Airlines Considering Barcodes?
It appears that there is a major barcode implementation on the way for the UK, is it time for Airline 2.0?
I just had this week's copy of Computing delivered and noticed on the front page the headline "Airlines look at mobile phone boarding passes".
It looks like the UK airlines are looking into new ways to issue boarding passes, and barcodes on the phones looks like a possibility. I've heard about this working ok when it comes to cinema tickets, but will it really be efficient in an airport? People having to try and get a barcode reader to read their mobile phone screens (possibly scratched, with fingerprints/food/worse on).
This could really slow down boarding and check-in (oh wait a second bluetooth's not turned on, ok, try again now, ok, how about infra-red, no I haven't got your MMS yet), but it will save on paper... is that enough of an advantage?
Oh, and don't forget, now you not only have to remember your passport, you need to remember your mobile too, and don't get it stolen/lost between check-in and boarding or you're stuffed.
