Top Tips for Travelling with a Mobile Boarding Pass
Sometimes things don’t always go to plan - follow these top tips to ensure you don’t encounter problems with your mobile boarding pass.
Electronic Boarding Passes
Where from?
Where to?
Dates
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Passengers & Class
1 Adult, Economy/Coach
What is an Electronic Boarding Pass?
Nowadays you can check in online, and you can access boarding passes wherever you like, as long as you have a mobile or personal device. This means that all the same information that you would have on a traditional boarding pass is readily available on your mobile device.
The electronic boarding pass will include your name, flight details and a barcode or QR code that can be scanned at the airport, like a normal paper boarding pass. To use this, simply access the boarding pass on the airlines app, or as a travel document saved on your mobile device, and hold it under the airport scanner or hand to the airport assistant to scan, as you would a paper ticket.
Benefits of a Mobile Boarding Pass
There are many benefits to using a mobile boarding pass compared to using the traditional paper one. Read all of the benefits of using a mobile boarding pass here:
Save money!💰
Some airlines now charge you for the privilege of checking-in at the airport, due to staffing and printing costs. If you check-in online and obtain your mobile boarding pass before getting to the airport, then you cut out this cost, thus saving money!
Save time!⏳
Save yourself time waiting in queues when you check-in online and obtain a mobile boarding pass. This means you only have to complete bag drop (if you wish to check in bags), pass through security and get to the boarding gate, giving you more time to explore the airport and do a bit of shopping, or look out for different types of aircraft.
Keep all your information in one place🖇️
With a mobile boarding pass, you can keep all your information in one secure place. Some mobile devices, such as Apple Wallet, keep all your boarding devices, payment cards and loyalty cards all in one place, so that it is easy for you to keep track of payments and important documents without the need for multiple pieces of paper or cards. It's easy to locate your boarding pass within your mobile too, rather than rummaging for a piece of paper in the bottom of your bag.
It’s paperless📱
Although one piece of paper used to print your boarding pass may not seem like a huge help to the environment, if everyone switched to go paperless and instead used mobile boarding passes, there would be a lot less paper being used, and a lot less trees being cut down for it! Going paperless is just one way that you can choose to fly more eco-friendly.
Don’t need access to a printer🖨️
To obtain a mobile boarding pass, you won’t need to be near a printer as it is delivered to you electronically through your phone.
Keep up to date📆
Some airlines offer you to check-in online through their mobile app. If you do this, the airline may send you notifications such as times you should be leaving to get to the airport on time, which gate to go to and much more. An example of an airline that sends notifications through the mobile app is British Airways.
Check charging points
You may be a bit stuck if your mobile which contains your mobile boarding pass runs out of battery before you scan it. Check to see if airports have charging points and how much it costs or if it is free of charge for a certain amount of time to properly plan your time at the airport. If you have a connecting flight where you may need to show your boarding pass after your flight, it may be worth researching charging points on your airline and aircraft, as it is being increasingly popular to provide USB charging points on your flight seat.
Buy an external battery charger
Additionally, you can obtain an external phone charger so that you can charge your phone on the go. However, you need to be aware of the rules and regulations surrounding these, as certain types may be banned and some countries ban them on air transport completely. Read more about flying with a powerbank here.
Don’t need access to a printer
To obtain a mobile boarding pass, you won’t need to be near a printer as it is delivered to you electronically through your phone.
Print a paper copy
If you are worried that your phone may run out of battery, you can always print a paper copy of your boarding pass as a precaution.
Know the format of your electronic boarding pass
Know how to access your mobile boarding pass when you’re at the airport to avoid hidden charges. For example, some apps may require you to have access to the internet either via their website or app, which means you may incur expensive data abroad charges. However, if you plan ahead and save these important documents to your phone then you can avoid any charges! Additionally, some airlines let you download mobile boarding passes on their app so that they can be accessed offline.
Ask for help
Should you encounter any problems at the airport with your mobile boarding pass, and you don't have a paper version for backup, ask a member of airport staff for help. They will often be able to reprint you a physical boarding pass so that you can board your flight without issue.
Which Airports Do NOT Accept Mobile Boarding Passes?
As of 2024, most airports globally will accept the use of an electronic boarding pass. Some cases where an airport does not accept a mobile boarding pass maybe because it is a smaller, regional airport that does not have the facilities and infrastructure to support the use of electronic boarding passes. In addition, there may be airports with higher security risks and therefore do not accept mobile boarding passes.
To avoid any potential issues or delays, it's always recommended to check with the airline you're flying with, or airport you're flying into, prior to your date of travel.
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Electronic Boarding Pass FAQs
If I have my boarding pass on my phone, do I still need to check in?
Yes, even if you have your boarding pass on your phone, you still need to check in for your flight.
While most airports now accept mobile boarding passes, the check-in process is typically used to verify your identity, confirm your flight details, and sometimes to receive additional information or instructions.
How can I store an Electronic Boarding Pass?
There are many ways to store a mobile boarding pass, the most popular being getting it emailed to your inbox. This way you can be sure that it will be there when you need it. Alternatively, you can access it on a app, either in the phone’s wallet app or on the airline app. However, both of these options may require an internet connection, so it may be worth accessing it at home and taking a screenshot of it so that it can be accessed offline in your photos at any time, thus saving on expensive data roaming charges when abroad.
Where can I get an Electronic Boarding Pass?
Many airlines offer a Mobile eTicket. They will provide information when checking in as to how to obtain your boarding pass, if available. View the airlines above to see if you will be able to get a boarding pass with the airline you are travelling with.
Where are electronic boarding passes accepted?
Although your airline may offer mobile boarding passes, you need to check that the airport travelling to will accept it. If you are still unsure after checking, it may be best to print a copy just in case.
How does an electronic boarding pass work?
An electronic boarding pass works by displaying your ‘normal’ boarding pass in electronic format on your phone. Your flight details will be there, like they would be on a normal boarding pass alongside a QR or Barcode, which allows it to be scanned at the airport to register the details.
Can you use your phone as a boarding pass?
Of course! You can use your phone as a boarding pass in the airports that accept eTickets, along with tablets, smart watches and other devices where you can download and scan the device at the airport.
What do I need to bring to the airport if I already have a Mobile Boarding Pass?
You’ll need to bring your mobile or electronic device that your eTicket can be accessed on, along with your passport or identification (depending on the guidelines of the airline) and visa documents (if required).
Which airports allow Electronic Boarding Passes?
Each airport authority is responsible for whether or not they will accept a mobile boarding pass.
Some airports that currently do not accept mobile boarding passes are the following: Agadir, Antalya, Belgrade, Bodrum, Dalaman, Essaouira, Hurghada, Izmir, La Rochelle, Marrakech, Oslo, Pristina.
For those not stated, contact the airline or the airport directly to see if your mobile eTicket will be accepted there.
How do I use an Electronic Boarding Pass?
To use your mobile boarding pass, you must obtain it first on your phone. You must first check-in online to obtain your boarding pass, and then download or access it. This may be through the airline’s app, a link to it via an email or booking confirmation, or simply on an email.
When you are due to show it in the airport, you should get it up so the QR code or barcode is fully visible on your phone. Depending on the airport, you will then scan it yourself under the QR reader, or hand it to the airport assistant who will assist you in scanning it.