AlnessW From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 618 posts, RR: 1 Posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 861 times:
I am curious if any airlines out there still use magnetic stripe boarding passes.
I'd be surprised if there are any. With newer computer technology in place at boarding gates, etc, plus with the popularity of online/mobile check-in blahblah, I'm not sure how it would still be practical.
Actually though, I've seen a decent number of magnetic stripe boarding passes still out there. But they all have the normal barcode printed on the front which are scanned during boarding. I have seen this practice done with UA and BA (and I'm sure there are others) before.
In fact, I've noticed that UA scanners do have a magstripe reader built into them. When flying UA a few years ago (2010?) I saw a few people at the gate who had boarding passes printed without barcodes, and the gate agent swiped these at the podium during boarding. But I doubt that happens very much anymore.
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 826 times:
In Europe I never came through one the last few years. On Sunday however I flew MXP-FRA with LH and had a standby boarding pass. When I was cleared I received a new boarding pass with my seat assignment, and it was one with a magnetic stripe.
However for boarding they used the regular barcode, I believe it was just an old stock they still had at the gate
usflyer msp From United States of America, joined May 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 816 times:
There was a big IATA convention about 10 years ago where the airline industry agreed to standardize with 3D bar codes. I forget when the implementation date was but I doubt any carriers still use magnetic stripes since no airport or computer system with support it....
Birdwatching From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3573 posts, RR: 52 Reply 3, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 813 times:
Don't know about you, but I loved the old type boarding passes. The ones with the rounded corners. One reason is that they were all the same format, while today you have all kinds of sizes and shapes. So it was nice when collecting them, you had all these colorful and pretty stubs that were all the same size.
But most importantly, all the newer paper stock is so thin and the thermo print goes black or fades after months.
All of the above is irrelevant in normal day-to-day use, but for a passenger who collects boarding passes of their own flights as souvenirs, this is a sad development.
Soren
All the things you probably hate about travelling are warm reminders that I'm home
reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 803 times:
Well this is sill the case practically everywhere other than in the US/Canada. There are some exceptions with Low Cost Carriers, which give you some kind of supermarket receipts, but you still receive regular and standardized boarding passes with round corners everywhere in these countries, with some exceptions at kiosk.
A lot of airlines and airports however will just scan the code and not tear the boarding pass. Some boarding passes can't even be teared anymore. Strangely some airport staff will still continue to tear, although there is no need for it, and if the boarding pass is not tearable, since there is no perforated line, they will tear it nevertheless.
AlnessW From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 618 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (3 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 740 times:
Quoting reifel (Reply 1): In Europe I never came through one the last few years.
My experience, too.
Quoting reifel (Reply 1): When I was cleared I received a new boarding pass with my seat assignment, and it was one with a magnetic stripe.
However for boarding they used the regular barcode, I believe it was just an old stock they still had at the gate
Yes, you are correct there as well.
Quoting usflyer msp (Reply 2): There was a big IATA convention about 10 years ago where the airline industry agreed to standardize with 3D bar codes.
Interesting to know.
Quoting usflyer msp (Reply 2): I doubt any carriers still use magnetic stripes since no airport or computer system with support it....
Yes, see my post below:
Quoting AlnessW (Thread starter): With newer computer technology in place at boarding gates, etc, plus with the popularity of online/mobile check-in blahblah, I'm not sure how it would still be practical.
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Quoting Birdwatching (Reply 3): Don't know about you, but I loved the old type boarding passes. The ones with the rounded corners. One reason is that they were all the same format, while today you have all kinds of sizes and shapes. So it was nice when collecting them, you had all these colorful and pretty stubs that were all the same size.
My thoughts exactly! I really miss old boarding passes.
Quoting Birdwatching (Reply 3): But most importantly, all the newer paper stock is so thin and the thermo print goes black or fades after months.
All of the above is irrelevant in normal day-to-day use, but for a passenger who collects boarding passes of their own flights as souvenirs, this is a sad development.
Yes - I save all of my old travel documents as well. Glad we agree on this matter!
Quoting reifel (Reply 4): There are some exceptions with Low Cost Carriers, which give you some kind of supermarket receipts,
Ugh... It doesn't get much worse than that!
Quoting reifel (Reply 4): A lot of airlines and airports however will just scan the code and not tear the boarding pass. Some boarding passes can't even be teared anymore.
It is definitely rare for me to ever have a boarding pass torn.
Quoting reifel (Reply 4): Strangely some airport staff will still continue to tear, although there is no need for it, and if the boarding pass is not tearable, since there is no perforated line, they will tear it nevertheless.
Are you sure there is no need for it?
This has happened to me once or twice before.
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From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 618 posts, 
From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1135 posts, 
My thoughts exactly! I really miss old boarding passes. 
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