New service checks you in for your flight automatically

This year, Lufthansa is scheduled to roll out its touchless bag drop system at its hub airports in Germany and it has already enhanced its app to include a mobile lost and found, which would automatically alert passengers if their bags had been lost or flown to the wrong airport. Now, the Cologne-based carrier hopes to digitally simplify another aspect of air travel, by launching a site that will automatically check you in for a flight – even flights that aren't on Lufthansa.

Tnooz reports that Lufthansa Innovation Hub, the tech and digital development division of the airline, has designed AirlineCheckins.com, a free service that allows users to check in online for flights on more than 100 airlines around the world. Lufthansa has not specified which airlines are working with the site, although it says the participants are "large and medium sized airlines."

How does it work? When a traveler registers for the site and enters all of their flight confirmation and booking details, AirlineCheckins automatically checks them in for their flights as soon as the check-in period for that particular airline opens, usually between 24 and 72 hours before departure. "In concrete terms, that means that as soon as the airline opens check-in for your upcoming flight, we'll check you in as soon as possible," AirlineCheckins explains on its lengthy FAQ page, "Usually in the very first minute."

In addition, frequent travelers can store their passport details on the site so that it can complete the check in process for international flights. Passengers can also designate seating preferences, so that the site's service team can snag, say, that left-side exit row aisle seat you love – or whatever available seat most closely matches your wish list.

That's a welcome service, especially if the check-in window for your flight opens in the middle of the night – or at stupid o'clock in the morning. It also means that travelers can spend their time thinking about more pleasant things, like that one time they had enough leg room.