Boarding Pass Ban Prods E-Tix

<B> Boarding Pass Ban Prods E-Tix</B>

By Jay Campbell

American Airlines as of June 1 will no longer issue boarding passes before the day of travel. Corporate travelers who wish to board AA flights without stopping at a ticket counter or gate will have to use electronic tickets.

"FAA mandated changes in airport security procedures plus the ever-growing use of electronic tickets has diminished the value of advanced boarding passes," the carrier said. The change affects all American and American Eagle flights, but does not impact advance seat selection.

American is following Northwest and Continental, and Delta on international flights, which already eliminated advance boarding passes. United is expected soon to follow suit.

On American, travelers with e-tickets can obtain boarding passes at electronic gate readers up to six hours prior to departure with the swipe of a credit card or frequent flyer card. Paper ticket holders now must wait in line and check in at the counter.

Dave Colee, supervisor of the air travel/lodging unit of State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, Ill., welcomed the news. "It appears to us that this is the wave of the future," said Colee, whose department operates a rent-a-plate structure. "We see it as a positive thing because it means less work for us in issuing tickets."

Colee said his company is "quickly moving toward e-ticketing ourselves," with a pilot test slated soon. He agreed with airlines that only 5 or 6 percent of travelers pass by the ticket counters and gates when flying, but said that number may be higher in busier airports.

As for e-ticketing at American, spokesman Tim Smith said where it's available, travelers are now opting for the paperless option nearly half the time. "It's probably 25 or 30 percent of total tickets," he added.