The paperless boarding pass system allows travelers to view their travel information on their mobile device. The encrypted barcode is scanned by TSA officials and airline staff, enhancing security and streamlining the check-in process. It is also environmentally friendly and eliminates the need for physical boarding passes.
The paperless boarding pass system is a technological innovation that allows airline passengers to download and view travel information on an Internet-enabled mobile phone or personal digital assistant (PDA). During airport check-in, your phone or PDA is presented to airline staff and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials to scan instead of the traditional paper boarding pass. In addition to being environmentally friendly, this system is intended to provide greater safety and streamline the air travel process.
Typically, a US traveler who wants to use the paperless boarding pass system must first check in on the airline’s website. He will then receive an email including an encrypted barcode. This barcode contains all the information that appears on a traditional boarding pass, such as gate numbers and seat assignments. The traveler then presents their mobile device with this barcode displayed to TSA officials and airline staff at all airport checkpoints. Using a handheld device, officials and staff scan this barcode, verifying that the boarding information is genuine.
TSA authorities say the paperless boarding pass system can facilitate greater air travel security. The encrypted barcode used in the system is said to be much more difficult to forge than paper boarding passes. Therefore, as paperless boarding pass usage increases, the incidence of fraudulent boarding passes will likely decrease. To make the airport as safe as possible, however, TSA officials require all travelers using the paperless system to provide valid photo identification that matches the information in the barcode.
In addition to enhancing air travel security, the paperless boarding pass system can also streamline the airport check-in process, reducing the stress that sometimes accompanies the air travel experience. This simplification is primarily due to the fact that encrypted boarding information can be updated on the traveler’s handheld device. Once updated, the boarding information will show any changes that may have been made to the boarding gate, flight itinerary, passenger seat assignment, etc. This ability allows the traveler to avoid mishaps such as being signaled to the wrong gate.
A final benefit of the paperless boarding pass system is the abandonment of physical boarding passes. The electronic display of boarding information saves paper and is therefore environmentally friendly. It can also potentially speed up the travel process by eliminating the possibility of a traveler losing or forgetting their card, a mistake that can normally only be corrected by getting a new card.
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