Less than a quarter (24%) would use their mobile phone as a boarding pass. An estimated 887,000 trees could be saved a year if fliers moved to mobile ticketing.
Less than a quarter (24%) of fliers would use their mobile phone to check into a flight, with over half (57%) put off by the risk of running out of battery, according to new research commissioned by Mobiles.co.uk.
With major airlines such as Ryanair, British Airways and easyJet now accepting mobile boarding passes, the survey looked into what is putting passengers off this greener mode of check-in.
Top 5 reasons for not using a mobile boarding pass:
- Running out of battery (57%)
- Losing the phone or having it stolen (55%)
- Security reasons (55%)
- Losing signal or Wi-Fi (54%)
- The mobile ticket not being accepted (48%)
Leading smartphone developers are hoping to improve adoption rates by making a number of improvements to their mobile boarding pass features. Google has recently revealed that Android users will be able to store boarding passes offline, which will address concerns over loss of signal or Wi-Fi.
Earlier this month, Apple announced that iOS10 will include a new ‘widgets’ section accessible from the lock screen, making it even easier to get to your boarding pass.
Mobiles.co.uk has also explored the environmental benefits of using mobile boarding passes, to encourage more passengers to make the switch. The research estimates that 887,000 trees could be saved each year if everyone in the UK checked into flights with their smartphone.
Abby Francis, spokesperson for Mobiles.co.uk, said: “With more and more airlines giving passengers the option to check in with their smartphone, it is surprising to see that adoption rates are still lagging behind.
“It seems that the fear of mobile boarding passes not being accepted is still a big deterrent for many fliers, so we believe it’s the airlines and airports responsibility to ensure information on check in methods is made as visible as possible.
“There is also plenty for phone manufacturers to work on in order to improve adoption rates – with battery life, security and the development of offline boarding passes becoming universal considerations in smartphone development.
“Smartphones are bringing us closer to a paperless future, although we would recommend checking ahead whether mobile boarding passes are accepted by your airline prior to your date of departure, particularly in foreign countries.”
Apple's iOS10 is slated for release in September 2016 as a free upgrade – and will be compatible with the iPhone 5 and 6 series of handsets.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
