American Introduces Mobile Boarding Pass

American Airlines customers departing on domestic flights from Chicago O’Hare now can receive electronic boarding passes on their cell phones and PDAs.

Since Nov. 17, mobile boarding passes are being offered to customers departing from Los Angeles International and John Wayne Orange County airports. If the program is successful in Chicago and Los Angeles, it could be launched in other cities, American said.

The mobile boarding pass program is being rolled out in partnership with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The TSA already has partnered with Continental and Delta to offer the service at several U.S. airports.

When customers check in for their flight using American’s website, they have the option to receive their boarding passes on their cell phones or PDAs. If this option is selected, they get an email with a link to their boarding pass. The mobile boarding pass contains a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned at TSA security checkpoints and at American Airlines gates.

During the service rollout, customers may list only one person in their reservation and must be traveling on American or American Eagle nonstop or same-plane direct to a domestic destination (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico).