Printers At Airports: Availability And Accessibility For Travelers

Many airports have printing facilities, which can be useful for travellers who need to print boarding passes, emails, or other documents. Some airports have internet cafes, while others have installed mobile printing kiosks, which allow travellers to print documents, photos, or emails from their personal devices. Airports that have introduced these printing kiosks include Toronto Pearson International Airport, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Luon, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

Where to find airport printers

If you need to print something at the airport, there are a few options available to you, although not all airports will have the same facilities.

Most major airports have printers available for public use, often located near the business centre or customer service desk. Some airports, such as San Francisco, Tampa, and Kansai, have printing services for public use, while Toronto Pearson International Airport has eight mobile "ePrint" printing locations, where you can print from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone via the HP ePrint app. There is also a printing service at the Airport Travel Agency on the G side of the International Terminal at San Francisco Airport. If you have a lounge membership, you may find printers in the airport lounge, or you can pay a daily fee to access the lounge.

If your chosen airport does not have printers, you may be able to find a nearby internet cafe or copy shop that offers printing services. It is always best to check ahead to see if any printers are available and their location at the airport, and plan to arrive early to avoid any last-minute stresses.

How to use airport printing services

Printing services at airports can be a lifesaver when you need to print a document, photo, or email urgently. Here is a guide on how to use airport printing services:

Finding a Printing Kiosk

First, you need to locate a printing kiosk or terminal within the airport. These kiosks are usually located in easily accessible areas of the airport. For example, in Toronto Pearson International Airport, there are eight mobile "ePrint" printing kiosks located across the airport. Other airports, such as Manchester Airport, may have printing facilities within specific terminals or nearby hotels.

Connecting to the Printer

Once you've located a printing kiosk, it's time to connect your device. Most airport printing kiosks allow you to print directly from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. You can use a mobile app provided by the printing service to connect and send your print jobs to the kiosk. For example, HP's ePrint app enables users to print from anywhere and have their documents ready at a convenient airport kiosk.

If you're not app-savvy, don't worry! You can also save your document, email, or photo to an SD card or zip drive and insert it directly into the kiosk to print.

Paying for the Service

Using airport printing services usually incurs a fee. For example, the HP ePrint kiosks at Toronto Pearson International Airport charge a $2 service fee per use, plus additional charges per page for laser-quality documents or color photos. Be prepared to pay using a credit or debit card, or in some cases, with coins.

Retrieving Your Print Job

After sending your print job to the kiosk, you will typically receive a unique release code. This code can be displayed on the kiosk's screen or sent to your email address. Enter this code on the printer's touchscreen interface to retrieve your print job. This ensures privacy and security, as your document will only print when you enter the correct code.

Privacy and Security

Rest assured that airport printing services prioritize user privacy. Once your print job is completed and you've retrieved your documents, the file is permanently deleted from the print server.

By following these steps, you can conveniently use airport printing services to meet your urgent printing needs while on the go.

Why dot matrix printers are still used at airports

Many airports do offer printing services, and some, like Toronto Pearson International Airport, have mobile printing kiosks. These kiosks allow travellers to print documents, emails, or photos from their personal devices via a mobile app or by inserting an SD card or zip drive. However, the discussion around the use of dot matrix printers at airports is specifically related to the operations of airlines and their backend systems.

Compatibility with Legacy Systems

Dot matrix printers are compatible with the legacy backend systems used by airlines. These systems, such as Computer Reservation Systems (CRS), have been in place since the 1960s and have not changed significantly. As these printers use a simple method of sending raw characters to the output, they integrate seamlessly with the older software. Upgrading to modern printers would require significant investments in recoding and reconfiguring these complex and established systems.

Durability and Reliability

Dot matrix printers are known for their durability and reliability. They can withstand heavy use and produce consistent results. In time-sensitive operations, such as printing flight manifests and maintenance documents, the reliability of these printers is crucial.

Cost-Effectiveness

Dot matrix printers are cost-effective in terms of both initial purchase and ongoing supply costs. The printers themselves are often cheaper than modern laser or inkjet printers. Additionally, the supplies needed for dot matrix printers, such as ink ribbons, are typically less expensive than toner cartridges. This makes them a more economical choice, especially when considering the large volume of printing required by airlines.

Speed and Efficiency

Dot matrix printers are capable of high-speed printing, making them efficient for producing lengthy documents like flight manifests. They can also handle multi-part paper, which is useful when multiple copies of a document are needed. In cases where carbon copies are required, dot matrix printers are essential as carbon paper forms don't work with laser printers.

International Standards and Regulations

The aviation industry operates under international standards and regulations that can be challenging to update. For smaller countries, updating to newer printing technology may not offer a significant advantage and could instead be an unnecessary expense. Therefore, the industry tends to stick with the reliable and established dot matrix printing technology.

While dot matrix printers may seem outdated, they continue to be a practical and functional choice for airports and airlines due to their compatibility, durability, cost-effectiveness, speed, and alignment with industry regulations.

How much airport printing services cost

The cost of airport printing services varies across airports. At Dublin Airport, printing services are available at the Smarte Carte Baggage Services counter in Terminal 1 Arrivals and at the Smarte Carte Bag Wrapping counter in Terminal 2 Bag Drop. The service costs €10 per boarding card and €10 for up to 20 pages.

At Hong Kong International Airport, printing services are available at various locations in Terminal 1 for a charge. However, the exact pricing information is not provided.

Toronto Pearson International Airport has partnered with Hewlett Packard (HP) and St. Joseph Communications to install eight mobile "ePrint" printing locations. These freestanding printer terminals allow users to print documents, emails, or photos from their devices via a mobile app or by inserting an SD card or zip drive directly into the kiosk. There is a $2 service fee per use, and each laser-quality page of a document costs $0.55, while colour photos cost $0.35 each.

Alternatives to airport printing

While some major airports do have printing services, they may be few and far between, and often come with a heavy charge. So, what are your options if you need to print something at the airport?

Check with your airline

Many airlines have an app or website where you can check in and print your boarding pass before you arrive at the airport. If they don't offer this service, they may be able to tell you if a printer is available at the airport. Some major airlines also have kiosks where you can print documents or boarding passes.

Ask a staff member

All airports have information desks where you can ask a staff member if printing facilities are available. They can also direct you to the nearest print shop outside the airport if necessary.

Look for business printing centres

Some airports have business centres or copy shops with printers for public use. These are usually located near the business centre or customer service desk.

Use a nearby internet cafe

If your airport doesn't have printers, there may be an internet cafe nearby where you can print what you need.

Print in advance

If you have time, it's worth checking to see if there are any print shops or other businesses outside the airport that offer printing services. For example, some hotels may have business centres that offer printing for a fee, even if you're not a guest.

Tips for using airport printers

• Check for additional charges: Ask the business centre or customer service desk staff if there are any extra fees for printing.
• Arrive early: Give yourself plenty of time, especially if you need to print multiple pages, as there may be long lines at the kiosks.
• Have your documents ready: Save your documents on a USB drive or in your email so you can access them quickly when it's time to print.
• Ask about the per-page fee: Printing at the airport can be more expensive than printing elsewhere, so be sure to ask about the price before using their service.
• Have your payment method ready: Most airport printers accept cash or credit cards.
• Delete scanned documents: Don't forget to ask the operator to delete your scanned documents from the machine to protect your information.

Frequently asked questions