American Expands Use of Mobile Boarding Passes to Eight More Airports

American Airlines customers departing from New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), as well as six international airports, will now be able to receive their boarding passes electronically on their mobile phones.

The six additional international airports at which American Airlines is offering its mobile-boarding-pass service include Barcelona (BCN); Rome (FCO); Frankfurt (FRA); Manchester, United Kingdom (MAN); Milan (MXP); and Zurich (ZRH).

With the addition of these eight locations, American Airlines now offers its mobile-boarding-pass option to travelers departing on American Airlines and American Eagle flights from 50 airports. Mobile boarding passes use a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode and were rolled out in partnership with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2008.

American Airlines operates 58 Boeing 767-300ERs. For many years the 767-300ER has formed the core of American's long-haul fleet. The carrier primarily uses the type on routes to Europe and South America

“This is an exciting time for American Airlines, as we work to enhance the customer experience by giving our customers the options they want and need when and where they need them,” says Andrew Watson, American’s vice president – customer technology. “With the addition of New York’s JFK Airport and San Juan, plus six international airports, an even greater number of our customers will be able to select the option to display their boarding pass on their mobile phone – speeding the process at the airport and eliminating the need for a paper boarding pass.”

When customers check in for their flight using AA.com and opt to receive their boarding pass on their mobile phone they will receive an e-mail with an Internet link to the boarding pass. Customers must have an active e-mail address where their boarding pass can be sent and an Internet-enabled mobile phone where the 2-D barcode can be received.  The mobile boarding pass contains a 2-D barcode that can be scanned both at security checkpoints and at American Airlines gates.

At the airport, customers scan their mobile phone screen with the 2-D barcode displayed on it when going through security (proper identification must be presented) and when boarding, just as they would a traditional paper boarding pass. Customers who wish to check bags can still use this mobile option by scanning the 2-D barcode on their mobile phone screen at any of the American Airlines self-service machines, ticket counters, or curbside check-in facilities located in the 50 participating airports.

As of yet, customers who opt to use the mobile boarding pass option may only list one person in their reservation. They also must be traveling on American or American Eagle flights from any one of the 50 participating airports on a nonstop or connecting flight through a participating mobile-boarding airport. London Heathrow was American’s first international destination to offer the program. American Airlines says it is one of the first U.S. carriers to roll out the mobile boarding pass technology in the UK, as well as in Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Customers who check in online and wish to print a paper boarding pass are still able to do so. At the end of the online check-in process on AA.com, customers can choose how they would like to receive their boarding pass by selecting either “Print” (customers can print the pass at that time, or use a self-service check-in machine to print at the airport), “E-mail for Print” (boarding pass is e-mailed and customers can print at their convenience), or “E-mail for use on Cell Phone or Other Device” (customers receive an electronic boarding pass via e-mail on their cell phone or mobile device).

For more information on mobile boarding passes, including instructions on how to use this option, visit www.aa.com/mobileboarding.

American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld Alliance.