UA flyers -- Paper BP vs Phone app - what's your choice? Why?
Mar 25, 2019, 5:55 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,617
Paper. AUS was one of the early adopters of mobile BPs and the technology wasn't as reliable back then. I got stuck behind plenty of people who couldn't get their phones to scan. I vowed never to be that guy. I completely understand that the technology is much improved and mobile BPs work just as well as paper. But old habits die hard. I started traveling in the days of paper tickets. I still obsessively check my BP every time I change locations, like park the car or leave the lounge. My mammal brain knows I have a copy of the BP on my phone, but my lizard brain keeps saying Check. Your. Ticket. 
FWIW people still don't seem to get their phones to work I see someone getting stuck at the front of the line almost every flight because the screen is too dark, or they don't have it loaded, or whatever problem has happened with their new tech phone. Also typically at check in (I usually have luggage) they jam a paper ticket at me so great I use it.
Mar 25, 2019, 6:03 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,357
The comments on this thread remind me -- what's the purpose of the TSA guy scribbling on the paper boarding pass when they can't scribble on the iPhone boarding pass?!
I usually print out two boarding passes -- one for the TSA guy to scribble to his heart's content, and the other that I use for actual boarding at the gate. Have never had a GA say to me "but TSA didn't mark up this boarding pass!"
I usually print out two boarding passes -- one for the TSA guy to scribble to his heart's content, and the other that I use for actual boarding at the gate. Have never had a GA say to me "but TSA didn't mark up this boarding pass!"
Mar 25, 2019, 6:47 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Heading to Costco for more popcorn...
Programs: UA 1K 2MM Flier, SPG Plt, Hilton Dia
Posts: 8,461
Belt & suspenders approach here. Same reasons mentioned by many of the above posters who favour paper boarding passes including not having to deal with quickly being able to securely store my phone in my bag going through security or the boarding process (yeah, I know...) when I can quickly stick my paper BP in a pocket, the rare systems failures (whether airport, airline or my phone), for use at UC upon arrival when my BP may have already disappeared from my phone in the instances when I’ve forgotten to screenshot it, and the bold 1K printed on the paper BP for FAs during BoB when I’m in the back (more applicable before they all had the handhelds that showed them who their GS and 1Ks are).
Mar 25, 2019, 8:09 pm
#65
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
Electronic whenever possible. So much easier to same day change, or change seats, or get battlefield upgrades..... really is convenient.
Scanning problems are non existent these days - having the United app turn the brightness up for the BP display really helps.
The paper ones just annoy me. More crap to carry around.
Scanning problems are non existent these days - having the United app turn the brightness up for the BP display really helps.
The paper ones just annoy me. More crap to carry around.
Mar 26, 2019, 2:47 am
#67
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: HND, NRT
Programs: UA Gold (1K 2016–2023 by miracle extensions; RIP 1K status), 1MM
Posts: 220
I'm #TeamMobileBoardingPass . I'm amazed at the number of people on here who worry about batteries dying. Why wouldn't you always have a battery pack on you?
And has been pointed out, screen shots of mobile boarding passes take care of most of the other potential crises folx seem worried about.
Finally, when I'm checking bags, I but the bag tags in ... (wait for it) ... my wallet. I guess I just love old school technology like wallets.
And has been pointed out, screen shots of mobile boarding passes take care of most of the other potential crises folx seem worried about.
Finally, when I'm checking bags, I but the bag tags in ... (wait for it) ... my wallet. I guess I just love old school technology like wallets.
Mar 26, 2019, 6:14 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,603
Despite all of the tech advances with the airlines, I still stop to get paper BPs issued for every trip (counter only, not the crappy thermal paper from the kiosks). It’s a nice memento of the trip and I save the BP even after the flight is over.
I also get mobile BPs which I store in PassBook, though I tend to only save the BPs from important flights (inaugural’s, new airline, etc).
I also get mobile BPs which I store in PassBook, though I tend to only save the BPs from important flights (inaugural’s, new airline, etc).
Mar 26, 2019, 10:52 am
#69
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
I'm #TeamMobileBoardingPass . I'm amazed at the number of people on here who worry about batteries dying. Why wouldn't you always have a battery pack on you?
And has been pointed out, screen shots of mobile boarding passes take care of most of the other potential crises folx seem worried about.
Finally, when I'm checking bags, I but the bag tags in ... (wait for it) ... my wallet. I guess I just love old school technology like wallets.
And has been pointed out, screen shots of mobile boarding passes take care of most of the other potential crises folx seem worried about.
Finally, when I'm checking bags, I but the bag tags in ... (wait for it) ... my wallet. I guess I just love old school technology like wallets.
Mar 26, 2019, 11:49 am
#70
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
Paper is dying. Good thing you don't use Ryanair. If you want them to print you a paper BP at the airport it's 15 euros. If you also want to check in at the airport, it's 45 euros.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 26, 2019 at 1:34 pm Reason: Discuss the issues, not the poster(s)
Mar 26, 2019, 1:28 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
Mar 26, 2019, 1:36 pm
#74
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,842
Mar 26, 2019, 1:45 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Hyatt GLOB, Marriott Lifetime PLT, UA 1K 1MM.
Posts: 1,728
paper when i can, electronic when i'm in a rush. and i'll own up to it, the only reason i get paper is because i just enjoy having a paper ticket. in 2019, i'm not worried about my phone dying, or it not being read. i simply like it. just reminds me of an earlier time of flying is all.
hell, if they had that waxy-style paper ticket from the 80's and 90's that carbon copies it a bunch of times, i'd definitely be all over that.
hell, if they had that waxy-style paper ticket from the 80's and 90's that carbon copies it a bunch of times, i'd definitely be all over that.