When I was a child traveling abroad, I always followed behind my family. Growing up and traveling abroad by myself for the first time, I stared blankly at that slip of paper in my hand, which was full of English and numbers.
Isn’t the e-ticket already purchased? Why do I still have to go to the counter to get a piece of paper? And what does the dense information on that paper represent?
What’s the Difference Between an E-Ticket and a Boarding Pass?
Many people traveling abroad for the first time get these two things confused, thinking, “I’ve paid for the ticket, so I should be able to get on the plane directly, right?”
E-Ticket is just proof of purchase, while Boarding Pass is the pass that lets you board the plane.
You can think of an E-Ticket as a “receipt.” It proves that you have purchased a seat on this flight.
But airlines still need to confirm your identity, assign seats, and process baggage. Only after these processes are completed will they give you the actual Boarding Pass（Boarding Pass） that allows you to pass security and board the plane.
| Category | E-Ticket | Boarding Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Proof of purchase (receipt for buying the ticket) | Flight boarding pass (voucher allowing you to board) |
| Time of Acquisition | Received in mailbox after payment is completed | Obtained after completing Check-in |
| Can Pass Security | No | Yes |
| Can Board Plane | No | Yes |
| What is on it | Booking reference, flight details, passenger name | Flight, seat, boarding gate, boarding time, QR Code |
Even if you bought the E-Ticket three months ago, if you do not complete the check-in and get the Boarding Pass on that day, you cannot even pass security.
What are the Ways to Check In and Get a Boarding Pass?
There are three ways to get a boarding pass. Choose the one that best suits your habits and baggage situation.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Airport Counter Check-in | The most traditional way: bring your passport to the airline counter, where the ground staff will assign your seat, check your baggage, and print a paper boarding pass for you. |
| Self-Service Kiosk | Airport kiosk machines where you enter your passport or booking reference to complete check-in on your own and print your boarding pass on the spot. |
| Online Check-in | 24-48 hours before departure, check in online via the airline’s official website or App to get a Mobile Boarding Pass QR Code. |
If you have no checked baggage and the departure airport supports mobile boarding passes, you can pass security and board directly with your phone after online check-in, completely bypassing the lines.
What is the Core Purpose of a Boarding Pass?
Once you get your boarding pass, it plays a far more important role at the airport than you might think.
A boarding pass is like your temporary ID card and pass at the airport.
Security Screening and Departure
Airport security personnel and immigration officers need to scan your boarding pass to confirm that you are a “legal traveler who is actually flying today.” Without a boarding pass, security will not let you through.
Boarding and Passenger Count
Airlines scan your barcode at the boarding gate to ensure that every passenger boards the plane on time. There is a very important safety mechanism here:
If you have checked baggage but do not board the plane, the airline must pull your baggage out of the aircraft’s cargo hold before takeoff.
This is the anti-terrorist linkage mechanism to prevent someone from checking in dangerous goods but not boarding the plane themselves.
In-Flight Service and Proof of Rights
Flight attendants will confirm your seat through your boarding pass. Furthermore, the boarding pass has other key uses at the airport:
| Purpose | Description |
|---|---|
| Accessing Lounge | Business class passengers or airline members can only enter the airport lounge with a boarding pass. |
| Tax Refund | When processing tax refunds at airport customs, you must present your boarding pass to prove that you are leaving the country today. |
| Business Expense Reimbursement | The boarding pass is the proof that you actually boarded the plane; just having a ticket purchase receipt is not enough. |
The passport proves “who you are,” while the boarding pass proves “you are actually taking the plane today.” Both are indispensable.
How to Read the Information on a Boarding Pass?
Looking at a boarding pass for the first time, all the English codes and numbers can indeed be dizzying. In fact, you just need to grasp a few key pieces of information.
| Information | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Formatted as “Last Name / First Name,” must be exactly consistent with your passport | CHEN / WEI LIN |
| Flight | Airline code + numbers | BR198, CI130 |
| Departure & Arrival Cities | Uses the airport three-letter code IATA Code | TPE (Taoyuan) → KIX (Kansai) |
| Boarding Time | The most important time, usually 30-60 minutes before departure | 09:30 |
| Gate | The number of the waiting room you need to go to | Gate B7 |
| Seat | The number is the row, and the letter is the position (A for window, C/D for aisle) | 24A |
| Class | Economy class Y, Business class C/J, First class F | Y |
| Barcode / QR Code | Scanned by airport staff to confirm your identity and boarding eligibility | — |
Among these, the boarding time is the easiest to get confused. Many people mistake the departure time for the boarding time, and end up arriving at the gate just as it is about to close.
Boarding time is the time you really need to pay attention to. It is 30 to 60 minutes earlier than the departure time, and if you miss it, the gate may close.
The Baggage Claim Tag is Also Very Important
When checking baggage, the ground staff will stick a baggage claim tag on the back of your boarding pass or passport. It has a 10-digit barcode on it that is deeply bound with your boarding pass in the system.
If your baggage does not come out at your destination, this tag is the key proof for you to report it missing.
| Baggage Tag Purpose | Description |
|---|---|
| Verification upon Retrieval | When baggage comes out, some airports will verify the tag to confirm the baggage belongs to you |
| Missing Search | When baggage is delayed or lost, ground staff use the barcode on the tag to track the baggage location |
| Insurance Claim | A required document when applying for travel inconvenience insurance or airline compensation |
What are the Advantages of a Mobile Boarding Pass?
After completing online check-in, the airline will send a QR Code to your phone, which is the Mobile Boarding Pass.
You can save it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and scan your phone directly when passing security and boarding.
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Time-saving | No need to line up for counters or self-service kiosks |
| Not Easy to Lose | Stored in your phone, unlike paper which is easy to lose |
| Eco-friendly | Eliminates the consumption of thermal paper |
| Secure | QR Code is less susceptible to counterfeiting than traditional magnetic stripes |
If you only carry carry-on baggage and do not need to check baggage, the mobile boarding pass allows you to go from home to the boarding gate with almost zero lines.
If you want to check baggage, you still need to go to the airport counter to check in first.
When Do You Still Need a Paper Boarding Pass?
Although mobile boarding passes are convenient, they cannot be used in all situations.
| Situation | Description |
|---|---|
| Visa Requires Manual Review | When traveling to a country that requires visa verification, customs may request to see a paper copy |
| Special Service Passengers | Children traveling alone, passengers requesting wheelchair assistance, or traveling with pets |
| Airport Equipment Unsupported | Some airports do not yet have electronic scanning equipment |
| Phone Out of Battery | The biggest Achilles’ heel of mobile boarding passes |
| Multiple Bookings | Some airline Apps cannot handle multiple mobile boarding passes at the same time |
When your phone is out of battery, a mobile boarding pass is as useless as a blank piece of paper.
It is recommended to take a screenshot of your mobile boarding pass and save it to your photo album before departure. Even if the App cannot be opened, the QR Code on the screenshot can still be scanned and passed on site.
In addition, carrying a power bank with you is also a basic setup.
Good Habits Before Departure
Whether you use a paper or mobile boarding pass, developing these habits will make you more relaxed at the airport:
- The first thing to do when you get your boarding pass is to take a photo or screenshot
- As soon as the baggage claim tag is stuck on, take a picture of that barcode with your phone immediately
- Keep your passport and boarding pass together, and do not throw them away before you finish reimbursing your expenses at your destination
Passport and boarding pass are the golden partners for traveling abroad. One proves who you are, and the one proves where you are going.
Next time you get your boarding pass, take 10 seconds to look at the boarding time and boarding gate, and then feel free to go shopping in the duty-free shops.