UA Experimenting with Different Colored Boarding Passes?
#61
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
1. international flights, which is the vast majority of what I fly, don't like mobile boarding passes and want printed ones. In fact, one time I was in a rush, used mobile boarding pass on my first flight (domestic) and when I got to the gate for my second flight (INTL) they were paging me and had a paper pass.
2. I collect every ticket. It's fun.
#62
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
You forgot the print-at-work option. This is the option I use. I don't own a printer.
#63
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Flying between BER, ZRH, EZE, COR
Programs: LH SEN, UA 1K, A3*G, AR Platino, BA Gold
Posts: 113
#64
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: HND, NRT
Programs: UA Gold (1K 2016–2023 by miracle extensions; RIP 1K status), 1MM
Posts: 219
If you want a paper boarding pass, check in 24 hrs early and select the option to pick up your boarding pass at the airport. ... Or get an electronic one (on your phone) just in case, and still go to the machine and print one out. You can hold more than one boarding pass for yourself for the same flight. Happens all the time when they give a passenger with an electronic pass on their phone a paper pass at the gate, e.g., because they got an upgrade. I've used the pass on my phone after that's happened to me. The electronic one gets updated with the new seat automatically.
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
AFAICT - UA determines both CPU and IDB priority based highly on status and fare classes. While check-in time is a consideration factor, usually UA does not need to go that far and would be able to pick out the winners/victims just by status and fare classes.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4me
Posts: 11,953
Got my first orange BP today. Flying IAD-VIE in PE on OS. Checked in with UA for my first flight and my mobile BP for the IAD-VIE segment is pumpkin orange and labeled "Basic Economy". Definitely fits the season!
#69
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: UA 1K, MR Bonvoy Bonzaiiiii, National EE
Posts: 622
I was at SIN the other month and, despite them letting me use an e-kiosk to leave immigration, they insisted that we have paper boarding passes.... They also had to have a stamp on them along w/ my passport.
#70
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K | MR Platinum
Posts: 492
This. I've never figured out what problem, exactly, mobile boarding passes are supposed to be solving. The only time I use them is if I've been upgraded since I arrived at the airport and I can't find a kiosk to reprint my boarding pass.
Now, if the scanners were NFC-enabled and you could board based upon your stored MileagePlus card (think Apple Pay), then, maybe. As it stands, it's just not that big of a deal to board using a piece of paper.
Now, if the scanners were NFC-enabled and you could board based upon your stored MileagePlus card (think Apple Pay), then, maybe. As it stands, it's just not that big of a deal to board using a piece of paper.
I always add my BP to my Apple Wallet so that it's easy to bring up (double tap the home button), and persists even if the UA app decides to take an early/extended lunch break. No downside - for domestic flights. Still get paper BPs for intl flights.
#71
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Having once been stuck at LAX sitting outside security because the systems were down for a few hours, I always carry a paper boarding pass. I also find it easier when dealing with Clear, but that's just a personal preference.
#72
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
I posted in the boarding process thread about how a recent itinerary I had featured a teal-colored boarding pass (both in the app and in Apple Wallet) as opposed to the usual white background in app/navy blue wallet card. Today, I noticed another passenger had an orange colored boarding pass.
Im wondering if anyone knows what the colors signify or if we can try to crowdsource what colors exist and what they correspond to?
For starters, theres the teal color I received. I was in group 1 (platinum). There also exists an orange one, but I dont know what group the passholder was in. Its also possible that the color hinges on something other than or in combination with the boarding group.
Im wondering if anyone knows what the colors signify or if we can try to crowdsource what colors exist and what they correspond to?
For starters, theres the teal color I received. I was in group 1 (platinum). There also exists an orange one, but I dont know what group the passholder was in. Its also possible that the color hinges on something other than or in combination with the boarding group.
Gold = GS
Teal = 1K/Plat
#73
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ZRH/LUX/LON
Programs: BA GGL/ VS Gold. Former: UA 1K (10 years+) , EY partners Plat, SQ PPS Club, SU Gold, LH SEN/HON
Posts: 769
I remember the days PMUA where the color code was as follows
United First ( international) = GOLD
United Business = Silver
United Economy = Blue
Boarding passes and ticket jackets were that color. Ticket jackets were distrusted on international flights only and disappeared around 2003
Later United Economy Plus got gold boarding passes
This later went to all the same color
CO always had blue and gold boarding passes on super thin paper stock. So thin it was pointless.
Ticket jackets disappeared in 2005-2006.
United First ( international) = GOLD
United Business = Silver
United Economy = Blue
Boarding passes and ticket jackets were that color. Ticket jackets were distrusted on international flights only and disappeared around 2003
Later United Economy Plus got gold boarding passes
This later went to all the same color
CO always had blue and gold boarding passes on super thin paper stock. So thin it was pointless.
Ticket jackets disappeared in 2005-2006.
#74
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA GS, QF Plat, Marriot/SPG Plat, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 47
Or I can use my phone or print everything.
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,854
Ive never had close to as many checks in airports in any other countries. Its been a couple of years since Ive been through SIN, which yes, still requires paper BPs (at least did until a couple of years ago), but SIN is still easy/efficient to get through, and doesnt require many checks (even though I dislike security at each gate, but thats another topic).