E-Boarding Pass at DTW
 

Checked in online for my flight today and saw a new option show up for an E-Boarding pass at DTW (note: only for direct flights). I had to try it, clicked and within 20 seconds a SMS message showed up on my phone with a link to the E-Boarding pass with a barcode on my cell phone (PDA). Not wanting to risk missing my flight, I also went back in and printed a boarding pass as a backup, that I never had to use.

I had a lot of questions on how it would really work, especially with having to show your boarding pass when you walk under the TSA metal detector and have to show your boarding pass and you are not allowed to bring your cell phone through. So he is how it went today:

TSA Boarding Pass Check - they have a new bar code reader that you hold your phone up to and it reads the bar code and you show them your ID to match the name that shows up on the screen. They then give you a Tuit (a Poker Chip with TSA on it).

TSA Screening - Just like normal, except you hand them the Tuit instead of showing them your Boarding Pass with the TSA checkers initials on it. Sorry, they have to keep the Tuit, I was hoping to start a new game to see who could collect the most Tuits in 1 year.

WorldClub - I use the Amex Plat. Card, so I have to show a Boarding Pass, ID and the Amex Card. They also have the same bar code reader and I put my phone in front of it and it scanned. Good to go.

Gate - I held my phone on top of the normal reader the GA's use and it read it and I boarded without any problems. The only comment from the GA was the the last guy who tried it, didn't work.

I'm sold, will be using the new E-Boarding Pass from now on. Didn't slow me down; however, I did get a lot of stares/attention from fellow pax's as I pulled out my PDA at screening, WorldClubs, Gate.

Can't wait to try this out.

... and how long until they get this at Delta with their 1-D bar code readers ;)

I saw someone hold their blackberry up to the gate scanner on a CO flight out of IAH 2 weeks ago and I was totally amazed. If it wasn't a 7:00am flight after a sleepless night I probably would have asked him to tell me more about it. I may have to try this on my next NW flight in Dec when I go to DTW.

CO has been doing this for awhile now actually. They initiated it in IAH and then expanded it to EWR. Just last week they expanded it further to CLE and now LGA as well.

I think, generally speaking, it's about a 75-80% success rate. A lot of people have screens that are scratched, etc. which prevents the bar code reader from working properly.

The biggest issue with this idea is that if you get all the way up to the TSA person who checks ID and he/she can't scan your BP you are hosed. You have to go back to the airline counter, print a BP and wait in line again.

-RM

gotta expand to connecting flights for it to have a real use.

I agree. Otherwise you'd just be printing a dupe any way for your connecting flights.

and what happens if your in a hurry and have battery problems....

Should any of us be excited?

Bob H

Although I'm not a member of the paranoid tin-foil-hat wearing club, I don't really like the idea of TSA scanning (storing) my boarding pass. It is just one more step down the stupidity ladder that will result in scanning paper boarding passes too and holding up lines even longer.

Also, how long until terrorists can forge the "tuit" - not sure that it would mean anything for them anyway.

I'll stick with paper, thank you. My blackberry is usually buried in my laptop bag when I get out of my car to prevent loss at the checkpoint.

Tried it at IAH last month with CO and was skeptic, but it worked with TSA, the PC and the gate ^

Each checkpoint they were surprised the scanning worked, so things are not running that smoothly, I suppose.

they, in theory, shouldn't be storing it. Their scanner is supposed to check for a valid key signature in the 3d barcode. This is supposed to prevent forgery, as the signature is almost impossible to reproduce. The TSA could/does already know who flies, or will once they require the airlines to submit all the passenger info for comparison to the NFL.

Does anyone know why it is called a Tuit? Is it some kind of joke, as in "I'll finish my chores when I get a round tuit?" COnsidering it is a round shaped "tuit" I couldn't help but wonder if some TSA suit was pulling a joke when they named the item.

In a way, it would be nice to hear this was a joke name. Never hurts to know the TSA has a sense of humor.

