Another issue with PDA BP's
Jan 15, 2010 | 9:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: San Antonio - the nicest city in northern Mexico
Programs: CO OnePass; AAdvantage Dirt; IHG Priority Club Plat; Hyatt Plat; Marriott Gold; Avis PresPref;
Posts: 902
Another issue with PDA BP's
So I have a new Blackberry Bold 9700 and like it fine BUT when I tried to use it for my BP it would not scan at TSA. I zoomed but still no go.
Anyone else run into this and have a solution?
Anyone else run into this and have a solution?
Jan 15, 2010 | 9:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Marriott Silver, CO Platinum, Hertz Gold, National Emerald
Posts: 126
I've never had that problem at security, but at LAS I had that problem at the gate. They wanted me to "center" the barcode and you can't move it at all on the Blackberry Curve. Since then I've stopped using it. I almost always check luggage, so it's pointless other than to save a tree.
Jan 16, 2010 | 3:30 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Explorist; MVC Chairman
Posts: 6,181
I've used the original Blackberry Bold 9000 for paperless boarding passes and have never had a problem, with the exception of the agent who didn't know how to turn on his scanner!
Jan 16, 2010 | 9:25 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
Ditto on the agent issue. First (and only) time I did this on my BB (curve), the TSA agent couldn't get it to scan. Called a supervisor (while holding up the entire line at EWR). Took them about five minutes (while I was getting increasingly ugly stares from everyone waiting behind me). They finally found someone who knew that they actually had to turn on the scanner.
Jan 16, 2010 | 10:12 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
I have not has a problem at TSA (once I turn the machine on for them
). But it scans only about half the time at the gate, meaning I carry a backup paper copy with me. Since the problems for me appear more to be CO's varying scanners, it should be up to thier IT to solve the problem.
). But it scans only about half the time at the gate, meaning I carry a backup paper copy with me. Since the problems for me appear more to be CO's varying scanners, it should be up to thier IT to solve the problem.
Jan 16, 2010 | 11:10 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,811
Tried it at AUS a couple of months ago with my Blackberry Curve. My part worked fine, but it was an early-morning flight and I was the first customer of the day wanting to do this, so they had to turn on the scanner for me and it took three or four minutes to warm up and get ready. I had printed paper backups anyway in case my battery died. So... stupid.
Jan 16, 2010 | 12:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Miami
Programs: DL Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 568
Worked just fine on my iPhone 3GS at MIA, IAH, and PDX; especially once I figured out it can't fill the screen, and should probably only be about a square inch.
Jan 18, 2010 | 6:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: EWR
Posts: 318
I've flown my last eight or so flights entirely electronically. I use an iPhone 3G, make the barcode about an inch in size, and make sure that there are some white borders around the barcode so that it's easy for the scanner to find the edges.
I haven't had any problems aside from one agent whose scanner was broken and checked me in via sequence number. (The airports were IAH, DCA, BOS and SJC)
I haven't had any problems aside from one agent whose scanner was broken and checked me in via sequence number. (The airports were IAH, DCA, BOS and SJC)
Jan 19, 2010 | 10:55 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CLEveland, OH USA
Programs: CO PresPlat, UA GS, Marriott Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Fairmont Premier, BA Silver, AVIS PresCircle
Posts: 580
I just read in one of these forums about the iPhone App called Airside that should store your barcode BP and size it appropriately. I downlaoded the app, but have not had chance to test it yet. it's free and works with CO and AA i believe.
Jan 19, 2010 | 12:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 193
I have a Blackberry Curve--I've used PDA BP about a dozen times overall-TSA scanners have always worked at IAH--however, several times the gate scanner did not--so I gave up on it for a while. Decided to try it again in December and it worked both at TSA and gate.
Jan 19, 2010 | 1:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Cleveland, New York City
Programs: AA, SPG
Posts: 17
Works great for me every time I use it at CLE. The first few times I tried it, I also brought along a paper version so I wouldn't hold up the line. (Yes, I know that ruins the point, but I just thought it was cool to use.)