ANA introduces new process for standby passengers on all domestic flights

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is introducing a simple way for passengers to apply and confirm their standby seats. Beginning April 1, passengers will have the ability to apply for available standby seats on a specific domestic flight or multiple flights simultaneously through ANA's Self-Service Check-in Machines.

"ANA constantly looks for ways to improve our service and boost the passenger experience, and this is an area where we believe a slight change will have an outsized impact," said Masaki Yokai, Senior Vice President of ANA "We sought out ways to improve service and meet passenger needs more efficiently to speed up the booking process. Getting on a standby flight is often a high-stress experience, and we wanted to create a seamless process to make it less stressful so we believe that this new procedure is a step in the right direction."

Under the current system, passengers must wait at the ANA check-in counter or at the boarding gate to see if the request has been confirmed. After receiving confirmation, the ANA staff then check-in the confirmed passengers one at a time - a time consuming and inefficient process.

The new process will make it possible for passengers to apply for standby seats on a certain domestic flight or multiple flights simultaneously. After applying, passengers will proceed and wait at the boarding gate to see if they have received a standby spot on their chosen flight, with confirmation being displayed 20 minutes prior to departure. The passengers that have a confirmed seat can then use the self-service check-in machines to check-in for the flight.

© Japan Today