New boarding passes offer convenience for travelers
2010-12-20
As the aviation industry evolves into a more convenient and technologically advanced system, traditional programs will have to be replaced. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), boarding passes are the latest to receive a hi-tech update.
The association recently announced that 100 percent of its global partners have moved on to more cost efficient, 2-D bar coded boarding passes (BCBP), doing away with the magnetic strip that usually lines the back of the tickets.
"The magnetic stripe boarding passes are on their way to a history museum next to the paper ticket," IATA CEO Giovanni Bisignani said in a statement. "After electronic ticketing in 2008, the conversion to BCBP is the next important step to provide passengers with more convenience and choice. Completing many tasks during the journey will now take seconds with the swipe of a bar code."
BCBPs offer travelers a number of conveniences, including the ability to check in for flights in the comfort of their own home up to 24 hours in advance. They can also check in themselves at an airport kiosk, a cell phone or other mobile device, making connecting flights or traveling in large groups much easier.
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