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Apple fans running iOS 6 might soon be able to cruise through check-in in a very futuristic fashion indeed, thanks to British Airways planning to offer support for Apple’s Passbook electric ticketing system.
The news comes via a punter who mailed BA’s support people, asking if they had plans to support Apple’s paperless system. And yes it does. BA told the customer: “I’m pleased to confirm that the ba.com team are already looking into our website being able to work with the new Apple app, available with the iOS 6 upgrade. Please be assured that we will get our Passbook-compatible functionality live on ba.com as soon as we can.”
BA already offers its own ticketless smartphone app options for paper-phobic passengers to use, so it’s not that exciting a development, but at least it’ll mean UK iOS users should soon have another way to actually use Apple’s new ticketing toy. [Apple Insider]
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Are any UK shops/services using this at the moment?
Yes. Lufthansa, TfL Oyster cards, Starbucks & Odeon, for starts.
Oyster cards on passbook seem pointless without having NFC?
For starts? For finish also I think isn’t it!?
The Oyster option shows you your balance, but that’s all.
Starbucks is useful. The Odeon offering is a 30% off voucher, not actual cinema tickets.
Will they accept Passbook tickets from an android device? I have PassWallet on my Xperia S but the last thing I’d want to do is turn up and have the check-in assistant complain that it must be fake because it’s not an iPhone.
I actually knew about this anyway, as soon as passbook was released I tweeted BA asking if they would be using it,they said their dev team were looking into it
We are delighted by this news and something that is much needed; for convenience, customer engagement and the continued drive for going green.
Indeed ANY business can tap into these benefits (and the Passbook mania) without having to first build an app or fighting for app real estate.
We are getting thousands and thousands of emails a day asking us when such and such a business will issue Passbook passes; so there really will be a big advantage for being a first mover. And this space it definitely not just for the big guys like British Airways. In fact the small and medium companies are probably at a real advantage as the big guys want to defend the ‘app’ and infrastructure they have invested in already. The small and medium business can get their brand into an iPhone via Passbook; via an app that Apple have already developed and is now the native digital wallet for 200 million people – all desperate to use it.
There are a few companies out there helping businesses get into Passbook, and with the PassKit online Pass Designer any business can create, distribute and manage passes even without any technical know-how or expensive infrastructure. You certainly don’t need to be British Airways to do this.
One of the major inhibitors for some clients was the ‘redemption / scanning process’. Obviously with British Airways, Boarding Passes to be scanned in every airport across the world is a massive undertaking but it is getting much easier (as 2D Barcode scanners become more common place). Indeed we provide many companies with scanning solutions (either integrated into their POS or as a standalone scanning companion app), minimising any outlay or delay. All of these solutions are simply plug and play. The main thing business owners need to ‘worry’ about is making sure their staff are ready for the massive influx of new customers and revenue.
Like I say, it’s great news British Airway are getting into Passbook now – it helps with acceptance and overall usefulness. It is a very positive sign for merchants worldwide; as more and more consumers demand these convenient digital passes, today is the time to get on board.