Problems with digital boarding pass

[Jean Prouvaire]

On an eight hour layover at San Francisco from New York, waiting for QF74 to return back to Sydney this evening. Checked in online last night.

Tried to get through security to get into the Cathay Pacific lounge (as I'm in desperate need of a shower) but the Qantas digital boarding pass cannot be read by the scanner there, so I'm stuck in the pre-security area.

Have tried:

• getting the boarding pass from the Qantas Android app, but it's not available through the app.
  
• getting the boarding pass forwarded via SMS from the Qantas website (which confirms that I'm checked in), but the website will only accept Australian mobile numbers (I don't have roaming activated and am using a local SIM while in the US.
• getting the boarding pass forwarded via email from the Qantas website, but despite several attempts, nothing arrives.
• producing a PDF of the boarding pass from the Qantas website (the one that looks like a paper boarding pass and with the rectangular barcode) and forwarding this to my phone manually, but the scanners will not read the PDF barcode from my phone (even though this is the exact boarding pass that would be scanned if it was printed out).
• getting a screenshot of the boarding pass that displays after you check in online (the one with the square bar code) but the scanners will not read that barcode either.

The guy at the security checkpoint says that there's a problem with Qantas digital boarding passes specifically, and that I have to get a paper one. Unfortunately check-in at the airport (including self service) doesn't open until 3.35pm. Granted, this isn't too far away as of right now but it did mean that I'll have spent four hours in pre-security getting frustrated, rather than relaxing in the lounge.

Does anyone have any similar experiences with digital boarding passes not being read by the scanners at security?

 

[serfty]

Does anyone have any similar experiences with digital boarding passes not being read by the scanners at security?

No, as I don't leave things like this to chance. Digital BP's are only as useful as your batteries, phone etc. I like to have printed BP's before reaching the airport.

 

[Pushka]

No, as I don't leave things like this to chance. Digital BP's are only as useful as your batteries, phone etc. I like to have printed BP's before reaching the airport.

Getting BP printed at hotels can be a pain at check out or those staying at non hotel accommodation like B&Bs. Given this relentless push for digital then they must work seamlessly.
If they can see the details then it’s a nonsense.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

No, as I don't leave things like this to chance. Digital BP's are only as useful as your batteries, phone etc. I like to have printed BP's before reaching the airport.

Alas, I didn't have access to a printer.

 

[cvmceg]

Silly question, but have you turned up the brightness on your phone when they try scan it?

Also, have you tried checking in again via website, not app, and it gives you an option to 'view boarding pass'? then screenshot that one.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Silly question, but have you turned up the brightness on your phone when they try scan it?

Yup, all the way to maximum brightness.

Also, have you tried checking in again via website, not app, and it gives you an option to 'view boarding pass'? then screenshot that one.

Indeed I did - tried both screenshotting the boarding pass and creating a PDF version. Neither worked.

Worked out eventually - am now in the Cathay lounge, enjoying the showers and noodles.

 

[moa999]

Worked out eventually -

How? Useful to provide detail for those who may have simar issues.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

How? Useful to provide detail for those who may have simar issues.

Sorry, I meant that kiosk check-in opened up eventually and I got a paper boarding pass. Never got the digital ones to work at security.

 

[moa999]

Weird that it's just Qantas - barcode on screen should be identical to paper.

More understandable if it's all mobiles - some scanners just don't like screens

 

[jrobin]

Sorry, I meant that kiosk check-in opened up eventually and I got a paper boarding pass. Never got the digital ones to work at security.

In September at HKG, I had a similar problem, at 1am when my flight landed, attempting to access a lounge behind security to spend overnight. HKG security were very clear: no entry airside without a paper boarding pass. (I had neglected printing one at the lounge in KUL, so just had copies on my phone and computer.)
I went through immigration to the Plaza Premium Lounge groundside to get the boarding pass printed, but decided once there that I could make do at that lounge overnight until MH checkin opened in the morning.

 

[Hvr]

In September at HKG, I had a similar problem, at 1am when my flight landed, attempting to access a lounge behind security to spend overnight. HKG security were very clear: no entry airside without a paper boarding pass.

I also had the same issue at HKG in June at the commencement of the lounge run. Fortunately, I found a place in Aisle C where I could print it from the USB stick. At HKD$10 it wasn't cheap but ultimately worth it.

Like others here I will always ensure I have a hard copy BP.

 

[kpc]

I thought the Cx lounge should have been able to add your details manually? Like others, I ALWAYS have a paper BP for international flights.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

HKG will only accept QR code type boarding passes on the phone. SO & myself did a mobile checkin on CX HKG/YVR but he couldn't access his code on his phone. We showed transit security the OLCI version however they said they would only accept a paper copy of that. We had to backtrack to the CX transfer desk and get a reprint.