Photo Credit: afagen
Love your iPhone? Then you'll love new mobile boarding pass options from both American Airlines and United Airlines. American has already had the electronic system in place, but announced that 19 additional airports will now have the feature as an option.
United not only went paperless this week with the addition of the digital barcode system, but also added a wireless check-in option with their services. Once at the airport, you simply point the web browser on your mobile device to mobile.united.com and check in for your flight at the website. You can also check flight status and availability, as well as information about your United account. United plans to expand these new services to additional airports as soon as possible.
Misplacing your cell phone is an even bigger hassle than misplacing a boarding pass, so paperless boarding assumes that you have your cell with you at all times. As long as you have your phone, you can board your flight. Since a paper boarding pass is only relevant for a short period of time, the new electronic system cuts down on paper and printing waste.
In a press release issued by American Airlines, the company explains how you use a mobile boarding pass:
"When customers check in for their flight using American's Web site, AA.com - either the desktop or mobile versions - they have the option to receive their boarding passes on their cell phones or PDAs. With this option, they will receive an e-mail with an Internet link to the boarding pass. The mobile boarding pass contains a 2-D barcode that can be scanned at TSA security checkpoints and at American Airlines gates. At the airport, customers simply scan their cell phone or PDA screen when going through security (proper identification must be presented) and when boarding, just as they would with a traditional paper boarding pass."
Paperless boarding is not only an advancement for the travel industry. If all airlines eventually opt for the new system as the only way to board a plane, consumers are going to have to update their cellular devices to smart phones that can display a mobile boarding pass.
