How Do I Get a Boarding Pass?

How do you get a boarding pass?

You get a boarding pass by checking in, and check-in opens 24 hours before your scheduled departure for most airlines. The easiest way is online, either on the airline's website or in its app, where you confirm your details and receive a mobile boarding pass you can save to your phone. You can also check in at the airport using a self-service kiosk, which prints a paper pass, or at the airline's check-in counter, where an agent can help. If you are checking a bag, you will still visit the bag drop or counter even after checking in online. Checking in early is worth doing, since it locks in your spot and, on some airlines, affects your boarding order.

What is a boarding pass?

A boarding pass is the document that shows you are checked in and cleared to board a specific flight. It acts as your ticket at two key points: the security checkpoint, where an officer scans or checks it along with your ID, and the gate, where it is scanned as you board. The pass ties you to a particular flight, seat, and boarding group, and it carries a barcode or QR code that airport systems read. A boarding pass can be a printed slip of paper or a digital pass on your phone; both work the same way. Without one, you cannot pass through security for your flight or board the aircraft.

Do you need to print your boarding pass?

Usually not, but it depends on where you are flying. At most major airports, a mobile boarding pass on your phone works everywhere you need it, from security to the gate, so printing is optional. That said, a printed pass is a useful backup if your phone battery dies or a scanner has trouble reading your screen. Some smaller airports, certain international destinations, and a few airlines still require or strongly prefer a printed pass, so check your airline's guidance for your specific trip. When in doubt, printing a copy costs nothing at a kiosk and saves hassle. Keeping both a mobile and a paper version is the safest approach for international travel.

What information is on a boarding pass?

A boarding pass packs the key details of your flight into one document. You will find your name, the airline and flight number, the departure and arrival airports, the date, the boarding time, and the scheduled departure time. It also shows your seat assignment, your boarding group or zone, the gate number, and a confirmation code for your reservation. Many passes note your frequent-flyer status and whether you have TSA PreCheck, which appears printed on the pass. The barcode or QR code encodes all of this for scanning. It is worth checking the gate and boarding time on your pass when you get to the airport, since gates can change after you check in.