Best and worst boarding pass designs?

[Mattg]

It's been a while since we've had one of those "best & worst" threads, so here's a new one: which airlines have the best and worst boarding pass designs?

I've seen a few shockers that have either been way too difficult to interpret or just didn't make sense at all.

I'll start:

My favourite is the Qantas design; simple and easy to read and the things which should be the biggest (seat & gate number etc.), are the biggest:


For least favourite I have two contenders. Firstly, the American Airlines design which is rather confusing and has so much unnecessary information (and it probably doesn't help that they tend to scribble all over it):


Finally, my contender for worst ever boarding pass comes from Norwegian Air Shuttle (What gate do you think the flight was boarding from?):



What's your favourite and least favourite boarding pass designs?

 

[Quickstatus]

I believe they should have a different design but easily recognisable BP for priority lane passengers. That way they can say passengers with "sparkly Bp can use the priority lane"

 

[boomy]

I believe they should have a different design but easily recognisable BP for priority lane passengers. That way they can say passengers with "sparkly Bp can use the priority lane"

Will not be effective on QF Dom where you don't need a printed BP anymore, the QFF card or smartphone is enough.

 

[MrHyde]

That Norwegian one looks like it was printed on a blank sheet of paper, instead of a pre-printed template paper. That could explain why there is absolutely no standard text on it.

 

[Himeno]

For me, in most cases, I don't really mind the layout of the printed information, but rather the card stock.
I prefer the standard 'hard' card much more then the kiosk printed thermal paper (though I don't like it when they rip the card instead of scanning it at some gates - more so when they keep the larger part)

As for design, the one that bugs me most (other then TSA and their preschool drawings all over everything) is the domestic Japanese boarding passes.

 

[RooFlyer]

I like BPs that have the essential info clearly printed: gate, boarding time and seat. Its also good if the BP is a different colour for class - so the DYKWIA factor shows out better

Dislike Lufthansa - tiny print and lots of stuff printed all over the shop. Also dislike most US ones for similar reason. Although 'PRIORITY ACCESS' in bold letters makes me feel important.

OTOH, yes QF seems to tick the boxes including different colours for classes ); Finnair and Cathay are easy to follow too.

The Scandinavians go for their usual 'minimalist' . I really hate the BPs with 'S S S S' on them

Of course the worst of all are those jetstar ones which are printed on thermal paper - but I've only heard about them

 

[Archphoto]

It's been a while since we've had one of those "best & worst" threads, so here's a new one: which airlines have the best and worst boarding pass designs?

I've seen a few shockers that have either been way too difficult to interpret or just didn't make sense at all.

I'll start:

My favourite is the Qantas design; simple and easy to read and the things which should be the biggest (seat & gate number etc.), are the biggest:
View attachment 27454

For least favourite I have two contenders. Firstly, the American Airlines design which is rather confusing and has so much unnecessary information (and it probably doesn't help that they tend to scribble all over it):
View attachment 27455

Finally, my contender for worst ever boarding pass comes from Norwegian Air Shuttle (What gate do you think the flight was boarding from?):
View attachment 27456


What's your favourite and least favourite boarding pass designs?

I'm thinking Gate 8 or maybe A6 - a c***shoot either way if you were running late.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I like BPs that have the essential info clearly printed: gate, boarding time and seat. Its also good if the BP is a different colour for class - so the DYKWIA factor shows out better

not so much for the 'DYKWIA' but boarding passes used to be red, blue and green - much easier for gate staff to determine benefits or when assistance should be given.

the LH F boarding pass holders are cool though

 

[rickylee]

My least favourite are the AA ones. I would have a hard time choosing between the QF and CX ones as for favourites.

 

[JohnK]

I really like the Qantas boarding passes. Perhaps because I fly them more than any other carrier.

Some of the poor ones are Tiger, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Asiana.

Also not all of the information is printed on both stubbs and in Asian airports they have a habit of keeping one of the stubbs. Whichever stubb I am left holidng does not always have enough information on it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My least favourite are the AA ones. I would have a hard time choosing between the QF and CX ones as for favourites.

the problem with the QF boarding pass is the lack of easy identification for class of service.

if I'm at a packed boarding area I like to just hold up the boarding pass towards the podium and have immediate service to get me on board. that's more difficult if all boarding passes look the same.

 

[Sdtravel]

QF do have some differences
http://www.pointhacks.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/QF107-boardingpass.jpg
the business ones have BUSINESS in big letters at the top. Economy don't have anything.

Althoughh I assume WP & SG would not be easily identifiable if in Y I assume.

CX are similar I believe although the text is bigger for FIRST, BUSINESS and PREMIUM ECONOMY.
http://s104.photobucket.com/user/ronerone/media/CXSuite/005.jpg.html
i do like the colour panel on the bottom right for different classes

 

[MEL_Traveller]

QF do have some differences
http://www.pointhacks.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/QF107-boardingpass.jpg
the business ones have BUSINESS in big letters at the top. Economy don't have anything.

Althoughh I assume WP & SG would not be easily identifiable if in Y I assume.

CX are similar I believe although the text is bigger for FIRST, BUSINESS and PREMIUM ECONOMY.

agree - but with QF if you are arriving at a gate scrum they can't read 'First' from 3/5/however-many metres away.

It would be better if their boarding pass was an entirely different colour for different classes. Then you can be shepherded to the front of the queue.

with CX F/J/Y is clearly identified.

 

[markis10]

agree - but with QF if you are arriving at a gate scrum they can't read 'First' from 3/5/however-many metres away.

It would be better if their boarding pass was an entirely different colour for different classes. Then you can be shepherded to the front of the queue.

with CX F/J/Y is clearly identified.

Back to the future?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

exactly!!

 

[NM]

Back to the future?

View attachment 27514

I seem to recall making a similar one for somebody's significant birthday a few years ago? Different name, different flight number, date and destination.

 

[Robert K]

AA's BP is not very practical. but there's just something about it that i love. Old worldy, unnecessarily complicated, bankish. I'll be sad when it changes.

 

[markis10]

I liked the outback feel of the older BPs.

 

[TomVexille]

AA's BP is not very practical. but there's just something about it that i love. Old worldy, unnecessarily complicated, bankish. I'll be sad when it changes.

I'm pretty sure they did change. Although I might be wrong.

 

[Himeno]

I'm pretty sure they did change. Although I might be wrong.

Unless they changed the card stock since last November they still have the same design.
AA changed the design of the online check in pdf home printed boarding passes.