Digital Check-in for Flights

and Culture

Types of media and services associated with flights and flying

Ticket purchasing websites and apps
Arrival and departure boards, websites and apps
Advertisements, weather, news
Security control, visa application processes, boarder control
Commodity and perishable consumption
Duty free and purchase declaration
Taxi, train, metro, car hire services and hotels
Travel agencies and tourist information centres

Why focus on on-line check-in specifically?

It brings into question the idea of human interaction as being a
necessary part of culture
It looks at the nature of smart phone/app usage
By narrowing down the topic we can assess a multitude of
information such as demographics, interviews, opinion polls,
consumer studies, etc
It questions the use of digital systems versus real or old
fashioned and trusted systems

Statistics of flying and airport use:

2.9 billion aeroplane passengers in 2012 globally (ICAO)

Statistics of apps and online check-in use:

KLM app 100 000 downloads
Air France 100 000 downloads
British Airways app 500 000 downloads
Ryannair app 500 000 downloads
EasyJet app 1 000 000 downloads
Delta Airlines app 1 000 000 downloads
United Airlines app 1 000 000 downloads
*Statistics are for Android/Google Play

Who uses on-line check in and who doesnt:

Does the difference signify a difference in culture or basic
demographic difference?
Is there an implication based on the fact that we no longer
interact with humans by default?
Is this a matter of function altering format or does it have
real cultural bearing?

Mass Communication:
The app and online function might eventually fully replace the human
interactive aspect of travel
Airlines promote this form of check-in to save them costs. Instruction
from above alters our actions and behaviours to suit its purposes
There is smaller need for on the ground personnel but a greater need
for more highly educated staff that can operate the digital medium
and know how to crash test it

Questions raised:
How does digital check-in and the use of apps alter mass culture?
The cultural and social implications: does this contribute to
cultural homogeneity or polarity?
Is data gained from online-purchasing, check-in and boarding
procedures and used for more general purposes such as security
or airport layout?
How does this particular aspect of the digital revolution further
divide first from third world citizens?
Is this indicative of mass culture due the rejection of the
medium?

Online services that are similar:

Route planning apps
Ticket purchasing apps
Flight price comparison websites
Hotel booking websites and apps
even Health services
Many of which have adverts attached to them and are
likewise attached as adverts to other media