New Kiosk-AHL/DPR Declaration from Sky Assist
Keep your front desk closed while serving the few airlines still flying, protecting your staff from contagious contact from passengers with low hardware investment.
Sky Assist
Arrival Services – Lost and Found Automated Baggage Handling and Tracing Software
Leuvensesteenweg 510, Gebouw 5, B41, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium
Sky Assist is a provider of niche advanced software for the air transportation industry. BagAssist, Sky Assist’s vanguard solution, is an application that automates processes for the follow-up of lost and found baggage and is integrated with SITA WorldTracer™, the global standard for the tracing and recovery of lost luggage.
BagAssist Suite: for your arrival/lost and found department
BagAssist Suite provides to airlines & handlers solutions covering all aspects of arrival services and lost and found.
It is a fully web-based group of products that:
- Serves as a front-end to SITA WorldTracer by supporting, simplifying and automating the management of files in WorldTracer
- Produces all necessary messages, reports and labels needed for baggage tracing handling.
- Simplifies and automates the daily work for primary baggage handling and tracing processes
- Ensures services quality standards to the upper level and brings lost and found staff to higher productivity and flexibility
- Interacts with internal and external systems (DCS, airport, courier companies, Frequent Flyer database, etc) to pre-populate file fields, reducing significantly the agent input time and increasing security against fraud (self-service).
BagAssist Suite is constituted of the following products:
Sky Assist
- BagAssist agent solution
- BagAssist passenger solutions:
• kiosk-AHLreport
• e-AHLreport
• m-AHLreport
• e-AHLmanage - BagAssist courier solution
BagAssist is currently deployed by a mix of clients, including the airlines Air France/KLM, Qantas and Luxair, as well as ground handlers such as Alyzia, Billund Airport, GBS, Groundforce, SBA and Swissport.
Our customers recognize BagAssist key benefits:
- Simplicity: a ‘plug and play’ solution for which no local installation is needed
- Productivity: increase of staff productivity (up to 65%) and decrease of training needs, resulting in daily shifts reduction
- Professionalism: higher quality of service both towards the passengers and the handled airlines
BagAssist agent solution
BagAssist agents’ application is a smart and user-friendly front-end product supporting, simplifying and automating SITA WorldTracer® management files. It improves the staff productivity and reduces the risk of human errors, thanks to process-driven and syntax validations, warning messages, mandatory fields check, etc. As such, it also decreases the staff training needs, improving staff flexibility and easing the use of temporary employees, mainly needed during peak periods.
- Connection to SITA WorldTracer
BagAssist is connected and exchanging data with WorldTracer over MATIP or web-services for, amongst others:
- Creation, update and closure of AHL / DPR / OHD files
- Baggage reception (DR) and delivery by surface (BDO)
- Sending of bags by plane (FWD, FOH, FAH and FLZ)
- Display and creation of action messages; WM and FW areas
Thanks to its database, BagAssist can still be used during WorldTracer downtime.
- Provide tag labels and professional print-outs
Using BagAssist, tag labels can be automatically printed for rushed luggage, received bags, bags to be delivered and on-hands easing the identification of the bag. From BagAssist, print-outs for passengers and delivery companies are also generated.
- Configurable application behaviour
BagAssist is configurable using the application BagAdmin, allowing to personalize the application behaviour, customise the print-out texts and generate reports that can be exported to PDF or Excel.
- Interfaced to global or specific systems over web-services
To a DCS, delivery companies, airport system, BSM or other systems, BagAssist can be connected over web-services to ensure communication with third-parties systems (retrieve flight lists, alert delivery companies, send BSM, etc).
BagAutorush baggage handling system
BagAutorush module is designed to handle early, late, not-sorted baggage in a fast and effective way by checking if the bag can still be loaded on the passenger flight. If not, an automated rushing procedure is started, producing all necessary messages and baggage labels in order to forward the bag in the fastest way to its final destination.
