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Checking-in online is one of the most convenient ways for airline passengers to go through the airport terminal before their flight. By checking-in before even arriving at the airport, the passenger can forego waiting in line especially if the passenger doesn’t carry a lot of baggage. Or at least that’s what airlines want us to believe. The sure thing is that online check in is savings the airlines millions in staff costs. Airlines but also airports enjoy the advantage of attracting passengers as they introduce revolutionary ways to get into their aircrafts without too much effort.

Sheremetyevo International airport in Moscow, Russia, is taking a step further when it comes to checking-in at the airport. Aside from the ability to check-in online, passengers boarding through Sheremetyevo International can use their Skype account to check-in before the flight. It’s a highly revolutionary method of checking-in since passengers don’t have to go through their airline’s online check-in feature. Everything could be done with their existing Skype account.

For the unfamiliar, Skype is regarded as the biggest VOIP provider in the world since they offer free Skype-to-Skype video calls via instant messaging. They also provide local phone number in major counties for consumers and businesses anywhere in the world. Many online users are now using Skype as their alternative landline as they usually rely in their mobile phones for communication.

“So why Skype?” was my first reaction to the news. To properly check-in using Skype, passengers should conduct a video call to username “svo_skype”. They will be interviewed to determine their flight times and tickets. Passengers are given up to 24 hours to Skype-in before the flight.

The main advantage of Skype video call is the fact that passengers can easily check-in through their mobile phones. With this technology, airport authorities in Moscow believe that it will reduce passenger traffic in the airport by at least 15%.