Fact Sheet: Bar Coded Boarding Passes (BCBP)

Definition:

  • A bar coded boarding pass is a boarding document, containing an industry standard bar code (IATA Resolution 792). It replaces magnetic stripe boarding passes and can hold information for multiple segments and multiple carriers in one single Boarding Pass.

Target:

  • Airlines to become BCBP capable by end 2008 (IATA Board Mandate)
  • 100% BCBP usage by end 2010 (IATA Board Mandate)

Benefits:

  • Customer:
    • Boarding passes can be printed at home (web check-in)
    • Paperless boarding pass (mobile check-in)
    • One boarding document for the entire journey
  • Airline:
    • Home printed or mobile boarding passes reduce paper costs by 100%
    • 40% reduction in equipment replacement costs (magnetic stripe encoding equipment can cost up to US$5,000/unit)
    • Reduced airport facility requirements as more passengers check-in at home or office or mobile
  • Status:
    • To date, 140 airlines have implemented IATA standard bar coded boarding passes

Cost Savings:

  • 100% BCBP usage can bring annual industry savings of US$500 million 
  • Average saving is US$3.58 per home check-in
    • Without baggage US$5.34 per home check-in

Updated: July 2008