Bengaluru: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is planning to introduce a home check-in service under its ‘Care by BLR’ programme, potentially allowing passengers to have their baggage collected from their homes before they travel to the airport.
The proposed service is part of the airport’s effort to offer more personalised assistance to passengers and simplify the journey from their doorstep to the boarding gate.
Home baggage collection planned
Under the proposed home check-in facility, passengers could have their baggage collected from their residence before leaving for the airport.
The service is also expected to include a wake-up call and a chauffeur-driven ride to KIA. Once the passenger reaches the airport, the Care by BLR team would handle the subsequent assistance required for the journey.
Another planned facility would help passengers deal with baggage items that cannot be carried through airport security. Such items could be sent by courier instead of requiring travellers to make separate arrangements.
The services are part of a broader attempt to make the airport experience more convenient, particularly for passengers seeking personalised assistance.
Care by BLR offers multiple services
Care by BLR currently provides 10 services aimed at assisting passengers at different stages of their airport journey.
These include Meet & Assist, limousine transfers, lounge access, luggage storage, valet parking, porter assistance, baggage wrapping, car spa and flower and bouquet services. Airside limousine and facilitation services are also available.
George Bennet Kuruvilla, Executive Director and CEO of Bengaluru Airport Services Limited (BASL), said the existing personalised services together receive around 300 to 350 bookings or transactions every day.
He said the airport’s objective was not limited to operational efficiency but also included providing passengers with a more empathetic experience.
Premium airport transfers available
Passengers seeking a luxury travel experience between KIA and Bengaluru can also opt for premium car services.
The airport’s limousine services include high-end vehicles from brands such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Rolls-Royce.
The limousine service starts at around Rs 4,500, although the final fare depends on factors such as the vehicle selected, distance and duration of the journey.
For passengers seeking an ultra-premium experience, Rolls-Royce vehicles are available, with fares starting at around Rs 50,000.
These services are aimed at passengers who prefer a more exclusive and personalised mode of transportation between the airport and the city.
Airport focuses on end-to-end assistance
Kuruvilla described Care by BLR as a comprehensive approach designed to assist passengers from the kerbside to the gate and from the gate back to the kerbside.
The programme combines airport assistance, transportation, baggage-related services and other conveniences under one service umbrella.
The proposed home check-in facility could further extend this approach by allowing passengers to complete part of the airport process before they even leave home.
By collecting baggage in advance and providing transportation, the service is expected to reduce some of the tasks passengers normally have to complete after reaching the airport.
More services in the pipeline
Airport officials indicated that Care by BLR is still being expanded and that additional services are under consideration.
The proposed home check-in facility and baggage courier option would add to the existing range of premium services and could offer greater convenience to passengers willing to pay for personalised assistance.
With KIA handling a large volume of passengers, the airport’s focus on such services reflects an effort to provide different levels of assistance based on travellers’ needs.
If introduced, home baggage collection, chauffeur transfers and airport-side assistance would allow passengers to begin their airport journey from home rather than waiting until they arrive at the terminal to access personalised services.