Score one for Continental Airlines, Newark Airport, and the TSA
Live from PRSA Miami, where I just arrived, I offer this fun little story:
Every once in a while, you get shocked. Continental Airlines has a new system where if you go to a link on your Blackberry, the TSA can scan the screen and you don’t have to print out the boarding pass. I obviously knew I HAD to do it this morning and have hilarity ensue as I stood at security when they wouldn’t accept it, as I waited for 50 agents plus 12 supervisors plus the mayor of Newark and the President of Continental to show up, all while being strip-searched. And it was 4:45am. But I did it anyway, because hey, I’m like a human version of disruptive technology.
Imagine my utter shock when I walked up to security, the woman looked at my Blackberry, pulled out a scanning gun, scanned it, and I was through in ten seconds. I was beyond shocked. Especially at Newark, the land of “If you don’t like it, you can be callin’ my supervisor an stuff.” So credit where credit is due, I was amazed.
Lesson? Expect the worst, but applaud when it’s the best.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:19 am
awwww they took your fun away before it began. lol
Happy to hear it went so swimmingly
Have a safe flight.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I’ve been through Newark airport. I think they must’ve drugged you as soon as you walked in and then used their super NJ Mind Rays to make you think it was an easy process.
June 20th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
We gotta get you over to Japan. ANA (All Nippon Airways) offers that type of service at every airport in the country…and you don’t have to take off your shoes!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 am
[...] picked this tidbit last week, after our travels were done — you can use your BlackBerry to present a scannable boarding pass for TSA, at least if you’re flying Continental. A great paperless solution — and a good [...]