JETSTAR passengers will be forced to pay for customer service under a new automated system.

They will also have to print their own tickets and tag their baggage under the system, to be introduced in November to cut costs and beat ever-annoying queues.

Jetstar switched to automatic check-in by introducing a new SMS booking system that issues boarding passes and luggage tags via a network of electronic scanners.

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Once armed with their boarding pass and luggage tags, passengers need only to place their bags at a luggage drop and board an aircraft.

Company chief Bruce Buchanan said the process was simple but other options would be retained for the elderly, the disabled and those who could not operate the new system.

They will have the option of getting their boarding pass via the web or from existing self-service ticket kiosks.

As a last resort, people will still be able to queue at a ticket counter, but come November 1 they will be charged what Mr Buchanan described as a "small fee" to cover the cost of the service.

The airline said staff were being reassigned to help with the switchover and no job losses were envisaged.

Jetstar offered automatic boarding Australia wide via SMS and its separate airport based self-service ticket kiosks.

The SMS system, developed by Melbourne-based Sissit Technologies and IBM Australia, is expected to be used by 90 per cent of passengers within a few months.

Travellers using the SMS system receive a phone message 24-hours ahead of their flight and then place their phones beneath an airport scanner.

With the scan completed, those without bags bypass the check-in area and go straight to the gate.

Those with bags attach their tags and leave them at a luggage drop.

"What it means is that you can arrive at an airport and avoid the queue," said Mr Buchanan, adding that those who used the system would never have to worry again about missing a flight because of an airport queue.

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Interesting to see how it will work on international flights.

Jetstar and Tiger curently have the most complaints from the travelling public.

$5 to $10 to check in normally at a manned desk. (Jetstar)

I don't think security is a major issue for them.

i flew jetstar from utapau pattaya to singapore a few times

i thought it was a great service

its a pity its stopped

Hereis a good link on Jetstar.

http://www.dontflyjetstar.com/