How to Get a Boarding Pass on Your Phone

Technology has made life easier in many ways, and any time it can alleviate the need for paper, that’s a good thing. Keeping people moving through long lines? That’s another bonus. ‌When it comes to travel, one of the coolest and simplest technological advancement is the electronic boarding pass.‌

When checking into a flight online or in an airline’s app, a passenger has the option of receiving the pass via email, text or an app, at which point a link will be sent to the QR code. As long as the phone has a camera and QR scanner, all iPhones and iOS devices do, it’s good to go: All that’s needed is to follow the link provided and retrieve the code. You can even store it in the wallet app on the device home screen; androids don’t have the apple wallet feature but you can still use a mobile app on wifi and get notifications.

Using a mobile boarding pass saves paper and makes it harder to lose the pass. A piece of paper can be misplaced, but most people always have their phones handy. Generally, mobile boarding passes are accessible starting 24 hours before departure. Log onto the airline's website and check in for the flight. Once you're checked in, the site should offer the option to send you a mobile boarding pass by text or email or using the airline's app. It should look similar to a paper boarding pass, right down to a scannable barcode.

Before banking on using a mobile boarding pass, though, check the airline's website to make sure they're accepted at your airport. Some smaller regional airports take longer to get this option set up. Because accessing the boarding pass may require that the holder have internet access – and technical issues tend to happen at the least-convenient times – take a screenshot of the boarding pass and save it to the images folder of the phone or tablet. If it's not possible to load the boarding pass when it's time to board, pull up the screenshot and use that instead.

When checking into a flight online or in an airline’s app, a passenger has the option of receiving the pass via email, text or an app, at which point a link will be sent to the QR code. As long as the phone has a camera and QR scanner, all iPhones and iOS devices do, it’s good to go: All that’s needed is to follow the link provided and retrieve the code. You can even store it in the wallet app on the device home screen; androids don’t have the apple wallet feature but you can still use a mobile app on wifi and get notifications.

‌An electronic boarding pass is simply a pass that displays on a mobile device such as a cell phone or apple watch, making a printed boarding pass unnecessary.‌ Upon arrival at the security checkpoint, the traveler shows the QR code to a TSA agent at airport security, who scans it with a hand-held barcode scanner. The agent will also need to see a driver’s license or passport, and if the information on the ID matches the scan, the traveler will be sent through. At the gate, when it’s time to board, the boarding agent will re-scan the QR code. The e-ticket also includes your flight number and flight status.

‌Rather than standing in line at the airport to check in, passengers can now check in online as early as 24 hours in advance of the flight, and as late as one hour before.‌ After some pertinent flight and identification information is entered on the airline’s website, and seats are selected, the check-in process is complete. This is convenient not just because online check-in allows the passenger to move more quickly through long lines -- or even avoid them -- but also because if bags must be checked, they can be paid for online and dropped at the airline’s curbside baggage drop-off or a baggage kiosk inside. Some airlines may also offer earlier check in to frequent flyer rewards members.

Sometimes, mobile boarding passes are only available on domestic flights, not international flights. Additionally, the scanners needed to read these passes are not available at every airport, so in some instances, even a domestic traveler will need a paper boarding pass. The airlines provide lists of participating airports, so passengers can make sure before departing for the airport. Most airlines offer this option including Southwest, Jetblue, Delta, and American Airlines.

Generally, airlines give passengers the option to print paper boarding passes themselves at home. Check in online within 24 hours of the flight and look for this option. Alternately, print boarding passes yourself from a self-serve kiosk at the airport. Major airlines generally have these kiosks in major and smaller airports in the United States and in other countries. Use a confirmation number, credit card or passport to access it.

Using a kiosk has a few benefits. Travelers can select their preferred language, which makes them ideal when you're traveling in a foreign country. If the ticket you have includes the option to choose a seat, using the kiosk also means getting access to a seat map that shows all the seats currently available. Make a last-minute change before printing the boarding pass. Travelers who have baggage to check may still be able to use a kiosk to print a boarding pass.

While handheld gadgets are everywhere, the airlines recognize that not everyone has them or can use them. Agents at the airline's ticket counter can always help passengers get their boarding passes printed. Be prepared to show photo ID. This service is generally free, although some budget airlines, including Spirit, charge a small fee for using counter service.

Getting a boarding pass printed at the ticket counter may require standing in line. Keep in mind that for an international flight, boarding time isn't the only factor in determining when you should get to the airport. Airlines often suggest passengers arrive at least two hours before an international flight, but waiting in a long line at the ticket counter will eat up some of that time.

Warning

Some issues have occurred with electronic boarding passes and connecting flights, and sometimes scanners don’t work as well as they should. Be aware that this can happen, and it may slow down the process. Still, overall, having a boarding pass on your phone is a convenient option.