Also, I wanted to note that the original post made its way to the TSA blog: http://www.tsa.gov/blog/2008/11/pape...stimonial.html

Nice to see the TSA link to the Post on FT... who wudda thunk they would link to FT... ;)

The barcode on the cellphone screen is common here in Japan for everything from paying bills, using the subway and of course boarding passes at the airport. Nice to see it's working its magic into the US.

CO also uses the E-boarding pass at DCA. No Tuit there just had to show my screen to the TSA worker at the metal detector and then put my blackberry through the x-ray machine. Was very smooth and worked great. ^

The Detroit Free Press has a story about this rollout today:

http://www.freep.com/article/2008110...SS05/811060344

It says they're only offering the feature on direct flights, which I guess dodges the issue with connecting to other airlines.

It was me that called it a Tuit in the original post, all the TSA personnel were calling it a poker chip. I choose to call it a Tuit because a poker chip has some $$ value that can be redeemed (this TSA chip has no $$ value); however, you are correct that the original name came from for a wooden chip that you could use to as a record of a service you owed someone at the later date (You plowed my field, I will fix your fence when I get around "to it"). You still see them today in many private/social clubs were someone wants to buy you a drink, you already have one, so the bartender gives you a chip with "1 Drink" printed on it you can exchange later or on you next visit.

So if the name catches on, I can go down in history as the guy who came up with the name Tuit for the TSA token/chip.

Can anybody confirm if I have the first FT post that made it to the TSA web-site. I have seen posts referenced in mags, newspapers, TV news, but never a TSA reference before.

Used the e-thingie yesterday in the security check point opposite the GT tunnel on level 5. They have a scanner (nothing special, just a BP scanner like in the North Terminal) fitted at the ID checkpoint and if it blinks green if the BP is kosher. Very simple. No poker chip, but they tell you just to show the e-BP on your PDA before & after you put your PDA in the x-ray machine.^

Just tried to use an e-boarding pass at DTW sent to my cell phone. It didn't scan at the security checkpoint. I tried 5 or 6 times, with the TSA person there, telling me what to do. He said that a lot of cell phones don't work, but that generally when they're on larger devices (blackberries, pdas) they work. So, I had to go print a paper boarding pass. Oh well, worth a try. The TSA dude said that a newer scanning system is coming out soon.

I also had no luck with the e-boarding pass in DTW on Wednesday. Pulled it up on my Centro, scanned it a dozen times and no luck. I have another flight on Sunday so I'll try it again. This time I'll have the backup paperboarding pass before getting in line.

Which stations can you do e-BP? I can't seem to find out if LAX or MSP is one of them....

IND and DTW but only if you're on a non-stop:

http://www.nwa.com/checkin/eboarding/

Tried e-boarding pass on my Motorola Razr last week at IND. I use flyclear, and this complicated the procedure because the only scanner was at the main security line which meant I had to walk with the clear agent to the main security line and wait for them to try to scan my phone. When I got there they had to call someone else over over to scan the phone so I waited again. they said the scanner almost never works on phones (so why does NW show the razr as an available option?)

After it didn't work, I pulled out my backup paper ticket, which meant I had to go back through the clear area to get someone to mark the ticket. I will definitely not try it again until I know it is functional, and probably not with a razr.

E-Boarding Pass with Connections ((somewhat))
 

Using an E-Boarding pass is possible if you have a connection at an E-Boarding pass airport such as DTW. A little complicated but does work. My last couple flights I have taken I have done this and worked every time. Heres what I did my last flight I went from TOL - DTW - EWR and then on the way home JFK - DTW - TOL. What I did was I checked in and got a paper boarding pass for my flight from TOL - DTW when I got to DTW I used mobile.nwa.com and checked in again but this time instead of telling it TOL was my departure city I told the system my departure city was DTW. At the end of the check in process it offered me an E-Boarding pass. Went to the gate placed my Iphone on the scanner and it worked great. Anyone wondering there was no problem with any of my miles posting to my delta account when I have done this.

You are right. Since the 90's the U.S. has been behind in communications revolution. For example, the electronic pre-paid phone cards, that you insert into a pay phone like a credit card, never made it here.

How will they maintain an Elite/First Class line? You will have to your Elite card in your hand?