Future of Flight: Paperless Boarding Passes

Sept. 1, 2009— -- I have always been one to embrace technology. This is especially true when dealing with the airlines. I clearly remember the days -- not too long ago -- when I used to call all the major airlines to compare flight times and prices and then do it all over a few days later when the fares changed.

The Internet changed that. Then there was the self-serve check-in kiosk. If you were tech savvy, suddenly you could avoid big lines and get your boarding pass in a snap.

The airlines then too things a step further, allowing you to print out your boarding pass at home. Now we really didn't have to interact with other humans and the airlines got to save a few bucks along the way.

Now comes the latest development: the paperless boarding pass, downloaded to your BlackBerry, iPhone or Web-enabled cell phone.

Such boarding passes have been around for more than a year but have now spread to many major airports, with plans to expand further in the fall.

So I decided to try it out on a flight from Newark, N.J., to Seattle the other week on Continental Airlines.

Newark is one of 27 airports in the country to currently allow paperless check-in.

Continental, one of five airlines trying out the paperless system, sent me an e-mail about 24 hours before my flight telling me that I was now eligible to check in. Sitting at a bar with some friends, I logged on via my BlackBerry and checked in for my flight. I was even able to change seats … or would have been if there were other seats available.

A few minutes later, I got an e-mail from Continental saying: "Please use the link below to retrieve your mobile boarding pass, which must be displayed on your mobile phone or PDA at the security checkpoint and again at the gate to board your flight."

Boarding Pass on Your BlackBerry or iPhone

And there it was on my screen, a little bar code that would serve as my ticket.

It all seemed so easy. But I had made one fatal mistake: I never saved the image. Continental advises travelers on its Web site to "save your mobile boarding pass to your phone to make it easy to retrieve when you get to the security checkpoint."

The catch is the airline doesn't give you those instructions when doing the mobile check-in. As a novice to the process, I skipped that step.

The next day at the airport, clearing security was a breeze. I reloaded the link and the Transportation Security Administration agent scanned my BlackBerry screen and I was on my way.

The problem occurred while boarding at the gate. Since I had failed to save the image, I went again to the link and that's where the trouble began: I was within one hour of my flight and mobile check-in was no longer available. I could no longer access the bar code.

A quick trip to the counter at the gate and I was given a paper boarding pass. It might not have been cutting edge, but it got me on the plane.

If your BlackBerry or iPhone battery dies, you can always go back to the counter and get a traditional boarding pass.

The gate agents weren't sure what the problem was but said it happens from time to time. I guess I am not the only traveler who can't figure it out. It wasn't until a few days later when I called Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark that I figured out my error.

Clark said that the paperless check-in process is gaining popularity as the airline and the TSA roll it out to more airports. The airline is approaching its 1 millionth user of the mobile boarding pass since the program was unveiled in December 2007.

That's still a small percentage of passengers, considering that in January through May alone Continental had 12.8 million domestic passengers, according to data presented to the Bureau of Transportation statics.

Paperless boarding passes are only available for domestic travelers and only one person can be on a reservation. So if a couple bought their tickets together, they are still going to have to use paper boarding passes.

Boarding Pass on Your BlackBerry or iPhone

"Our customers have told us that they like self service" and this is just the latest step, Clark said. It particularly appeals to business travelers who often don't have access to a printer for their return trip. The passes also have a positive impact on the environment by helping to reduce paper and ink.

The TSA, which allows such passes as part of a pilot program, said they are a big step in preventing fraudulent boarding passes.

"The bar code encryption emended within the paperless boarding is state of the art technology that cannot be manipulated or duplicated by those who wish to evade the aviation security system," said Greg Soule, a TSA spokesman.

Continental, Delta, Northwest, Alaska and American are currently testing it at select airports. The pilot is slated to shortly expand to other airports.

The following airports are currently part of the program but only some of the five participating airlines have it available at each of these airports.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Newark International (EWR)

Boston Logan International (BOS)

Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS)

San Antonio International (SAT)

Cleveland Hopkins (CLE)

New York LaGuardia (LGA)

Indianapolis International (IND)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)

Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP)

Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Chicago O-Hare International (ORD)

Boarding Pass on Your BlackBerry or iPhone

John Wayne, Orange County, CA (SNA)

Los Angeles International (LAX)

Las Vegas McCarren (LAS)

Memphis (MEM)

Atlanta Hartsfield International (ATL)

Salt Lake City International (SLC)

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

San Francisco International (SFO)

San Diego International (SAN)

Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)

Tampa International (TPA)

Portland International (PDX)

Phoenix Shy Harbor International (PHX)

Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)