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Boarding Passes Are So Last Year

Many airlines are transitioning to using cell phones instead

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2008 1:38 PM CDT

(Newser) – Airlines are working on transitioning their electronic check-in systems to allow passengers to use their cell phones as boarding passes. Continenal is the first to test the system, in which a scannable bar code is displayed on the phone's screen, and the passenger never has to deal with a paper boarding pass. “We definitely see this as the wave of the future,” a TSA spokesman told the New York Times.

The agency is working with Continental to make sure security on the new system will be up to snuff. The technology being used is a two-dimensional bar code, which is harder to copy than a traditional bar code. “When we scan the bar code, we know if it’s been manipulated or if someone has tried to manipulate it in any way," says the spokeswoman.

Soon, mobile phones may replace the traditional paper boarding pass. (KRT Photos)

Many travelers would be interested in using phones as boarding passes, research shows. (Getty Images)

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Use Your Cell Phone as a Boarding Pass

Houston pilot program said to add security, save paper

Self-Boarding Comes to First US Airport

Houston experiment likely to spread

Security Scare Closes Newark Airport Terminal

Screening resumes, but man who entered through exit still at large

United and Continental May Be Next to Merge

Delta-Northwest deal likely to spark more consolidation

In-Flight Cell Use Cleared For Takeoff in EU

Airlines will choose whether to offer service, which might be pricey

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

cell phones • airline • TSA • Continental Airlines • boarding pass

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Use Your Cell Phone as a Boarding Pass

Houston pilot program said to add security, save paper

Self-Boarding Comes to First US Airport

Houston experiment likely to spread

Security Scare Closes Newark Airport Terminal

Screening resumes, but man who entered through exit still at large

United and Continental May Be Next to Merge

Delta-Northwest deal likely to spark more consolidation

In-Flight Cell Use Cleared For Takeoff in EU

Airlines will choose whether to offer service, which might be pricey

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Newser By Users

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