Electronic Boarding Pass to Nowhere
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,346
#17
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold
Posts: 6,913
I understand that there are situations where having a printed BP gives you an advantage. Fortunately, so far I have not been in a situation where this was the case including several IROP situations.I also make sure to have a pdf version of my BP that I can print if necessary.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: YVR
Posts: 304
Thanks for posting this. I travel so much now relying solely on my electronic boarding pass, this is a good reminder that a paper boarding pass is never a bad idea.
Do Indian airports still require you to show some kind of ticket or itinerary before entering the terminal? It's been 10 years since I've been there.
Do Indian airports still require you to show some kind of ticket or itinerary before entering the terminal? It's been 10 years since I've been there.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,232
#20
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Thanks for posting this. I travel so much now relying solely on my electronic boarding pass, this is a good reminder that a paper boarding pass is never a bad idea.
Do Indian airports still require you to show some kind of ticket or itinerary before entering the terminal? It's been 10 years since I've been there.
Do Indian airports still require you to show some kind of ticket or itinerary before entering the terminal? It's been 10 years since I've been there.
Is this the reason you gave to the customs agent who was offended by your stack?
#21
Used to be highman123
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,541
The last few times I flew out of Delhi internationally no paper BP was required. I was even allowed in by reciting my flight number and showing my passport (no electronic BP either). Defintely requires 'sweet talking' but it's not hard.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
It was the domestic security CATSA peon-worker at YYC. He wanted a reasonable explanation as to why I had all those boarding passes, and if they were all indeed with my name on them. Then he proceeded to slowly scan through all 500+ of them and kept on insisting that I give him reasonable answer.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
How do the agents handle their obsessive need to stamp every BP with only an electronic one? Did your phone get stamped or have they gotten used to electronic ones?
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,827
I believe, as in another recent thread, the issue here is Indian airports (the other thread was BOM related) like paper.
In the other thread I commented that I've heard/experienced needing a paper print out of my proof of e-ticket to get into the airport and heard that a BP on my phone would not be sufficient. Some people said that was incorrect, others said it was. Who knows.
If I travel around anywhere outside of US/Canada/UK ... I take paper copies. And this includes things like eTA/ESTA proofs - anything electronic. I've even had customs (US) demand to see paper copies of hotel bookings before, and a friend had the same thing in a different trip.
And while I too always try to get a paper BP from AC; in one case the agent said it was impossibru. Fortunately that wasn't in India.
In the other thread I commented that I've heard/experienced needing a paper print out of my proof of e-ticket to get into the airport and heard that a BP on my phone would not be sufficient. Some people said that was incorrect, others said it was. Who knows.
If I travel around anywhere outside of US/Canada/UK ... I take paper copies. And this includes things like eTA/ESTA proofs - anything electronic. I've even had customs (US) demand to see paper copies of hotel bookings before, and a friend had the same thing in a different trip.
And while I too always try to get a paper BP from AC; in one case the agent said it was impossibru. Fortunately that wasn't in India.
I prefer to just use my phone for a BP as a general policy. Less paper wasted, one less thing to keep track of. I usually don't have much of a problem but my travel is mostly US and Western Europe. I should have guessed India would be an issue given that I'd been there for a week and taken several flights, but I figured since the app issued me the BP it must be okay for an international departure. Nope. Lesson learned.
@yyznomad Apologies, I should have included DEL in the thread title. I was a bit tired and grumpy in the SQ lounge in DEL last night ;-)
#28
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: AC.SE
Posts: 2,578
Thanks for posting this. I travel so much now relying solely on my electronic boarding pass, this is a good reminder that a paper boarding pass is never a bad idea.
Do Indian airports still require you to show some kind of ticket or itinerary before entering the terminal? It's been 10 years since I've been there.
Do Indian airports still require you to show some kind of ticket or itinerary before entering the terminal? It's been 10 years since I've been there.
#29
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Titanium, National Executive
Posts: 1,586
And they prefer to use a very strong, thick ink which doesn't dry for an hour so when you put the double stamped (they have a need to stamp it at least twice) boarding pass into your passport, you get a permanent photo copy of the stamp in your passport for a souvenir.
#30
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
And they prefer to use a very strong, thick ink which doesn't dry for an hour so when you put the double stamped (they have a need to stamp it at least twice) boarding pass into your passport, you get a permanent photo copy of the stamp in your passport for a souvenir.
Last edited by jasdou; Feb 2, 2018 at 8:43 am