Asklemmy

Never had any problems with early checkin and boarding pass on the phone, it's very convenient. You can just save your QR code as a picture on your phone, you don't need internet.

I've been traveling full time for 5 years. I always when possible check-in online. I always screenshot my boarding pass so it's in my gallery and available without internet. (same goes for any any other documents that may be required) No need for Google wallet, seems like an unnecessary step to me.

I went into a restaurant here in NYC a out 6 months ago after a long smoke session and was asked to scan a QR code to get the menu. Being too high to operate a phone I told then I didn't have a phone and they insisted that was the only way to get a menu.

I promptly told them to fuck off and soon realized the only other place to eat for at least 2 blocks was a vegan burger shop. It turns out the vegan burger place had the most bangin burgers I've had in years, though that just may be the herb talking.

All in all a satisfying experience.

Hey friend, there’s no need to fear the possibilities. If you are the person named on the ticket you will be able to board. Tickets nowadays can be scanned a multitude of ways, most airlines I’ve flown with the same scanner can read QR codes, barcodes and whatever the SMS style code is called. This isn’t about reducing options for you, it’s about increasing them. If you feel more comfortable with a printed boarding pass then they will be happy for you to do that.

But in answer to your question, there’s nothing special about the cardboard the passes get printed on, it’s just to make it less likely that you’ll lose it or throw it away accidentally. But even then, you can just present ID at the ticket gate, they’ll verify that you’re who you say you are and let you on. So what I’m saying is; give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose.

your QR code is your boarding pass

i love the flying app. its made life so much easier. that said, i get a boarding pass printed every time. i check in manually cuz im always checking a bag, and even when ive already checked in, i ask them to print one.

it only took one experience with the phone not working quickly in the security thing for me to never want to do that again, so i always have the printed version ready just in case. i rarely have to use it.

it seems more efficient having them print it on their barely-there receipt paper than anything i would use.

receiving by sms would just be receiving the QR code in a text. no reason it cant be wherever.

e. i've never received spam from delta after registering, and i used a unique email with them so i would know.

Never had an issue for as long as I've been using them, which is pretty much ever since they were available. I don't even bother with paper backups anymore because if my phone dies I can just present my credit card that secured the reservation, or my ID, at a kiosk or to a gate agent and get a paper copy.

If you've managed to lose your wallet AND your cell while traveling, then frankly you've got bigger problems than whether your boarding pass was digital or not.

It's pretty foolproof, and it's VERY convenient. Go for it.

I do both. In case I lose my phone, or some kind of outage. It cost basically nothing to have more ways of not being potentially broke or stranded.

I do a lot of traveling in the United States, this may vary depending on where you are.

I haven’t used a physical boarding pass in almost 9 years. Airlines want you to use a digital boarding pass as it costs them less money and is more secure, so you actually get less sales pitches with the digital boarding pass. It’s literally here’s your flight information, here’s your QR code, we’ll only text you if something changes, like the gate changed, or there was delay. Printing a pass is obsolete these days. As for offline use. You add it to your phone’s wallet, and most airports in the US have free WiFi, so you’re covered there as well if you didn’t save the image, or have no cell service.

The only time I got spam was when I signed up for airline miles and then I simply opted out and those stopped as well.

Go QR code all the way, no chance of it getting lost.

Fine!

In addition to what others have said, paying for bags or seat upgrades when you check in online or in the app is usually cheaper than it is at the airport.

Flawless for me, using the Qantas app here in Australia. Just a shame their service itself has turned to absolute flaming dogshit.

For me, the primary advantages of a mobile boarding pass are:

• No need to get in line at the airline counter and you can go straight to security.

• You can sneak in your carry-on or personal bag without them inspecting the size or weight. Sure, some budget airlines still check at the boarding gate, but they only usually pick out bags that are obviously too large.

You usually have to register with an email to access your qr code on an airline’s app, so yes you will definitely be getting emails for promos and such. If you don’t want that, you can use a throwaway email when buying tickets ans registering on their app. The qr code is the boarding pass itself. So if you insist on printing a boarding pass, then just request one at the check-in counter.

Short version: Follow the instructions you received, it will work.

Long version:

• Printed PDF on regular paper will always work. Just make sure that the 2D barcode (usually rectangular) gets printed. (Some countries may have other codes for domestic flights.)
• Mobile boarding pass with 2D barcode (usual square) also works on (practically all) airline/airports. (You don't need an internet connection, but if you receive this via email make sure it's available offline. If it's an airline app, make a screenshot. If it's Apple/Google Wallet or Passbook, don't worry.)
• As you noticed above, the print and mobile versions look different. Both will work.
• Most airlines have kiosks where you can get a printed boarding pass whether you checked-in online or not. This is your back-up option if your phone's battery is about to die, the mobile boarding pass does not work, or there was an operational change that requires a new boarding pass.
• Tiny airports that don't work with mobile boarding passes will have staff to print the boarding pass for you.
• If you are checking in luggage with a human agent, you will probably get a printed boarding pass.

If I download the airline’s app to [...], will the airline spam me with ads I don’t want?

Probably yes. Or the app just refuses to work. Airline apps deserve the bad app store rating.

Can I both print the boarding pass at home AND get the qr code to print the boarding pass at the kiosk?

With sane airlines, yes. Standard protocol is to use the last boarding pass generated. So, if for any reason, you get a new boarding pass at the airport, you will use this, not the one printed at home or on your phone. Some airlines will not accept the old barcode or it confuses their system.

Apparently there is something called ‘receive boarding pass by sms’. How does this work?

Old system. They will send you an MMS message or a link. If you don't have internet at the airport, you must download the link before you get there.

Another short version: Always have three things with you:

• The booking reference, usually 6 characters
• a valid ID
• whatever you received from the airline during booking or check-in

Booking reference and last name are the magic code that will get you a boarding pass most anywhere.

Loading boarding passes in Google Wallet is nice, I don't belive you need internet once it is loaded. The airline apps can be great or mediocre. A positive example was from I flew United in the summer and had a tight layover at a large airport I had never been to. As soon as I landed it popped up and provided the instructions for how to get to my gate. No issues with spam from the apps, I always just delete them when I'm done with the trip as I don't fly that often.

Never had problems with them. My new air fryer uses them so I use them several times a week to make easy prep meals or common freezer items like pizza rolls or whatever. Boarding passes have never been a problem either, though I don't usually fly because it's a pain in the ass.

I have only used a printed boarding pass once, when I decided last minute to take an extra bag and had to pay at the airport. They printed a new pass.

Otherwise, it's all been apps. Plane or train. App.

You can add the boarding pass to whatever wallet is on your phone. No wifi needed.

If you get ads from signing up for the app you just unsubscribe from them. It's pretty easy.

Just use the kiosk at the check in line. It will print out for you and only takes a minute.

The airlines I fly with will generally only send information about my flight when I fly with them, since I have a flight with them and the app is the cheapest option for them to interact with me.

If an app tries to send you an ad after your flight, you can always delete the app later.

So long as you have the QR Code/bar code available and printed out, then you will be fine. Many places will allow you to just pull up a screenshot of the code that was sent to your email on your mobile device. I dislike installing apps I don't need so I try to use alternatives where I can.

Failing that your name and reservation number (for airlines it is a 6 character alphanumeric string) should do the trick but then you still need to go to a kiosk or checkin counter.

it never fucking works. I gave up and just go to the counter and say I can't use any form of computer because it's against my religion. Then it takes a few second after that and off I go.