Board a Plane Using Your RIM BlackBerry or Mobile Phone

American Airlines is the third air carrier to test mobile phones as boarding passes. The new service also works for the RIM BlackBerry. Travelers receive their bar codes on their mobile devices.

American Airlines on Thursday was the third US carrier to tap into a new electronic boarding pass for mobile phones and RIM BlackBerry devices. Passengers use the service by having an active e-mail address and an Internet enabled mobile device.

Passengers with confirmed flights receive a bar code on their mobile phone or RIM BlackBerry device. The two-dimensional bar code is then scanned at security checkpoints and when boarding a flight. The service is available at selected airports.

RIM BlackBerry devices or mobile phone boarding passes also add another layer of security. The bar code is scanned twice at security checkpoints and when boarding a flight. The paper boarding pass method is only scanned once at the gate. Moreover, the new mobile service guards against forgeries by using encryption technology.

When travelers check in for flights on the American Airlines Web site, they are giving the option of receiving their boarding passes on their mobile cell phones or RIM BlackBerry mobile.

The new service comes with a few limitations. Travelers using the mobile boarding pass can only list one person in their reservation. This means the service is unlikely to be used for parents traveling with children.

Furthermore, the boarding pass service can only be used for non-stop or same-plane flights in the United States.

Even with a few limitations, the new boarding pass saves the airline industry on paper costs. The new mobile technology is expected to grow and become more available in the coming years.