Qantas forcing everyone to use self-service check-in kiosks in AKL

[jastel]

Just came back from Singapore and ordered fast food at the counter with cash several times.
Also every other country I visited on the trip.
Once or twice the staff member came out and did it but I NEVER used the screen.
Isnt it easier for the staff member to stay behind the counter and take my order?
I just act dumb and they take the order and money.
Never been refused anywhere.

A couple of 7/11 type stores tried the card only thing, I just apologise and left the stuff on the counter and start walking out, they all called me back and took my cash.

I get that phone tapping Millennials love using the robots as they dont have to form a sentence and speak to a person and they are Maccas main income but you still need "people" taking orders etc and helping when there are problems...ESPECIALLY at Airports.

 

[Matthews]

For a premium airline if you’re flying in J it’s illogical to be forced to use a kiosk

It would be fine if the technology worked and if the procedure was intelligently organised.

 

[puchu]

Just came back from Singapore and ordered fast food at the counter with cash several times.
Also every other country I visited on the trip.
Once or twice the staff member came out and did it but I NEVER used the screen.
Isnt it easier for the staff member to stay behind the counter and take my order?
I just act dumb and they take the order and money.
Never been refused anywhere.

A couple of 7/11 type stores tried the card only thing, I just apologise and left the stuff on the counter and start walking out, they all called me back and took my cash.

I get that phone tapping Millennials love using the robots as they dont have to form a sentence and speak to a person and they are Maccas main income but you still need "people" taking orders etc and helping when there are problems...ESPECIALLY at Airports.

Millennials are up to the age of 44 these days and are perfectly fine with speaking with others.

 

[Johnxx]

I get that phone tapping Millennials love using the robots as they dont have to form a sentence and speak to a person and they are Maccas main income but you still need "people" taking orders etc and helping when there are problems...ESPECIALLY at Airports.

Gen X here....I actually try my best NOT to have to bother with any local currency if possible when I travel.
Success in Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Fiji, Bahrain, New Zealand, Tunisia and Poland in recent times.
Annoyingly impossible in Kuwait City and Japan

 

[TheInsider]

Just came back from Singapore and ordered fast food at the counter with cash several times.
Also every other country I visited on the trip.
Once or twice the staff member came out and did it but I NEVER used the screen.
Isnt it easier for the staff member to stay behind the counter and take my order?
I just act dumb and they take the order and money.
Never been refused anywhere.

A couple of 7/11 type stores tried the card only thing, I just apologise and left the stuff on the counter and start walking out, they all called me back and took my cash.

I get that phone tapping Millennials love using the robots as they dont have to form a sentence and speak to a person and they are Maccas main income but you still need "people" taking orders etc and helping when there are problems...ESPECIALLY at Airports.

What a rubbish statement. Screams entitlement.

But in reality, you'd be in the minority of people that actually wants to be "served" by someone.

In terms of airline check-in, over 80% use their phones and self service for domestic flights, that includes baggage.

What's your reasoning why it is "ESPECIALLY" needed at airports? What reason?

 

[Quickstatus]

ordered fast food at the counter with cash several times.

I purchased a new car online. No human interaction required except the fellow pointing to the car when I picked it up. I don't see the need to speak to someone to do a transaction for just about anything.

 

[jastel]

What a rubbish statement. Screams entitlement.

But in reality, you'd be in the minority of people that actually wants to be "served" by someone.

In terms of airline check-in, over 80% use their phones and self service for domestic flights, that includes baggage.

What's your reasoning why it is "ESPECIALLY" needed at airports? What reason?

RIGHT BACK AT YOU BUDDY....

This whole thread is about people who DONT want to use robots and want some human help.

If I want to pay cash and buy your goods what is rubbish or entitled about that?

This is not even about First Class lick my boots service, this is about companies making customers do the work THEY should be doing. Taking orders, checking passengers in etc

If you want the robots and apps fine - but you need the old fashioned alternatives too.
Its not like Maccas, flights or groceries are any cheaper now we do all this extra work for the companies...

Airports are crowded confusing places and if you have never used that particular airport or robot before it takes some time to figure out. Then have 200 people wanting to use 20 robots and see if you can think WHY someone might want some human help.
Having just travelled through 8 countries with my elderly mother I know she would be lost without me telling her what to do with all these gates and machines everywhere and stuff all human help to be found anywhere...I was lost once or twice when the machines failed too.
You NEED human staff.

