Delta's E-boarding pass

[sam_gordon]

I've noticed it before but never been able to try it. Delta (and I'm guessing other air lines) offer an E-boarding pass. I'm on a trip by myself this time, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

When you check in online with Delta, you can choose to have your boarding pass sent to your phone (or email, but I used phone). I got two text messages (one for each flight). It had all the flight details and a QR code. According to Delta's site, I could use it to get through TSA and to board the plane. Just in case, I also printed out "normal" boarding passes.

I get to the TSA checkin and show them my phone. She turned on a scanner and we spent a couple minutes trying to get the QR code to scan (hold it higher, lower, rotate, etc). Just as I'm about to give up and pull the paper one out, I click on the QR code in the text and it enlarges! Hey, let's try this. It scans immediately. The TSA officer then had to look at information on the "blown up" screen (all the information regarding flight is on the new screen too) and my DL. I'm then off. I leave through a smaller airport so the TSA officer wasn't familiar with the procedure.

At the gate, when they're scanning the boarding passes, I had to hold my phone with the "blown up" QR code to the scanner. Move it up, down, left, right, it scanned and I got to board.

For my connecting flight, I used the paper boarding pass (which, because I had it folded in my pocket I guess, wouldn't scan so I had to be checked in by hand).

The eBP is a good idea that I don't think is "there" yet. The eBP is a good idea if you CAN'T get to a printer and the line at the airport desk/kiosk is too long. It's NOT a good idea if you're travelling with kids.

I just wanted people to know about my experience because I don't remember reading anyone talking about it.

 

[kathie859]

I've noticed it before but never been able to try it. Delta (and I'm guessing other air lines) offer an E-boarding pass. I'm on a trip by myself this time, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

When you check in online with Delta, you can choose to have your boarding pass sent to your phone (or email, but I used phone). I got two text messages (one for each flight). It had all the flight details and a QR code. According to Delta's site, I could use it to get through TSA and to board the plane. Just in case, I also printed out "normal" boarding passes.

I get to the TSA checkin and show them my phone. She turned on a scanner and we spent a couple minutes trying to get the QR code to scan (hold it higher, lower, rotate, etc). Just as I'm about to give up and pull the paper one out, I click on the QR code in the text and it enlarges! Hey, let's try this. It scans immediately. The TSA officer then had to look at information on the "blown up" screen (all the information regarding flight is on the new screen too) and my DL. I'm then off. I leave through a smaller airport so the TSA officer wasn't familiar with the procedure.

At the gate, when they're scanning the boarding passes, I had to hold my phone with the "blown up" QR code to the scanner. Move it up, down, left, right, it scanned and I got to board.

For my connecting flight, I used the paper boarding pass (which, because I had it folded in my pocket I guess, wouldn't scan so I had to be checked in by hand).

The eBP is a good idea that I don't think is "there" yet. The eBP is a good idea if you CAN'T get to a printer and the line at the airport desk/kiosk is too long. It's NOT a good idea if you're travelling with kids.

I just wanted people to know about my experience because I don't remember reading anyone talking about it.

I still print my boarding passes <INSERT DINOSAUR ICON HERE>. I've been in line with people trying to get their pass scanned on their phone and it never seems to go quickly. I'll use paper until the process is fine tuned.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Never had that problem with my eboarding pass

 

[ZoeBell]

Never had that problem with my eboarding pass

I've used United's mobile boarding pass in Buffalo, LAX and Newark with no problems in any airport. In Buffalo and Newark I had to be a certain line with the machine they needed, but that's about it. Easy peasy.

 

[sam_gordon]

Never had that problem with my eboarding pass

I've used United's mobile boarding pass in Buffalo, LAX and Newark with no problems in any airport. In Buffalo and Newark I had to be a certain line with the machine they needed, but that's about it. Easy peasy.

Maybe it's because I've never used it before. I thought I'd try it. I'm fine with a paper boarding pass. Although, as I mentioned, if I couldn't print one out, at least now I know how to do the eBP thing.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I use e-boarding passes all the time, never have had an issue, never have had to resize it or allow an agent to even look at my phone; everything should pull up on their display and they actually are not suppose to touch your phone as far as I know from a risk/damage perspective (just like Starbucks are not suppose to touch your phone when you use your Starbucks card on your phone).

 

[sam_gordon]

I use e-boarding passes all the time, never have had an issue, never have had to resize it or allow an agent to even look at my phone; everything should pull up on their display and they actually are not suppose to touch your phone as far as I know from a risk/damage perspective (just like Starbucks are not suppose to touch your phone when you use your Starbucks card on your phone).

I didn't notice (I didn't try it before), my Delta app has a better view of my eBP. I'll try to give that a shot when I fly back tomorrow.

I did notice neither the TSA officer or the Delta GA even tried to touch my phone.

Hey, you never know until you try.

 

[Swirly girls]

When we flew to Orlando we asked a Delta agent about online check in, and E boarding pass, they kindly told us we shouldn't bother. So, we didn't.
Everything seemed to go smoothly for us not doing things that way.

 

[Girls1]

I saw that this option was available when checking in for our flights back in August. It sounded like a good idea but they were asking for a phone number for each passenger and DD 7 does not have a phone yet.
Honestly I was concerned that if something happened to happen to our phones, we would be seriously delayed. I'm sure the process will become more fine-tuned in the months/years ahead.

 

[sam_gordon]

I saw that this option was available when checking in for our flights back in August. It sounded like a good idea but they were asking for a phone number for each passenger and DD 7 does not have a phone yet.
Honestly I was concerned that if something happened to happen to our phones, we would be seriously delayed. I'm sure the process will become more fine-tuned in the months/years ahead.

Right. I'm not sure how it would work with minors. I don't know if an adult would get multiple boarding passes or what.

I will say I used the eBP today through the Delta app and it was MUCH smoother. No problems at all.

I do think airlines should be able to make a single "family" boarding pass. So you scan ONE (whether paper or electronic version), and it contains information for all members of a family.