Once the boarding card has been printed the passenger name can be seen promptly moving to the section which shows the aircraft seats. The user can see the passenger seat number, the name, their title and also whether the passenger was checked in as an adult, child, infant, male or female (depending on which breakdown the airline requires).

With regard to oncarraiges or the interline of baggage, the system allows the user to add all onward flight information (up to 6 flights) but it is not possible to produce any onward boarding cards as the AS system has no link/interface to any other airline system. It is possible to produce onward baggage tags though. Even though the oncarraige details includes all flight details including time of departure, the system does not actually recognise these times so unfortunately it is possible to check baggage through when a passenger may have a tight connection (Misconnx). A prompt to the user that the passengers’ baggage may not make the flight due Misconnx would be very helpful.

The AS system has no access to Timatic or any other system which aids the agent with Visa/passport/nationality checks therefore Split airport runs the risk of accepting passengers for travel with incorrect travel documents. This is always very costly for the operating airline as the fines for deportees and Inadmissible passengers are very high.

The agent will be issued with a warning within the flight check-in module if a delay is probable. This delay warning is entered into the system by a check-in supervisor (these people are called Spacemen and have an unlimited access sign-in) who in turn will activate delayed boarding announcements also.

When the check-in process is complete, the spaceman will activate the function for the final PBI (passenger boarding information). This PBI will contain all passenger information for the crew including upgrades, special meals, WCHR’s etc. There is also a button to close off self-service check-in (this is for future use because as yet, AS does not incorporate a self service system). The final check-in functions are then activated which tells the weight and balance department that check-in is finally finished with this flight and the weight and balance department can now start to process their load sheets etc. with actual weights and figures.

A fact worth noting at this stage is the problem of aircraft changes once a flight has been partly or completely checked-in. This problem has been dealt with in depth by AS. As explained within this document, the process of creating a flight is very simple and quick. In most DCS systems the process of taking the names from one checked-in flight and moving them to another can be very difficult. Within the AS system they have allowed for the agent to move the passengers one by one, in a group or as a full flight to another aircraft with their baggage details. If the aircraft is of the same type, then the same seats can be given but if it is of a different type, the seating selection will be different. Once again the AS system has taken a very complicated function and made it look easy.