BagAssist passenger solutions
To offer passengers flexibility and autonomy, BagAssist Suite contains self-service products also relieving the agent workload during peak times. Passengers can report their missing bag from anywhere via Internet (e-AHLreport), via their mobile (m-AHL report) or at the airport via a kiosk (kiosk-AHLreport). After, they can follow-up their bag status online and receive automatic updates via e-mail and/or SMS (e-AHLmanage).
Self-service applications can be run as sub-modules of BagAssist or independently (except for IVR and e-AHLmanage that require files to be created in BagAssist, kiosk-AHLreport or e-AHLreport).
BagAssist BDS courier solution
Part of BagAssist Suite, there is BagAssist BDS which provides baggage delivery solutions to courier companies and accurate information of the baggage incident to passengers and airlines.
PaxClaims claims management system
Also available for airlines, there is PaxClaims; the web-based automated system for claims management in an airline Customer Relations department.
Airport Arrival Services Lost and Found Facilities
Being a ground handling company dealing with arrival services lost and found is nowadays not easy if you want to offer good services to handled airlines and stay profitable.
Nashville International Airport Improvement Project
With annual passenger traffic of more than 12 million, the Nashville International Airport (BNA) is one of the busiest airports in the US.
Inverness International Airport
The Inverness International Airport is located 13km north-east of Inverness in Scotland, representing the gateway to the Highlands.
Sky Assist Announces Annual BagAssist Conference
Sky Assist is organising its annual BagAssist user conference to be held in the Van Der Valk hotel, Brussels, Belgium.
Sky Assist to Attend Ground Handling International Conference
Being a ground handling company dealing with Arrival Services Lost & Found is nowadays not easy if you want to offer good services to handled airlines and stay profitable.
Sky Assist at Ground Handling International Conference in Barcelona
Like each year Sky Assist will be present at the exhibition and conference organized by GHI in Barcelona, Spain, from 27 until 30 November 2017.
Sky Assist at WorldTracer Conference in Las Vegas
Like each year Sky Assist represented by Luc Trentels (managing director) will be present at the WorldTracer user conference organised by SITA in Las Vegas, US, from 6-8 November 2017.
Sky Assist at BagAssist User Conference in Brussels
For the 14th time, Sky Assist organises its annual BagAssist user conference to be held in Brussels on 20 and 21 June 2017 in the Van Der Valk hotel, Brussels, Belgium.
New Module Restructured from AHL, DPR and OHD
Sky Assist decided in late 2015 to start developing from scratch its BagAssist core application for agents. The main reasons were that, even though BagAssist has been coded as a web-based application, technology has heavily evolved since the first modules were available in 2002, implying technical constraints like limiting application mobility to other browsers than Internet Explorer, responsive design, time response optimisation and heavy maintenance.
Sky Assist Introduces New Auto-DR / Delivery Module
A brand new module is ready for going live for all BagAssist customers, in its desktop version or running on a tablet as an hybrid app (compatible iPad and Android): the Auto-DR / Delivery module.
Ground Handling International Conference in Copenhagen
This year, Sky Assist product manager Eric Stessels will be present at the exhibition and conference organised by GHI in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 28 to 30 November 2016.
Sky Assist at the WorldTracer Conference in Shanghai, China
Sky Assist, represented by Luc Trentels (managing director), will be present at the WorldTracer user conference organised by SITA in Shanghai, China, from 31 October until 02 November 2016.
How e-AHLmanage Provides Passengers with an Accurate Status of their Delayed Bags
In mid-2016, Sky Assist upgraded its e-AHLmanage solution by allowing each handler to configure when and whether data are retrieved from World Tracer or from the BagAssist database. This new feature opens a lot of new opportunities for e-AHLmanage.
