How to Check In and Get Your Boarding Pass Using an Airline App

Most major airlines now have free apps that let you manage almost everything about your trip from your phone. You can check in for your flight, get a digital boarding pass, pick your seat, track your flight status, and receive gate change alerts — all without printing anything or standing in line.

Check-in through the app typically opens 24 hours before your flight's departure time. You will get a notification from the app reminding you to check in. Once you check in, your boarding pass appears right in the app. You can screenshot it, add it to your phone's wallet (Apple Wallet or Google Wallet), or show the app directly at the gate.

Major US airlines with well-designed apps include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. The process is similar across all of them.

Using a mobile boarding pass is accepted at most US airports and TSA checkpoints. The TSA officer and gate agent will scan the barcode on your phone's screen, just like a printed boarding pass. Make sure your phone's screen brightness is turned up so the barcode scans easily.

Some airports and international flights still require a printed boarding pass, so check your airline's website or app if you are unsure. For domestic US flights at major airports, a mobile boarding pass works reliably.

You will need your booking confirmation number or the email address you used when you bought the ticket to log in to the airline's app the first time.