Electronic Boarding Passes (like WestJet)

Deusfaux

I'm tempted to use one of these, and save some ink and paper, but when I think of how many hands my boarding pass goes through at the airport,

I am not okay with giving my smartphone to any of them -which may be what one has to do if it's an EBP?

Can anyone explain how it works?

Usagi

You get the boarding pass via email on your smartphone

You hand the smartphone to the gate attendant

She attempts to scan it the first time

Then she looks at you like you're crazy, tries to scan it a second time

And then you give up and hand her the backup paper boarding pass you printed earlier because this sort of thing never fucking works and you just want to get on the damn plane before the people behind you start some sort of violent revolt with pitchforks and torches


So if you're uncomfortable with them handling your smartphone, it's out. In theory electronic boarding passes are a great idea but my success rate is about 0/6 with Southwest, United and Delta getting this to work.

Wezoin

Just take a printed copy as a backup until you've tried it and are comfortable that it works well.

I just sent my grandma off on a WestJet flight today, but used a printed e-ticket and just got a boarding pass at the counter. They seemed to get things done as quick and easily as possible, so I can't imagine they'd give you much trouble and would be pretty good about dealing with it if it didn't work.

Gilbert0

They email you the boarding pass, you hand it to whoever (security and at the gate), they take a quick look / scan and your through. The barcode with the flight info is displayed on screen. Most people (that I've seen) just hold it and shove it in whoevers face. They read it and it's done.

It works really well. My dad travels once every 2 months or so for conferences and loves it. This is dependant on your size of screen and how many scratches you got on it.

Mahone

I used a Delta pass on my Blackberry Bold 9700 and was very surprised how well it worked. It was quick and easy.

Serpent

You have nobody to blame but yourself if you miss your flight because you try this out without a backup paper boarding pass.

Bring a paper backup just in case.

Deusfaux

well the concern is someone mucking up the phone/dropping it/scratching it

If I can hold it the entire time, myself, then it's okay.

If other people have to take the phone from me or hold it, not okay.

TechBoy

It's just waving a phone in front of a scanner, the gate attendant guy/lady isn't going to get in a huff if you want to do it yourself.

If they look like they want you to hand your phone over they're just doing it to speed things along, ask nicely and of course they'll let you scan yourself.

Deusfaux

ok I'll try next time. thanks