Mobile working Toolkit

Ticketing takes to text

Staff, CNETAsia CNETAsia

Published: 15 Sep 2003 12:05 BST

Two budget airlines in Asia will allow customers to book tickets and check-in via text message.

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia has teamed up with Malaysia-based telco Maxis and Dutch technology firm Getronics to launch an airline reservation and payment service, according to a statement from the company.

Users can choose their flights, confirm the reservation and make payments through text messaging. All they need to do is to key in AA or AirAsia on their mobile phone and send it to 39399. Customers will then be guided through a set of instructions to buy tickets.

The new service is free, but each SMS will be charged the standard rate of RM 0.15 (2p), said the statement.

Recently, Australia's budget airline Virgin Blue announced plans to introduce an SMS service that allows customers to check in using their mobile phones.

A barcode containing reservation details will be sent to a customer's mobile phone, which can be scanned like a boarding pass at check in.

Customers will also be able to receive their itinerary via SMS and, using a GPRS or 3G-enabled phone, make changes to their reservation.

ZDNet Australia's staff writers contributed to this report.