The Reclaim Project at Brussels Airport
Until recently, passengers coming to pick-up their delayed baggage at Brussels Airport had to access the lost and found offices via the same way than the passengers exiting the arrival area.
m-AHLreport Offer Passengers to Declare Delayed Bags on their Smartphone
m-AHLreport is our new mobile application for passengers to declare their missing bags on their smartphone. e-AHLreport is already used by several of our customers (Air France KLM, Swissport, SBA) for some years. During mid-2014, we developed m-AHLreport, the mobile version of e-AHLreport in collaboration with Air France.
Interview: How to Speed Up the Handling of Early, Late or Unsorted Bags?
At Sky Assist, communicating with the operations at arrival services and customer relations is critical: it helps us developing our solutions in line with the industry's needs. On a regular basis, we discuss one-to-one with our customers to share their personal experience of our products.
Meet Sky Assist at the Forthcoming Industry Events
During the first two weeks of November, SkyAssist will take part in two international industry events to spread the latest news about ground-handling operations and meet new and existing customers.
A Boost in Mobile Usage?
The Airline IT Trends Survey from SITA forecasts a boost in mobile usage for the coming years.
The Challenges of Seamless Travel
"A smooth and hassle-free journey where passengers do not have to break stride from the curb to the gate, unless they choose to, is the goal: that would deliver tremendous value to passengers." explained Transport Association's (IATA) chief executive Tony Tyler at its 2013 World Passenger Symposium.
BagAssist Suite in the World
Summer is a great season to travel! So we thought that we would make you travel by showing you where in the world BagAssist and the self-service applications are used. You will see that our BagAssist community is very international.
Sky Assist Newsletter: June 2014
At Sky Assist, communicating with the operations at arrival services and customer relations is critical: it helps us developing our applications in line with the industry’s needs. For this reason, we renewed our website, created a community portal for our BagAssist customers and joined the conversation on LinkedIn.
SITA Publishes Baggage Report for 2014
SITA has published its yearly baggage report and announced an overall increase in performance.
Sky Assist on LinkedIn
In February 2014, we updated Sky Assist company page on LinkedIn. It now contains a presentation of Sky Assist and a description of each of our products and services.
Statistics on the Use of Self-Service Products
Based on the data of several of our customers using self-service products, we have been able to extract some general statements regarding the use of self-service applications.
The Online Self-Services Applications are Renamed
During the last BagAssist user conference, held for the company 10th anniversary in Amsterdam, Holland on 27-29 May 2013, the BagAssist community did participate to a survey to rename the self-services applications for passengers originally called OnlineAHL, OnlineDelivery and PaxAHL.
Sky Assist Signs a WorldTracer Web Service Development Agreement with SITA
Sky Assist strengthens its partnership with SITA by signing a web service development agreement for WorldTracer. Since few months, SITA has built WorldTracer connectivity using web services, allowing product providers like Sky Assist to develop and test applications connecting to WorldTracer.
The Benefits of a Simplified Interface
Many efforts have been made the last decade to enhance passenger experience through self-service offers, but mainly in pre-departure area only like online check-in, self-baggage tagging or self-baggage drop. However passengers claim interest for more initiatives in that sensible part of the journey too, seen as the second factor in having an (un)pleasant journey.
Sky Assist at Ground Handling International 2013
Ground Handling International magazine will be holding the 15th Annual 2013 conference in Spain. Sky Assist is participating to this event for the 9th time for promoting BagAssist, the web-based suite of products automating the primary baggage tracing process for lost baggage with special focus on self-services applications.
Sky Assist at WorldTracer 2013 in Vietnam
Sky Assist will be at WorldTracer conference as BDS customer and WorldTracer web services developers, and will also be present as exhibitor with a stand. Find us 4 - 6 November 2013 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
WACRA 2013 Chicago, USA 15 – 18 September 2013
Sky Assist will be holding a stand at the 2013 WACRA (Worldwide Airline Customer Relations Association) in Chicago, United States. Sky Assist will promote PaxClaims, the web-based product for airline complaint management of an Airline Customer Relations department & Refund, the web-based product for airline ticket / coupons refund of an Airline Finance department.
