Airline ticket and boarding pass: a common goal, but different functions
Both of these documents are essential for planning your trip, as it is impossible to board the plane without one or the other. However, while both are essential, the airline ticket and boarding pass perform distinct functions. They are issued at different times, contain different information and serve different purposes, whether for the passenger, the airport or the airline.
For first-time travelers, the airport process can seem complex. It involves many steps, from entering the airport lobby to boarding the plane. Each of these steps requires specific formalities and the presentation of different documents.
For simplicity's sake, remember that the difference between the two documents lies in the access they allow. The flight ticket allows you to reserve your seat on a flight and make the payment with the airline. This is a trade document. On the other hand, the boarding pass is an operational document that gives you access to certain areas of the airport on the day of the flight.
Plane ticket to access the airline's services
What information is mentioned on your flight ticket?
This document is proof of your transaction with the airline since you get it after you have made the payment of the booking of your flight, several months, weeks or days before your flight.
The flight ticket includes several important pieces of information, including:
- The identity of the traveller (surname, first name, contact details, etc.)
- Flight references (name of the airline, round-trip date, destination, schedules, flight number, etc.)
- The number of booking
- The number of bags included or optional (as well as instructions on how to do them)
When should it be presented?
The flight ticket must be presented with your proof of identity during the check-in procedure, also known as check-in. This can be done at the airport counter upon arrival or directly online from the company's website or mobile app.
The boarding pass to board the plane
The information on your boarding pass
The boarding pass is also an essential document without which it is impossible to board the aircraft, even if you have a flight ticket.
The boarding pass contains several important information, namely:
- The passenger's identity
- Gate number and your seat number
- Information about the boarding deadline, the departure of the flight and its average duration
- Checked baggage information on the flight
You receive as many boarding passes as you have connections.
When should it be presented?
Also known as a boarding pass, it is given to you after check-in at the airport counter or after your online check-in in a dematerialized way. In other words It is issued to you when the booking of your flight is validated, a few hours before take-off.
Good to know : some operators practice overbooking, i.e. they sell more tickets than there are seats counting on the fact that reservations can be changed or cancelled. Hence the importance of the boarding pass, which is a confirmation of your intention to travel and assigns you a seat on the plane.
Before entering the boarding gate, you must pass through security where flight documents are checked, as well as the contents of your cabin baggage. Then, you will need to present your boarding pass again to the airport agent at the boarding gate in order to access the corridors that will lead you to the tarmac.
Paper or digital: How will you receive and use your flight ticket and boarding pass?
In the digital age and the digitization of procedures, the plane ticket and boarding pass are no longer necessarily printed. Dematerialization leads to new practices and e-documents have many advantages.
Traceability is increased in databases, whether it is the airline or the travel agency. More economical and more environmentally friendly, you avoid the issuance costs associated with paper tickets. You also reduce the risk of not being able to find your flight ticket just before departure for the airport or losing your boarding pass in the lobby after the security check.
However, you must be vigilant about the device on which you are electronically saving these flight documents. A battery or connection failure could get you into trouble. Luckily, there are a few tips to avoid computer problems such as taking a screenshot and keeping a copy on your inbox.