Not everyone is HLO WP Frequent Flyers...the funny thing is these people, who could use the machines in their sleep probably, actually GET the boot licking VIP human treatment at airports while the rest of us battle the machines for the first time.

 

[puchu]

Yeah there should be people around able and willing to help if the check in machines aren’t easy enough to use. But how does that relate to your earlier rant about McDonald’s, millennials and your desire to pay with cash?

 

[Quickstatus]

Then have 200 people wanting to use 20 robots and see if you can think WHY someone might want some human help.

So long as there is a roaming service agent I don't see an issue. 20 robots also faster than the usual 1-3 check in agents

But I'm the type who does the Woolies shopping via Scan and Go

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

Who will attach the sticker to my luggage


Does it print boarding passss

 

[Quickstatus]

Who will attach the sticker to my luggage


Does it print boarding passss

It's easy to attach the luggage tag plus peel off the little sticker and stick it on another part of the luggage

Of course the boarding pass is printed the kiosk but the boarding pass for most airlines can be uploaded electronically to your phone ....

 

[jastel]

Yeah there should be people around able and willing to help if the check in machines aren’t easy enough to use. But how does that relate to your earlier rant about McDonald’s, millennials and your desire to pay with cash?

So we agree machines can be faulty or not easy to use.
If people should help at airports then why NOT at Maccas and Woolies too?

It just goes back to old fashioned service, which is eroding all the time. Companies say it saves time and people want it...me, and Im sure some others say it doesnt.
It saves the companies money but.

And if you use cash at Maccas you dont want to line up twice...once to order at machine and once more to pay. If you want to use a card, or apps, the drive thru, or sit at home and get someone to bring it to you do that, why the hate for using cash?

The Millennials was just a generalization as younger people tend to use less cash as I'm sure you know.

 

[puchu]

There are people to help you at McDonald’s (see: your comment where someone helped you). They are also more than happy to take your order and take your cash at the till. There’s also people to help at Woolies too - you can hit the button on screen to call for assistance, or you can go to a manned checkout. Some of the self checkout machines can also accept cash. I agree airports should have options to assist people who have trouble with machines, and they should be trained and enabled to do so.

On the generational generalisations, you’re attempting to conflate earlier technological uptake by younger generations with a sneering take on perceived antisocial behaviour because we rather not talk to people. I’m not having your spurious slur. I can talk with the best of them, but I’d rather the maccas employee makes my Big Mac faster instead. One further observation from me - I believe you’re wary of change and want things to stay how you are used to.

 

[wandering_fred]

Does NZ have age discrimination laws?
AT least at the local Maccas, the seniors' free coffee can not be ordered through the kiosk.....
Actually not a place I find useful frequent wandering (but the coffee is OK)
Fred

 

[dajop]

Just came back from Singapore and ordered fast food at the counter with cash several times.

My local one recently moved location within the shopping centre, with new design, and they only have a cash till with no ordering capability If you ask there to order they will send you to a kiosk. The old store still had a single counter for ordering and accepting cash, usually quicker to use that than the kiosks. The way things are headed I guess as they progressively update. TBH the demographic is mainly teens and 20 somethings and families. Very few older generation (who have more sense to eat at McDonalds anyway, more likely to find them downstairs at the food centre/hawker stalls). The other one nearby has had a similar "renovation", but they do have a dessert counter so you can order an icecream or dessert at that counter without having to deal with the coughbersome kiosks.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I love the Kiosk if I'm not in the mood to chat but appreciate the human if that's what I want.

I think most premium service businesses are struggling with the correct format at the moment. I've noticed many Australian hotels are similar offering kiosks obviously in a move to reduce labor cost but cheapens the experience in most cases.

Welcome to AFF @iflyineconomy

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Does NZ have age discrimination laws?

Yes. Human Rights Act.

 

[Quickstatus]

I wonder how people can order an Uber.......

 

[dajop]

I wonder how people can order an Uber.......

That’s the thing. Some people can’t and won’t.

 

[Quickstatus]

The option of automated kiosks and similar have made my daily living much easier

ATM machines
Woolies Scan and Go
Uber
Road Toll - imagine having to pay the toll to a person at the toll gates of a highway.
GP appointments
Airline checkins