when is a bp not a bp?
May 31, 2019, 6:52 am
#1
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when is a bp not a bp?
From jfk to zrh (nonstop) my bps (printed on my home computer) are always OK.
Yesterday I flew n/s from zrh to jfk and printed my bp in my hotel. Shortly before boarding I went to DL "security" desk (since my bp had TSA PC listed) I was asked minimal ques. But when I got on the DL-ONE boarding line the agent claimed my bp was NOT a bp; I was directed to get an "official" bp, printed from their bp printer. The security people who verified my pp took no issue with my hotel printed bp. Was my initial bp NOT a bp.
Yesterday I flew n/s from zrh to jfk and printed my bp in my hotel. Shortly before boarding I went to DL "security" desk (since my bp had TSA PC listed) I was asked minimal ques. But when I got on the DL-ONE boarding line the agent claimed my bp was NOT a bp; I was directed to get an "official" bp, printed from their bp printer. The security people who verified my pp took no issue with my hotel printed bp. Was my initial bp NOT a bp.
May 31, 2019, 7:39 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: HSV
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European airports use a different scan code than we do in the US. From my experience, many of the Delta printed boarding passes have both on them. However, the ones you print from the website might not. I learned this by living through an experience very similar to the one you did ... only in MUC. I asked and got an explanation ... I assume it's right.
May 31, 2019, 8:06 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2002
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In the same vein, I've had DL reprint a boarding pass produced at the airport in EU or Asia reprinted at the bag recheck on arrival in the US. Sometimes to get the prechek tag on it.
May 31, 2019, 8:36 am
#5
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It's done at airports where the scanners are not up to snuff. Neither common nor uncommon and typically where the hardware is the airport authority's or belongs to a ground servicer or another carrier.
May 31, 2019, 10:40 am
#6
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In ZRH you can't get into the "controlled" area unless your bp is scanned properly.
May 31, 2019, 10:58 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2017
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I once flew a DL codeshare Air Europa flight LIS-MAD connecting onto a DL MAD-ATL flight. They thought my UX boarding pass was fake. Wouldn't let me pass passport check at the gate. They eventually printed me a new boarding pass on DL stock. DL seems to be weird about non-DL BP's.
Jun 1, 2019, 11:57 am
#8
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I once flew a DL codeshare Air Europa flight LIS-MAD connecting onto a DL MAD-ATL flight. They thought my UX boarding pass was fake. Wouldn't let me pass passport check at the gate. They eventually printed me a new boarding pass on DL stock. DL seems to be weird about non-DL BP's.
Jun 1, 2019, 12:11 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2017
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It's not just DL. Most airlines have you swap BP nowadays. Done to help with scanner issues, and as a way to quickly tell if they verified your passport or Visa. Most airlines don't trust others to do that for them and seeing new BP jets them know you've been verified by them.
Jun 1, 2019, 4:58 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2016
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On the occasions when I HAVE had boarding passes all the way through, I have never had trouble using them. But I’ve never printed my own at home.
Jun 2, 2019, 1:57 am
#11
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No issues with DL/AF/KL. Only time I've had to exchange with them, is when at outstation that's contracted to third party. (Ie Dnata, SATS, Menzies, etc)
Jun 2, 2019, 10:11 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2016
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It happens all the time for me in European airports. In fact, I don’t bother doing online check in any longer on inbound flights from the EU. Also happens on AA flights from CDG, VCE, FCO and ZRH in my recent experience.
Jun 2, 2019, 10:41 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2017
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On a recent MU trip, the out station printed my boarding passes all the way to JFK. Got to PVG and even immigration wouldn't accept my onward BP, made me go to the transfer desk for an "official" MU BP. Bit of a hassle, but I had hours to kill so oh well.
Jun 2, 2019, 10:48 am
#14
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There was a point a few years ago at LAX where the mobile BPs wouldn't get you TSA PreCheck services even if it said PreCheck because tea was worried people were creating fake mobile BPs. You had to have a printed BP.
Jun 2, 2019, 9:18 pm
#15
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This makes no sense. It's easier to create a printed BP, then a mobile one.