The Allegheny County Airport Authority plans to install its first one-size-fits-all kiosks at Pittsburgh International Airport by mid-summer.
The new kiosks would allow passengers from any airline to bypass ticket counters and print boarding passes from ATM-like machines in the terminal.
"The system we're buying has compatibility with the systems that all airlines use," authority spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny said.
The authority's board on Friday unanimously approved paying up to $1.5 million in the next two years to ARINC, Inc., of Annapolis, Md., for the kiosks and other changes involving management of airline gates.
The authority plans to install eight kiosks at the Findlay airport and later, add more in local hotels and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, according to Executive Director Kent George.
Currently, airlines have their own kiosks, serving only passengers flying on their planes.
"For the consumer, I think self-service is good," said American Airlines spokesman Billy Sanez. "The folks who like to use the machines go up and print a boarding pass and don't have to wait in line."
The airline's main concern is that the kiosks are placed in areas that best serve its passengers.
Generally, airlines like kiosks because they enhance customer service and can save the airlines money because they don't need as many people to work check-in counters.
More than 75 percent of Continental Airline's domestic passengers check-in online or at a kiosk, Continental spokesman Martin Deleon said.
"We do feel that kiosks offer our customers the ultimate in customer service," he said. "By offering kiosks, we have a fast and easy check-in at airports."
