A guest uses the self-service check-in/check-out kiosk at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. -- Photo courtesy of Fairmont Hotels.

Programming the VCR is about the extent of my technological know-how. Even then I don't always get it right. So for years I stoutly resisted using airport kiosks to check in for a flight unless someone from the airline was right beside me to help.

Most of my flights are to or through the U.S. and involve one or two plane changes. Lately I've been flying Northwest, through Detroit. Now that they've installed check-in machines at even small airports, like London's, it's all but impossible to avoid them.

But I've come to learn it's fairly straightforward, even for a klutz. Swipe a credit card or passport and your name pops up on the screen. Follow the prompts, enter a bit of information, confirm some itinerary and identity details and, presto, the machine whirs and spits out your boarding passes.

Checking yourself in lets you bypass long lines at checkin counters. But sometimes so many travellers are using the machine it creates another line. So airlines are now enabling passengers to check in from home, via computer, before they even leave for the airport.

Air Canada customers, for example, can go to aircanada .com, click on "web checkin" and perform a number of time-saving functions. Boarding passes can be printed out for flights departing from Canada to anywhere in world as early as 12 hours before departure and as late as one to two hours, depending on your destination. You can also select your seat, check baggage, and go on standby for an earlier flight or for an upgrade, if applicable.

If you have luggage to check, you use the express bag dropoff counter when you reach the airport; if not, you go straight to security ... where there's usually another lineup.

The airport isn't the only place you'll encounter self-service kiosks. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts plans to install them in all its North American hotels, starting with Toronto's Fairmont Royal York.

The kiosks will include a guestroom selection feature that Fairmont calls "a first within the hotel industry." Based on the initial reservation and pre-confirmed preferences, it will let travellers visually select a room of their liking from a graphical map.

It will also allow guests to check in and out, receive their room key, and enrol in the Fairmont's guest loyalty program. If they're flying Air Canada, they'll also be able to electronically check in and obtain a boarding pass before departing for the airport.

MORE LEISURE TRAVEL NEWS:

- The Norfolk Flyer, a steam-hauled heritage passenger train, will operate out of Delhi, in Norfolk County, Aug. 6-7 and Aug. 13-14. One-hour trips to Courtland and two-hour trips to Tillsonburg are available. Visit steam-train.org.

- Air Canada Vacations has added non-stop flights from Toronto to St. Lucia and Punta Cana to its summer sun program.

- Eight lodging places in Waldo County in mid-coast Maine are offering discounts of 10% to 15% during high season as part of the Finding Waldo promotion. Participants and their websites include: 1794 Watchtide ... by the Sea, watchtide.com; Carriage House Inn, carriagehouseinmaine.com; Londonderry Inn, londonderry-inn.com; Wildflower Inn, wildflowerinnme.com; Homeport Inn, homeportbnb.com; Yardarm Motel, searsportmaine.com; Seascape Motel & Cottages; seascapemotel.com. When contacting a property, mention "Finding Waldo" to receive the discount. The offer runs through October and is subject to availability and blackout dates.

For tourism information, visit waldocountymaine.com.

- Tourism Australia and Qantas have extended the deadline to buy the Aussie Air Pass to Aug. 31. It includes round-trip economy travel from Toronto or Vancouver plus three domestic flights in Australia at prices starting at $1,599 from Toronto. The pass must be ticketed by Aug. 31, and travel must be completed by Dec. 14. Visit australia.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-346-5218.