When I checked-in at nwa.com on New Year's Eve, I saw the new feature of sending e-boarding pass to mobile phone number or email, I was curious what is this new feature is, so I selected to send e-boarding pass to mobile's email. Almost instantly, I received email with the boarding pass which contained a barcode, more specifically Aztec Code, and I was ready to go try it out.
When I got to the security checkpoint, instead of the piece of paper, I just place my iPhone on a scanner machine. The staff verified with my driver license, and it was done. When I got to my gate, all I had to do was to retrieve my e-boarding pass, and give my phone to the flight attendant to scan, and I was ready to travel. Fast and easy.
I'm really impressed that Northwest stepped up and utilized the mobile barcode method. It is not only convenient, it also save trees!! If you want to try it out, the E-Boarding Pass is currently offered on Northwest flights from Indianapolis, IN, Detroit, MI, and Minneapolis, MN to cities within the U.S and is compatible with hundreds of mobile devices.
QR codes are common in Japan and other countries in Asia have been following suit, using the code on various marketing promotions. The great thing about QR codes is that the can be used for mobile tagging on shopping, dining, transportation, social networking, entertainment...etc. I hope to see the US market using this technology more often soon.
Euphenia Cheng
Strategists & Planners
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