The request to "see your papers" by
security gatekeepers across the travel spectrum may soon be
relegated to old Humphrey Bogart movies, replaced by a more
ubiquitous, "Your BlackBerry, please?"
New,
two-dimensional barcode technology, coupled with text messages used
to confirm everything from sports tickets to restaurant
reservations, took a step forward late last month when Air Canada
introduced paperless boarding passes on mobile devices using the
secure electronics.
The electronic
boarding passes are confirmed with two messages, a text message
read by security personnel and the two-dimensional barcode read by
gate agents during aircraft boarding.
After testing the
system in Montreal over the summer, Air Canada began using the
electronic boarding passes on Sept. 21 at Canadian airports
(excluding flights to the U.S.) for passengers equipped to use the
service.
The boarding passes
are verified at security checkpoints by personnel who view text
confirmation messages on a user's cell phone, BlackBerry or Treo
mobile device at Canadian airports. The barcodes allow passengers
to pass through boarding gates.
The two-dimensional
barcode creates a rectangular pattern of dots and lines that convey
more complex or detailed information than that available in linear
barcodes used for scanning grocery prices. Both electronic and
paper boarding passes are using the new two-dimensional barcodes to
record information, the airline said.
Air Canada's foray
into paperless boarding passes takes the traveler to another level
in the reduction of document handling. The boarding passes are yet
another outgrowth of airline e-ticketing and electronic
confirmations.
Air Canada has
taken the lead in establishing advanced electronics to reduce paper
transactions. All Nippon Airways of Japan is also using advanced
electronic check-in on domestic flights, but most airlines are
still investigating the technology.
So far, Air Canada
is not offering the service on U.S. routes, but it wants to expand
the paperless passes to transborder flights to and from the
U.S.
John Reber, a
spokesman for Air Canada, said the company had notified the
Transportation Security Administration of its interest in expanding
paperless boarding to the 53 airports it serves in the
U.S.
"We work with the
TSA on an ongoing basis, and they have been made aware of our
plans," Reber said. "We intend to go back to them in the near
future, and we hope to expand into the U.S. as quickly as
possible."
Air Canada has been
working with the Canadian Air Transport Security Administration to
establish the text-message boarding confirmation system, which is
visually read. He said the company was exploring two-dimensional
barcode-reading systems for airport security officials in the
future.
Passengers using
mobile devices receive a message containing a Web address as well
as the text. The Web address allows them to download a
barcode.
The barcode
technology is part of a company-wide reservations management system
that Air Canada is developing, called Polaris.
"One element of the
new Polaris system provides customer service agents in airports
with 2-D barcode screening devices to increase the efficiency of
customer handling at airports and provide more personal service,"
Reber said.
Response had been
good so far, Reber said.
"Introduction of
the mobile boarding pass is a key element in Air Canada's
initiatives to use the most recent and secure mobile and 2-D
barcode technologies to simplify our customers' travel experience,"
Lise Fournel, Air Canada's chief information officer, said in a
statement.
"In addition to the
simplification of travel and business processes made possible by
the replacement of paper with electronic documents, we're
particularly excited about the expanded application of 2-D barcode
technology that gives our employees better tools to serve our
customers more efficiently."
While paperless
boarding passes won't be activated for some time for passengers
leaving or entering the U.S. on Air Canada or Air Canada Jazz
flights, check-in services on mobile devices are active for Air
Canada passengers departing the U.S., Reber said.
To
contact reporter Dan Luzadder, send e-mail to [email protected].