Thai intros 2D barcode boarding passes
Thai Airways International (THAI) has revealed that electronic boarding passes issued on smartphones will be used in lieu of paper boarding passes, which will be introduced on domestic flights departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai and Phuket, effective 1 August 2012, reports Breaking Travel News.
Electronic boarding passes, using the two dimensional “Mobile 2D Barcode Boarding Pass,” will reduce check-in counter processes, increase passenger convenience, and protect the environment.
Danuj Bunnag, THAI managing director of the Ground Service Business Unit, says THAI will begin using the e-boarding pass or electronic boarding passes, accessible on smartphones or mobile computers enabled for multimedia messaging service.
THAI vice-president, Saroj Yuttatri, commented on the new service, as reported by Easier Travel. “THAI aims to reduce the check-in counter processes, increase passenger convenience, and also protect the environment. The passengers can avail of the new service via mobile phones or tablet browsers, mobile application, mobile game and iPad application.”
In cases where there is a problem with a passenger's mobile phone such as that it runs out of battery, it is lost or is unable to receive the mobile boarding pass, the passenger can contact the check-in agent at the counter, present an ID card, and the original boarding pass will be reissued.
For passengers who have already passed through the security check-in point, they should contact the gate agent at the boarding gate or lounge agent, then present the ID card and inform flight, destination or booking code to the agent, writes The Nation.
The passenger's full record will then be printed and provided to the passenger instead of the original boarding pass.
Passengers with baggage can go to the check-in bag drop counter at the airport to load their baggage and then go to immigration without showing their ticket. They will only have to show their mobile phone display. He said the service can be accessed by mobile phones that support multimedia messaging service based on iOS, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms.