Aer Lingus has signed a deal with Daon to extend the use of the VeriFLY app.
Details
In a statement published on its website, Aer Lingus said, "Aer Lingus has signed a deal with Daon to extend the use of the VeriFLY app, following the successful rollout of the technology across its network. Aer Lingus’s investment in VeriFLY allows customers to upload and receive approval of their travel documentation at home before travelling to the airport - particularly helpful in the context of the new travel requirements for entry into the USA*. By using VeriFLY, Aer Lingus customers will be able to check in online and go straight to bag drop / boarding gate and avoid any queuing at check-in.
"Aer Lingus started trialling VeriFLY in April 2021 and the airline is now using the app on the vast majority of its operations, including flights to and from Europe, from UK to Ireland, UK to and from Barbados and on transatlantic routes to and from the USA. To date, up to 250,000 Aer Lingus customers have successfully used the VeriLFY app.
"The VeriFLY app can be downloaded for free to mobile devices and is designed to offer peace-of-mind before travelling. The app allows customers to upload COVID-19 related documentation required for travel to their destination, including vaccination records and negative COVID-19 results. The documentation is then approved. Customers receive a 'green tick' on the app, letting them know they have met the appropriate COVID-19 entry requirements for their destination. Aer Lingus customers travelling to USA will only be able to check-in online once they have verified their documentation using VeriFLY. This will help reduce any uncertainty or stress associated with travelling. At the airport, customers travelling to the USA will show their boarding pass to the Aer Lingus agents at the boarding gate. Currently customers who are traveling within Europe will show their VeriFLY 'green tick' and boarding pass to agents at the boarding. Customers can then avail of a prioritised VeriFLY boarding process which minimises queues, allowing for a more seamless customer experience.
"Peter O'Neill, Chief Operations Officer at Aer Lingus, said, 'With travel to the US opening up on 8th November, and more people planning trips abroad to reconnect with family, friends and colleagues we want to make the experience as seamless as possible. VeriFLY is key to this, as it ensures our customers are confident that they are complying with their destination's COVID related travel requirements before they leave home. While there are new and varied rules across different countries, the use of the VeriFLY app means customers can very easily upload their travel documents and have them checked and approved before they fly. At Aer Lingus we are committed to using technology to improve our customers' travel experience.'
"Clive Bourke, President EMEA and APAC at Daon, added, 'With travel to the US and elsewhere opening up, for the first time since this pandemic began, we will see some families and friends being re-united. Now people will be able to take those much-needed breaks and important in-person business connections will be re-ignited. VeriFLY simplifies travel for passengers - the app guides the traveller through all the pre-departure COVID requirements for a destination and lets them complete those steps for both themselves and any traveling companions before they leave for the airport. We're delighted to work with Aer Lingus to help make travel as stress-free as possible for passengers while enabling both Aer Lingus and passengers to efficiently comply with all the international travel requirements related to COVID.'"
Additional Information
Aer Lingus added, "All data uploaded to VeriFLY or through aerlingus.com is not retained by either organisation and is purged post travel, unless a government requires specific information to be temporarily kept for attestation or contact tracing, in which case it will be safeguarded for a limited time strictly in compliance with GDPR laws.
"Aer Lingus has introduced a range of tools to ensure travel is easy and stress free for customers. In addition to VeriFLY, Aer Lingus introduced a new digital Travel Support Tool in August, designed to remove uncertainty regarding travel restrictions and entry requirements for all Aer Lingus destinations. The interactive tool on aerlingus.com, powered by Sherpa, allows Aer Lingus customers to search destinations and retrieve up-to-date tailored travel information based on their specific circumstances including vaccination status, return travel and flight connection requirements.
"Aer Lingus has created the following video to introduce our customers to VeriFLY:
"To book visit aerlingus.com and for more information on VeriFLY visit aerlingus.com/support/covid19-information/verifly/."
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
