Edinburgh and Budapest airports, both of which joined the Vinci Airports network in 2024, have introduced services that allow passengers to check in luggage before reaching the terminal.
Through a service operated by Airportr at Edinburgh Airport, Lufthansa and easyJet passengers can now have their bags collected from home, an office or a hotel and checked in before their flight, allowing them to head straight to security on arrival. According to Vinci Airports, Edinburgh is the first airport in Scotland to offer the service, which can be booked through the Airportr website.
easyJet passengers have access to a similar collection, delivery and door-to-flight service with Airportr at London Gatwick, also part of the Vinci Airports network, letting them travel to the airport without luggage before collecting it at their destination.
At Budapest Airport, passengers can check in baggage for a fee at a downtown store through the Universal AirportHUB Bag Free Hub service. Passengers with a valid boarding pass featuring a barcode or QR code can drop off luggage in the city center, then go to the airport and proceed directly to security screening.
The service is available for flights departing between noon and midnight, with baggage required to be checked in at least four hours before departure. Passengers must also complete online check-in, and baggage must meet the relevant airline’s size, weight and shape requirements.
The process mirrors self-service baggage drop found at airports: passengers print their bag tags at the store, attach them to their luggage and hand the bags to staff, with an instructional video and AirportHUB personnel available to assist.
Budapest Airport and AirportHUB said checked baggage is transported to the airport by a contracted partner in a locked vehicle with a secure cargo compartment under continuous supervision. Bags are then screened at the terminal and handled in the same way as other hold baggage.
The downtown drop-off service is currently available to Wizz Air passengers with a boarding pass featuring a barcode or QR code. Budapest Airport and its partners said they are working to expand the service to other airlines.
In related news, Adelaide Airport to enhance passenger experience with Amadeus self-service technology upgrade
