The use of the e-boarding pass (EBP) is now available for non-stop flights from MSP. I used it to check in for my flight today from MSP-DCA. I used the checkpoint closest to the D Concourse, where my flight was to depart from.

After waiting in line for 15 minutes, I was told that the required scanning equipment was available only in the "Expert Traveler" (elite) line at that checkpoint and not the "Casual Traveler" line that I was standing in. I asked the TSA to escort me to the front of that line so I wouldn't need to begin my wait all over again and they did do that.

They asked me to scan my EBP over the scanner. After many tries using different angles for more than five minutes, it appeared it simply was not going to work. Just when I was about to give up and print a paper boarding pass at the nearest kiosk (a block away), the scanner made a clicking sound and accepted my e-boarding pass and the TSA matched the info against my drivers license.

I tossed my cellphone into a bin just before going through the metal detector. Fortunately, at MSP they no longer ask to see your boarding pass after you pass through the metal detector, so no problem.

At the gate I was asked to scan my EBP again and this time, the scanner responded immediately. But considering the trouble I had getting the TSA checkpoint scanner to read my EBP I doubt I will use this option again unless the scanning equipment is upgraded.

Though I don't have the capability to use an e-boarding pass, even if I did, I would stick with the paper one, partly for the reasons you stated. But also partly because I need the boarding pass to access the NW lounge (AmEx Platinum card). And what happens if/when NW doesn't credit miles? Do you send in your handheld device in order to get credit since they want a copy of your boarding pass?!

Though I enjoy the convenience of technology, this option is mostly designed for computer geeks to get their fix .

I know someone (IT-related) that is an NW employee and works in this area. He would find your last sentence quite humorous Truth is, NW is rolling this out at MSP as a test to see if the public will use it, what the uptake is, how the equipment performs, what the reaction is, etc. If it succeeds - no telling what the measures of success are, though - the plan is to use it to justify removing some of the kiosks, first at MSP, eventually system-wide.

There are no decisions at DL+NW these days which are not related to cutting costs long-term. This is one of them.

Apparently the NW World Clubs also have scanners to validate your EBP. The issue of crediting miles I doubt will be a problem as they obviously cannot insist on a seeing a copy of your EBP. But I used the EBP out of sheer curiosity to see how it would work, and yes, because I am a technogeek.

Perhaps, but I think of it like this: when I'm leaving home/the office, sure, I have no problem finding a printer and doing OLCI and being done with it. But when I'm on the road, it's always been a concern to think about which hotel has free printers or can I send the fax to, and will it arrive on time (if I can't get physical access to the fax machine and must rely on the hotel staff). Same thing if I'm staying with friends/family: another thing to be concerned about and I don't like to trouble them to use their printer.

Nowadays, nearly everyone with an Internet-enabled phone is paying for unlimited data access as well, so this is a great convenience and time saving method. Of course, it's not implemented systemwide yet, but eventually I hope it would be.

Used it in DTW about a month ago...

Tried from every possible angle and it wouldn't work. Did it partly for the novelty and partly because I didn't have access to a printer...and saved some time of finding a kiosk once I got to DTW.

In the end, wasted more time because I waited in line once, spent a little time, holding people up behind me, trying to get it to scan, when it wouldn't, had to go across the bridge to the kiosk, print it, and get back in line (they let me go back to the elite line even though I didn't have the UG yet).

Would I do it again? Sure, but I'd probably try to have the paper one handy

I really like using the electronic boarding passes at MSP ^^

Though I'll admit I was a little nervous my first time... My concerns were:

"Will the agent handle my blackberry? Will they flip it over and scratch "SSSS" into the back of it??"

This didn't happen - in fact, the device never left my hand, both at security and at the gate, I just held the phone over the barcode scanner and it worked perfectly.

"How will I present my eboarding pass post metal detector, without setting off the metal detector?"

As someone else mentioned, the 'post pass freedom papers presentation' is no longer required...

