Mobile boarding passes give you a convenient way to save time at the airport, but are they better than paper boarding passes overall? Learn more about how they work and the pros and cons of using them.
Which Airlines Offer Mobile Boarding Passes?
Most major airlines in the U.S. offer mobile boarding passes. Continental Airlines, now part of United Airlines, was the first to offer these types of passes back in 2007. Other airlines hopped on board and began allowing passengers to use these passes over the years. These days, you can use mobile boarding passes on many domestic airlines, including the following:
- American Airlines
- Delta
- JetBlue
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
How Mobile Boarding Passes Work
After you’ve booked your flight, you'll need to get your mobile boarding pass. Keep in mind that your options might vary with different airlines, so check your airline for specific information. In general, your options typically include at least two of the following:
- Email
- Text message
- Through the airline’s app
- View in your browser on the airline’s website
When you have your mobile boarding pass, all you have to do is show the scannable barcode at the boarding gate or security checkpoint. Make sure you also have valid photo ID with you.
Advantages Over Paper Boarding Passes
Mobile boarding passes are easy to use and offer the following advantages over paper boarding passes:
- No worries over losing a paper boarding pass
- Mobile security gives you greater protection against fraud
- Speeds up the boarding process
- You can get to your boarding pass at anytime no matter where you are, as long as you have internet access
- No need to print out your pass from your email or the airline’s website, which saves paper, ink and time
- Accepted at many domestic airports and some international airports, although this varies by airline
Drawbacks of Mobile Boarding Passes
With all of the benefits that mobile boarding passes offer, why might you consider sticking to paper ones? Despite their advantages, mobile boarding passes do have some drawbacks:
- Not all airports accept mobile boarding passes, so make sure you check on the ones you’re traveling through beforehand
- If your mobile device loses its charge at the airport, you’ll have to find a place to charge it, print out your boarding pass at an airport kiosk or have one printed out by a check-in attendant, which can cause delays in boarding your flight.
- If you rely on the airline’s website for the barcode, you could lose access to it if your browser refreshes. Opting to get your boarding pass via email or using the airline’s app helps you avoid this.
- If you end up with no internet connection at the airport, you won’t be able to pull up your barcode. You can avoid this by taking a screenshot of your mobile boarding pass with the barcode clearly visible.
Overall, mobile boarding passes are worth it for the convenience they offer, as long as the airlines you’re flying on and the airports you’re flying through accept them. While they have some drawbacks, you can easily avoid these by being prepared with a fully charged phone and a screenshot of your boarding pass.
