Blutak

I never use an electronic Boarding Pass for reasons which others have stated elsewhere on this topic and because I restrict the use of my cellphone. A paper version of the BP is of great value to me.
Are you implying that I am mentally sub-normal because I insist on using a paper BP? Your snide remark is not appreciated.

threeoh

I think they meant (sarcastically) that the color coding of digital BPs (the topic of this thread) are useful for people who can't count to single digits. Not that users of paper BPs are inferior.

halls120

This. I also print them in case my phone freezes while in line (rare, but it has happened) and in case the system has put me in the same seat with someone else. No way I'm handing my phone to the FA so he/she can sort it out.

halls120

All those inferior people using paper BPs must have been laughing as they boarded.

grapegrower

kale73

I get (or print) paper boarding passes for this reason and also to give the TSA ID checker something to scribble his/her initials on. Many of them seem to take great pride and joy in this task and I wouldn't want to deprive them of that little bit of happiness in what must be a dull and dreary job. :-:

Me. Both.

miamiflyer8

I use mobile bp when I travel in places ID is not required, like intra-Schengen. For INTL always paper as it's easier to hand it along with your passport.

On any itinerary when I check bags I get the bp from the counter anyway.

SS255

I always show up at the airport with a printed boarding pass as a back-up, but I use my mobile boarding pass exclusively once at the airport. A few years ago UA had a computer outage at LAX on a day when I had a rollaboard to stow, and they only permitted people with paper boarding passes to board initially. And my 21-month-old iPhone died quite unexpectedly a few weeks ago, (thankfully) 3 days after I returned from SIN. Technology fails at the most inopportune times, and I don't ever want to be in one of those extremely rare situations where I am 100% dependent upon technology when a simple act of a hard copy backup will potentially save me time and hassle. But I fully leverage the available technology to make my life easier during the 99.99% of the time that it works as intended.

kale73

My purely subjective observation (I'm not about to stand next to the GA with a stopwatch) is that, on average, passengers with paper boarding passes (either kiosk or printed @ home) spend less time at the BP scanner than those with boarding passes on a 'smart'phone (or other device). How often have I seen passengers' screens go 'dark' just before scanning, or the screen is displaying the BP for a connecting flight, or another passenger, or some 'pop-up' message has obliterated it, etc. etc.

I've never had any of the above issues with a paper BP. YMMV.

jsloan

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.

slippahs

jsloan

I check in on the phone the day before, then stop briefly by the kiosk to print the BP out when I arrive at the airport. It rarely takes me more than an extra minute.

threeoh

At some airports, especially if arriving via public transit instead of getting dropped off at the Departures curb, "stopping by" a kiosk could be quite out of the way on your way to the nearest TSA checkpoint.

Also imagine your SO and your two kids check-in for your 6pm flight, SDC to the 4pm, and stand by for the 2pm. Now your CPU clears, so you print a new BP. An aisle seat opens up, so you move and print a new BP. You've now produced 14 pieces of paper all, 10 of which are now out of date. Now they clear standbys on the 2pm, and you've printed 18 boarding passes. With mobile boarding passes, everything is just refreshed to the latest correct version.

The biggest thing for me, tbh, is that my phone fits in my jeans pocket whereas a boarding pass doesn't. If I'm wearing a jacket or shirt with breast pocket, then great. If I'm not, then I'm always at a loss about where to stash my boarding pass and it usually ends up in my bag.

330

milepig

I doubt that you can board an A320 in four minutes under any circumstances.