American Airlines now allows customers from select airports to receive their boarding passes electronically on their mobile
phones or PDAs,
Mobile boarding passes, which use a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode,
are available for passengers departing on domestic flights
from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. On Nov. 17, mobile
boarding passes will be offered as an option for customers departing on
domestic flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) and John Wayne
Orange County (SNA) airports as well.
To use the mobile boarding pass option - either with the traditional
desktop version of AA.com or the mobile version - customers must have
an active e-mail address where their boarding pass may be sent and an
Internet-enabled mobile device where the 2-D barcode can be received.
Also, during the introduction of this new feature, customers
may list only one person in their reservation and must be traveling on
American or American Eagle nonstop or same-plane direct to a domestic
destination from Chicago, Los Angeles or Orange County. Domestic
destinations include those within the 50 United States, as well as the
U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The mobile boarding pass program is being rolled out in partnership
with the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If
successful in trial cities, it could be extended to additional U.S.
airports in the coming months.
The mobile boarding pass process is simple: When customers check in
for their flight using American's Web site, AA.com - either the desktop
or mobile versions - they have the option to receive their boarding
passes on their cell phones or PDAs. If this option is selected, they
will get an e-mail with an Internet link to their boarding pass. The
mobile boarding pass contains a 2-D barcode that can be scanned at TSA
security checkpoints and at American Airlines gates. At the airport,
customers simply scan their cell phone or PDA screen when going through
Security (proper identification must be presented) and when boarding,
just as they would a traditional paper boarding pass.
Customers wishing to check bags can also use the new option by
scanning the boarding pass on their cell phone or PDA screen at
American Airlines self-service machines, ticket counters, or curbside
check-in facilities.
Customers who check in online and wish to print a paper boarding
pass are still able to do so. At the end of the online check-in process
on AA.com, customers can now choose how they would like to receive
their boarding pass by selecting either "Print" (customers can print
the pass at that time, or use a self-service check-in machine to print
at the airport), "E-mail for Print" (boarding pass is emailed and
customers can print at their convenience), or "E-mail for use on Cell
Phone or Other Device" (customers receive an electronic boarding pass
via email on their cell phone or mobile device, which would then be
presented at the airport).
"Mobile boarding via AA.com is the latest way American Airlines is
making travel as easy and convenient as possible, especially for our
customers on the go," said Mark DuPont, American's Vice President -
Airport Services Planning. "Customers who choose this option can bypass
printing a boarding pass at their home, office or even at the airport
to board their plane. They can go straight to Security and then to the
aircraft."
For more information on mobile boarding passes on American Airlines,
including instructions on how to use the new system, visit
www.aa.com/mobileboarding.