I almost missed a flight once because the kiosk ate my paper boarding pass and the line for a reprint was twelve people deep. That was the day I went fully mobile and never looked back. If you’re still printing boarding passes, here’s why your phone is a better option and how to make it work every time.
Get It On Your Phone the Night Before
Most airlines let you check in 24 hours before departure. Do it then, and immediately add that boarding pass to Apple Wallet or Google Pay. I do this while I’m packing — it takes thirty seconds and saves real stress the next morning. Also, and I cannot emphasize this enough, take a screenshot. I’ve had the airline app glitch out at the worst possible moment, and that screenshot saved me from a very awkward conversation with the gate agent.
Don’t Let Your Battery Betray You
Charge your phone to full before heading out. Yes, airports have charging stations, but during busy travel windows those outlets are like gold. I once watched a guy guard a single working outlet near Gate B14 like it was the last lifeboat on the Titanic. Probably should have led with this — if your phone dies, your boarding pass dies with it. Bring a portable charger too if you’re the cautious type.
Crank That Screen Brightness Up
This one tripped me up the first time. The barcode scanners at TSA and the gate need a bright screen to read properly. Low brightness causes errors, and then you’re standing there swiping and tilting your phone like you’re playing some kind of airport minigame while the line stacks up behind you. Just max out the brightness before you scan. Easy fix.
When Paper Still Makes Sense
International flights are the exception. Some countries still want to see a physical boarding pass at customs or immigration, and I’d rather have one ready than argue about it in a foreign language at midnight. Check your destination’s requirements before you go all-digital on an international itinerary. That’s what makes the mobile pass endearing for domestic trips — it just works. Internationally, it’s a coin flip.
For everything else — TSA checkpoints, gate boarding, even lounge entry — the mobile pass scans just fine. I’ve been using nothing but my phone for two years of domestic travel and haven’t needed paper once.