Sky Assist Becomes IATA Strategic Partner in Baggage Services
On May 1st 2013, Sky Assist became IATA Strategic partner in Baggage Services area. This is one more step forward in the company recognition as major niche player in baggage services area, with specialisation in lost and found delayed baggage services.
Ground Handling International 2012
Ground Handling International magazine will be holding the 14th Annual 2012 conference in Italy. Sky Assist is participating to this event for the 8th time and will be promoting BagAssist.
Sky Assist at 2012 WACRA
Sky Assist will be holding a stand at the 2012 WACRA (Worldwide Airline Customer Relations Association) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 23 to 26 September 2012.
Quantas BagAssist Kiosk Live
Qantas went live at the beginning of June 2012 with the mishandled baggage BagAssist kiosk PaxAHL application at Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports. The delayed bag passenger declaration system uses an airport kiosk as an alternative to passengers queuing at the agent's desk.
Swissport Launches Innovative Online Solution for Missing Bag Reports
Swissport International, the world's leading provider of ground services to the aviation sector, has launched a state-of-the art self-service solution for passengers arriving in Geneva that increases the quality and efficiency of missing bag reporting.
BagAssist Self-Services Applications
In these difficult industry times, lost and found departments are often under-staffed and often don't have any real flexible way to add untrained people as the processes and applications are so specific and complex. Therefore, any small incident can easily create chaos to baggage services and take days to recover with frustrated staff facing angry customers.
New Customers for Sky Assist in 2011: Arc Transports, Colitel and Billund Airport
New customers have been joining the Sky Assist customer community in 2011. Arc Transports and Colitel have been selected by Air France for their baggage deliveries, respectively in Paris CDG and ORY for Arc (replacing JAP Transports), in Nice and Bordeaux for Colitel. These two companie
New 2011 Version of BagAssist Available with Action Files and Self-Service Solutions OnlineAHL
Following the user conference successfully held in Brussels in June 2011, many new features have been presented and will be added to the BagAssist 2011 version that will be available in October 2011 for all BagAssist customers. In addition to many improvements in the existing modules an
Sky Assist to Attend Ground Handling International Conference in Vienna
Sky Assist, the IT niche software company specialised in top class web-based solution for arrival services and lost & found departments, is pleased to announce that it will be attending the Ground Handling International, the 12th annual conference in Vienna, Austria. It is being he
Swissport Geneva Introduces First Self-Service Lost-Baggage Reporting System
Geneva/Zurich — Swissport International, the world's leading provider of ground services to the aviation sector, has marked a further e-services milestone with the introduction of a new self-service facility for reporting lost baggage. The new lost and found self-service kiosk enable
Luxair, CART and SBA Become Sky Assist Customers
Brussels — New customers have been joining the Sky Assist customer community in 2009. Luxair Services and SBA, a French ground-handling company, have joined the BagAssist product community, with production cut-over planned for mid-August and mid-September respectively. Bot
Qantas Implements BagAssist with New Web-Service Interface
SkyAssist, the Belgian provider of advanced niche IT software for the air transportation industry, has welcomed some new customers for its BagAssist product suite, among them Qantas Airways, Luxair or SBA. Qantas Airways, the leading airline company in Australia, has selected BagAssi
2009 Version of BagAssist Launched with New Features
Brussels — Following the user conference successfully held in Brussels on 26-27 May 2009, many new features have been presented and added to the 2009 version of BagAssist. These include a complete new BagAdmin product easing BagAssist administration data management, a new kiosk ver
Malev Hungarian Airlines Switches to Paxclaims for Baggage Management
Malev Hungarian Airlines has decided to move to the PaxClaims application as a follow-up action for the airline that joined the OneWorld alliance since 1st April 2007. PaxClaims has been analysed as the best solution not only to cope with the normal airline complaint regulations, but also the sup
Business-to-Passenger Modules
