Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
American Airlines expands mobile boarding pass system to 19 new airports
Yesterday, American Airlines announced on Twitter that their mobile boarding pass system has been expanded to 19 new airports. The system allows you to receive an email link to a mobile boarding pass on your (smart)phone, and to save the image to your device. At the security checkpoint and boarding gate, you simply show your phone, and allow the bar code to be scanned.
Now, this all sounds great on paper, but I've had my fair share of problems getting it to work correctly - the scanners at the checkpoint don't always work, and when you are in line at the gate waiting to board, you'll need to be sure you can pull up the image quickly.
When your phone goes into standby, it can take 20 seconds or more to get back to the image. Also, on the iPhone I've noticed that the image needs some zooming to work correctly. Back in 2008, our very own Grant Martin was one of the first to take the system for a spin - and had similar issues.
Still, paperless boarding is the future, and eventually the minor issues will be resolved, which means you no more late night hassles to find a working printer at your hotel.
The airports participating in the mobile boarding pass system are: Albuquerque (ABQ), Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), El Paso (ELP), Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Jacksonville (JAX), Las Vegas (LAS), Little Rock (LIT), Los Angeles (LAX), Memphis (MEM), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Oklahoma City (OKC), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix (PHX), Santa Ana/John Wayne/Orange Counte (SNA), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Antonio (SAT), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Tulsa (TUL), and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports.
| Yes, and I love how easy it is! | |
|---|---|
| Yes, and I'll never use it again! | |
| No, but I hope to very soon. | |
| No, and I never plan to. |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bert Mar 12th 2010 4:05PM
Air Canada has this, at least in YUL and YYZ. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread! At certain airpots it also gets you in to the VIP line since not all boarding pass checkers have BC scanners and somehow don't trust the text associated with the image.
I have never had an issue scanning my phone, either with hand-held scanners (Symbol) or with stationary ones next to the baggage (and shoe and liquid and key and and and) scanner. I have done this about 10-15 times now.
I have never seen gate-side BC scan, always a visual check of the text.
Jp Mar 14th 2010 8:47PM
That great and all but you cant get through the security check with a picture on your phone.
Scott Carmichael Mar 14th 2010 8:49PM
Actually, as those airport participating, you can get through with your phone and a valid picture ID. The TSA agents have a scanning desk, and they'll scan your phone bar code and check your ID.
helen Mar 14th 2010 8:59PM
Practice makes perfection. Why isn't there a place where you can practice getting the ticket on your smart phone. It would make it all work better
Liz Mar 14th 2010 9:27PM
Sigh. And I'm supposed to be glad about waiting in line behind the guy who can't quite get his SmartPhone to show the boarding pass with correct resolution.
I like the train.