The Russian Ministry of Transport has published an order allowing air passengers to officially use electronic boarding passes when departing from Russian airports. These are "mobile boarding passes" displayed on smartphone screens. Electronic tickets can be used starting February 25, provided the airport is technically ready for their use and the airline supports the technology, reports Travel.ru.
Previously, the requirement for a stamp on a paper boarding pass, as stipulated in the pre-flight security regulations, was an obstacle to electronic boarding passes. Now, the regulations include a caveat: if a passenger uses an electronic boarding pass, instead of a stamp on the pass itself, a mark must be made in the electronic security database of the Aviation Security Service (ASS). If the passenger subsequently leaves the airport's security area for any reason, this mark in the ASS database must be removed.
This new feature will make life somewhat easier for passengers who wish to avoid a paper boarding pass. However, they will need to ensure their mobile phone has sufficient battery power at all times during the flight—not just during security checks, but at least until departure. Furthermore, it's undesirable to have a boarding pass on a phone that frequently freezes or reboots for any reason—this could happen at the most inopportune moment and, in the worst case scenario, could result in a missed flight.
It's unclear how the official introduction of mobile boarding passes will impact the paper boarding pass printing machines currently available at a number of Russian airports. It's possible they will simply be removed after some time, complicating the lives of passengers who prefer a paper version—for example, business travelers who need one for reporting purposes. In that case, regular paper boarding passes will only be available at check-in counters or self-service kiosks (the latter are not available at all airports and not for all airlines). Furthermore, A4-size boarding passes, available during online check-in at most carriers, can still be printed at home, in the office, at a hotel, or elsewhere.
Although mobile boarding passes have been permitted since February 25, they are likely to present initial challenges at some airports. It's unclear how quickly the Security Service will learn to use them, and whether all security checkpoints are already equipped with the required equipment. Furthermore, the response of border guards on international flights remains unclear—currently, they typically also stamp paper boarding passes.
Another anticipated simplification of formalities—the elimination of re-screening when changing flights—could be a far greater relief for passengers, airports, and airlines. However, this project is still in the early stages of development and discussion.
Source: travel.ru