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Paperless Boarding Pass Pilot

Innovation & Technology

December 12, 2008

The electronic boarding pass pilot enables passengers to download their boarding pass on their cell phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). This innovative approach streamlines the customer experience while heightening the ability to detect fraudulent boarding passes. Each paperless boarding pass is displayed as an encrypted two-dimensional bar code along with passenger and flight information. TSA security officers use hand-held scanners to validate the authenticity of the boarding pass at the checkpoint.

Fifteen airports are piloting this technology: Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Logan International Airport (BOS), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and John Wayne Airport (SNA), LAX, Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, and Detroit Airport.

Once the hand-held scanners are deployed nationwide, TSA will also use this technology to track wait times using standardized automated data collected at checkpoints. This development is expected to happen within about a year.

How It Works

The electronic boarding pass contains a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode encrypted with specific passenger information, such as the traveler's name and flight information.

At the checkpoint, passengers present their cell phones or PDA to a TSA travel document checking officer. The officer will scan the encrypted barcode using a handheld device to verify its authenticity. Passengers will still be required to show photo identification so officers can validate that the name on the boarding pass matches the name on the ID.

Where Can I Use an Electronic Boarding Pass Now?

Continental Airlines passengers can use the electronic boarding pass at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Logan International Airport (BOS), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

Northwest Airlines passengers can use electronic boarding passes at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Detroit, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Delta Airlines passengers can use electronic boarding passes at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Alaska Airlines is piloting this program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

American Airlines is piloting this program at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), John Wayne Airport (SNA) and LAX.