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.

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4 Responses to “Score one for Continental Airlines, Newark Airport, and the TSA”

#1 Samiantha on 20, Jun, 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.

#2 NB on 20, Jun, 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.

#3 Damion on 20, Jun, 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!

#4 How vacation busted my green chops « Cheap Like Me on 23, Jul, 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 […]

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