There are a growing number of ways to cut time and hassle out of a trip to the airport, from new kiosks to boarding passes scanned directly from your cell phone screen.

Using electronic methods on your way to the gate can also save you money, as more airlines begin charging for contact with an agent, said Tania Ladic, a vice president of industry marketing at technology developer NCR's travel and transportation unit.

• Luggage check: Pay online or at a terminal with your credit card, then drop your bags off at the "Web Bag Drop" counters available through some airlines. Nearly all airlines have a representative who will check your boarding pass, grab your bag and send you on your way.

• Upgrades: Most major airlines now offer upgrade opportunities, if they are available, through the Web or an airport kiosk. Payment, as with baggage, is just a swipe away. Kiosks alert you to promotions and perks.

• Flight changes: Many airlines already offer technology through their Web sites, kiosks or any phone that's Web-enabled that will allow you to pick an alternate flight or cancel a reservation. Passengers can even be notified if a delay will cause them to miss a connection.

Ladic added that technology is now being developed that will send an e-mail up to several days before a flight that will notify a passenger of bad weather or other potential hold ups. Travel Web sites such as Orbitz.com and some airlines already have similar alert services through text messaging and e-mail if your flight is delayed or canceled.

Changing a reservation online or through a kiosk after your flight is canceled or delayed is usually free. If you call the airline's customer service number, you will most likely be charged a fee ranging from $15 to $35 to speak to a live person. Changes for personal reasons generally cost much more, up to $150.

Some airlines are adding incentives to encourage the use of electronic services. In July, US Airways will start charging $5 extra, if you pay its $15 bag fee at the airport instead of online.

The next big leap on the airport technology front, Ladic predicts, will be touch-screen maps of airports that passengers can personalize and print out with food options, security lines, and gates. Ladic predicts they will appear in major airports in three to six months.