My only issue was that I was on facebook on my phone at some point while airside, so at the gate I realized the boarding pass wasn't even up, I had to step out of line and spend 2 minutes re-navigating to it...

The other thing is that when I checked in and selected 'electronic boarding pass', they didn't have an option for my device, the blackberry 8830, so I just selected another phone at random and the barcode displayed fine.

it is nice to be done with paper boarding passes, at least at home anyway... they sure made nice bookmarks though

I just used an EBP out of DTW this morning, and aside from some joking with a gate agent about being afraid to touch my iPhone (apparently it's NW policy that the agents can't touch customers' handsets for liability reasons) it worked immediately and flawlessly. The idea about the "geek fix" may have some validity, but as a traveler and Apple devotee, having my boarding pass sent to my phone was exponentially easier than trying to work my way into a Windows-based network to print from a printer connected to another computer. The idea that I could be on the bus to the airport, make a change to my flight via mobile internet and still proceed directly to the gate is very convenient and I hope the program expands to more airports.

Interesting to hear that other people are having a hard time scanning.

I just thought it was because my first gen BB Curve has so much dust under the screen protector.

I used it a few weeks back... had it sent to my e-mail via the iPhone settings and it worked on my iPod Touch without any problems... I too was wondering about showing my BP at the WTMD, but they said it's not needed anymore, so I packed it away until I got to the gate and scanned it. No problems reading the bar code as some have experienced.

Here's what it looks like...

When staying at a hotel on the road, I've always just used the fax BP option, rather than try to deal with their comp workstation or printer service, as they're all different with varying levels of security built in. Never waited more than 10 min. to receive the fax BP from NWA - usually it's at the front desk before I can even get down there from my room, or I have it sent ahead before I arrive to the property.

Now, getting a sometimes clueless check-in person to locate the BP... that's often another story.

This one I can understand - the PDA-phone BP will come in handy, if you can't get to the airport early enough to use the kiosk (or the lines suck). However, the risk of waiting in line at the TSA queue, only to have the scanner burb on your PDA BP, and having to run to the nearest kiosk anyway (and rejoin the back of the line)... well, I don't relish the thought of that possibility. Either missing a flight or losing a FC UG because of that, besides the stress involved, keeps me leaning towards paper for the moment.

Rgr. My home airport (FNT) likely doesn't have the capability yet anyway, so I'd need to at least start out my trip with paper. I imagine outside the hubs and major metro stations it will be awhile until the service trickles down to the outstations.

Meanwhile, paper will do as far as I'm concerned. Still, a neat idea once it's rolled out system-wide and the bugs are worked out.

It appears based on other threads and from discussions with TSA employees that PDAs and phones with large screens (like the iPhone) are least likely to have scanning problems. I have a Samsung Ace and its screen is fairly small. Yet I had no trouble with it at the gate - only at the TSA checkpoint.

I used this about two weeks ago with my iPhone and had no problems with the scanning of the EBP.

I did notice that since the TSA agents don't have a piece of paper to scrutinize, so the TSA experience at the ID checker was faster. They didn't have anything to initial, just verified my ID and I was done!

Also, in all cases I was asked to 'swipe' the barcode rather than the person I was in contact with.

I think this technology will provide so much more freedom to navigate an irregular ops situation, checking in through the mobile device and be on your way totally avoiding standing in line! You got to love it!!!^^

Size of screen doesn't matter nearly as much as flatness and image contrast. This is why iPhones work quite well while other PDAs and cellphones do not.

My husband and I both used this last week at MSP with no problems at security on Blackberry Bold. Once I got to the gate, I did have a problem -- I clicked on the link that had been sent by email and it no longer was functioning, so the gate agent had to print a boarding pass.

I think this could be really useful in the no printer situation. My sister recently experienced that when her printer broke and lines for the kiosks the Saturday before Christmas were crazy. Will be back at MSP today and will use this again. It's not a lot of paper per person but it does add up!