. Fortunately common sense prevailed (other similar countries to mine were listed) when he checked with his supervisor and got the okay.

[zvezda]

The information comes from Timatic, which is kept up-to-date fairly well. I have seen cases where requirements changed and Timatic sill had the old information two weeks or so later.