But why would it matter? A QR code works regardless of the technology used to display it (be that paper, a screen, or a bunch of rubix cubes). What would the benefit of requiring digital boarding passes be? Unless the airline wants to force passengers to use their app so they can sell customer data and sell ads, there’s no real benefit to the actual boarding process.
the airline wants to force passengers to use their app so they can sell customer data and sell ads
That’s a bingo
I recently traveled abroad. Flying back to the US I was one of about 10 passengers on my flight that was randomly selected for an extra search that I guess the TSA requires of flights coming into the USA. I couldn’t create my boarding pass in the airlines app ahead of time. I had to check in at the airport, and the airline employed explained that it was because of this random search. He had to print a physical boarding pass, and pointed out it had the code AAAA printed in big letters across the top. This lets everybody know I was one of the lucky random winners.
At the gate, prior to boarding, they called up the names of all of us who had been chosen. They had a list, so they knew who we were. They confirmed our ID again & the boarding pass, then swabbed us down along with our carry-ons and put the swabs in an explosives detector.
No idea why all that required a physical boarding pass, but it did. Until the TSA moves into the modern age they’re likely going to continue demanding paper boarding passes. And we all know how quickly government organizations upgrade the technology they use…
Frontier is already doing this. I flew with them a few months ago (my mistake) and I always print my boarding pass, but it wasn’t showing up anywhere when I checked in the day before. No big deal, I’ll print it at the self serve kiosk when I check my bag. Nope. The only way to get a boarding pass now is to pay $20 for a printed copy at the check in counter (and I wouldn’t put it past them to also tag on the $50 agent assistance fee while they’re at it) or download their proprietary app onto my phone.