Paperless boarding passes for United start at DIA

United Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration launched a program at Denver International Airport on Thursday that will allow many air travelers to download boarding passes to their smart phones and avoid the need for printed ones.

United's installation of boarding- pass readers for mobile phones at DIA's three security checkpoints means Denver airline passengers can take advantage of the time-saving technology for the first time.

Travelers still must show government-issued identification to TSA screeners operating the electronic boarding-pass readers to ensure that passenger information on the mobile devices matches the traveler's ID, said TSA spokeswoman Carrie Harmon.

TSA has been operating the "Paperless Boarding Pass" pilot program with four other airlines at about 40 additional airports around the country.

Passengers flying those carriers — American, Continental, Alaska and Delta/Northwest — also will be able to bring downloaded boarding passes on their mobile phones or PDAs to DIA checkpoints and have them scanned by the United-supplied, TSA-operated devices, said Ken Bostock, United's managing director for airport operations.

Similarly, United passengers will be able to have their virtual boarding passes scanned by mobile-phone readers at the 40-plus other airports involved in TSA's pilot program.

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