Our two new Business-to-Passenger modules, part of the baggage incident control for the passenger, are now ready to move further. The PaxAHL (self-declaration on a kiosk in airport arrival hall) is integrated with the IER918 kiosk. Swissport will start kiosk implementation (first in Zur
Air France and KLM joins the BagAssist user community:
Air France and KLM, major European airlines part of the Air France / KLM holding, have jointly selected the BagAssist product to implement in the first phase of Paris Charles-de-Gaulle and Amsterdam Schipol airports. This strategic choice will support Air France and KLM to strengthen
4th BagAssist User Conference
The 4th BagAssist user conference will take place on April 24-25 2007 in Brussels. The user conference is the unique platform for all the BagAssist users to not only exchange their experience about the product but also to drive the product evolution direction according to their operatio
PaxClaims – The Web-Based Passenger and Baggage Claim Management Software
PaxClaims is a state-of-the-art web-based interactive passenger and baggage claims management system. Some of the key benefits of the PaxClaims system include: Monitor and reach key performance indicators of the customer relations process: being fast, correct, consistent and qualit
Third BagAssist User Conference
The third BagAssist user conference will take place on April 25-26, 2006 in Brussels. The user conference is the unique platform made for all the BagAssist users not only to exchange their experience about the product but also to drive the product evolution direction according to their
PaxAHL Module (Self-Declaration by the Passenger at the Airport) and VPN Test Access
The B2C module called "light AHL" is now ready and has been tested by several customers. The final version will be presented to the BagAssist user community during the third user conference at the end of April. The first implementation will take place before the summer season by Swisspo
The New BagAssist Business to Customer Modules: Empowering the Passenger to Solve Baggage Incidents
There is nothing more frustrating for a passenger than a baggage incident at the end of a journey. The way in which the incident is treated can easily undermine customer loyalty. Until now there was no alternative but to queue alongside other angry and frustrated passengers, eventually
Groundforce Selects BagAssist and BagAutorush to Enhance Baggage Handling Services in Portuguese Airports
Groundforce, born out of the Portuguese Handling company which has more than 60 years' experience in ground handling, has selected BagAssist and BagAutorush for use in Portuguese airports. This strategic choice will help support Groundforce build a professional and high quality service for its
BagAssist Products – Fast, Effective Passenger Baggage Handling Systems
With the BagAssist suite, it is now possible to simplify daily work, improve staff productivity and flexibility and, at the same time raise quality standards in the lost and found baggage and baggage control areas. For many years, Lost & Found and Baggage Control Departments
2nd BagAssist User Conference, 12-13 April 12005, Brussels, A Great Success!!
The second BagAssist User Conference took place in Brussels in April 2005, and was a great success with excellent participation and customer feedback. The Conference welcomed not only existing customers but also potential BagAssist customers that came to have an in-depth look at how the conferenc
ADP (Aéroport de Paris) selects BagAssist for its Lost & Found Baggage Departments at Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports
SkyAssist, the Belgian provider of advanced software for the air transportation industry, has widened its customer base by welcoming ADP (Aéroports de Paris) into the BagAssist user community. BagAssist manages lost and found baggage processes as well as passenger enquiries and also helps in
BagAssist and BagAutorush – Ten Years of Success
Belgian Ground Services and Sky Assist collaboration is a long story, started in 1995 with the first application release of a product then called Estetic. The basic idea was (and is still today) on one hand to simplify and automate the baggage handling processes in order to gain time a
A Big Step Forward in Swissport’s “Plus 10” Program
BagAssist, the web-based baggage-tracing product from Sky Assist, was implemented in its first web-based release in May 2002. Since then, our three Swiss stations, Zürich, Geneva and Basel, have been delighted by its ease of use and by how easy it is to learn with all the automated added function
Sky Assist
Leuvensesteenweg 510, Gebouw 5, B41
1930 Zaventem
Belgium