UA flyers -- Paper BP vs Phone app - what's your choice? Why?
Mar 16, 2019, 5:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
UA flyers -- Paper BP vs Phone app - what's your choice? Why?
I always like having a paper boarding pass even when checked in online and in the GS lobby I can almost always walk right up to an agent. Pretty rare that I have to wait but might just be my regular flight times.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 24, 2019 at 6:12 pm Reason: Pulled out as a separate thread
Mar 21, 2019, 11:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,941
Mar 22, 2019, 1:18 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I like having a paper boarding pass too. You never know when your phone will fail to work.
At the gate it's no big deal (they can just print you one) but the last thing I want to do is stand in the security line twice because when I got to the front the first time my phone would not show the BP.
At the gate it's no big deal (they can just print you one) but the last thing I want to do is stand in the security line twice because when I got to the front the first time my phone would not show the BP.
Mar 22, 2019, 1:32 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: California
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 107
Mar 22, 2019, 4:55 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
I like having a paper boarding pass too. You never know when your phone will fail to work.
At the gate it's no big deal (they can just print you one) but the last thing I want to do is stand in the security line twice because when I got to the front the first time my phone would not show the BP.
At the gate it's no big deal (they can just print you one) but the last thing I want to do is stand in the security line twice because when I got to the front the first time my phone would not show the BP.
Mar 22, 2019, 7:39 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YOW/HBA
Programs: Qantas Silver, MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 418
Most of my travel is international, like many on this forum. I would never think about making a trip without paper boarding passes and a printout of my itinerary. The fragility of a phone, including the potential for running out of charge at a critical moment, and being misplaced or stolen, is far too high.
THIS^
Flew EWR-PVG a few years ago, my phone died on the plane. When landing in Shanghai, the customs agents were giving me a hard time because I couldn't prove I had a departing flight in 5 hrs. I always bring a paper copy of my itinerary now.
Mar 22, 2019, 10:59 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA Premier Gold, Starwood Gold, Plat AE, CO PP MC, Marriott Rewards Plat, Virgin Elevate Gold
Posts: 1,416
Definitely a paper BP guy here too. Learned my lesson years back when there was no cellular data signal in the T6 (old CO) premier line, so I had to go downstairs to get one.
One workaround is just take a screen capture of the pass, but even then, I dont like the way sometimes the gate agent has to move the phone around the scanner a few times for it to scan, and i always feel like its going to get scratched.
One workaround is just take a screen capture of the pass, but even then, I dont like the way sometimes the gate agent has to move the phone around the scanner a few times for it to scan, and i always feel like its going to get scratched.
Mar 22, 2019, 12:45 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
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Posts: 1,053
Mar 22, 2019, 12:52 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,436
Mar 22, 2019, 6:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Definitely a paper BP guy here too. Learned my lesson years back when there was no cellular data signal in the T6 (old CO) premier line, so I had to go downstairs to get one.
One workaround is just take a screen capture of the pass, but even then, I dont like the way sometimes the gate agent has to move the phone around the scanner a few times for it to scan, and i always feel like its going to get scratched.
One workaround is just take a screen capture of the pass, but even then, I dont like the way sometimes the gate agent has to move the phone around the scanner a few times for it to scan, and i always feel like its going to get scratched.
Mar 23, 2019, 4:31 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I like to have both. Phones break. Boarding passes get lost. The chances of both happening at once are pretty slim.
Mar 23, 2019, 6:26 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,265
WN’s IT system is wonky enough that the last time I used them a few years back (had some gift cards to use up) they were having problems with phones and scanners and made everyone go to the desk and get a paper boarding pass, which was working better for them
Mar 23, 2019, 12:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Unless I need to have my passport checked in person, I'd much rather save the time finding a check-in counter or fiddling with some stupid kiosk.