Alternative to paper backup?

Andy_L

Kindle? Screen quality might not handle a 3D bar code though

maman

Personally I would only take an additional device if I needed on my trip. If you wanted to use an old phone then you'd still have to retrieve it to put it in the tray at security.. 

Murmansk

I'm a big fan of Google Keep - not sure a lot of people know about it? keep.google.com

It's like Post It notes on a board and you can add photos of your boarding passes etc to a note and you can share your notes with someone else so if either of you looses your phone the other can still access the documents. 

You can also attach documents to calendar entries on Google Calendar. 

bob_a_builder

I put copies of all my travel docs for a trip on Google Drive - same benefits as Google Keep mentioned above 
PLUS
you can mark them to be available at all times so in the case you just cant get a signal they are still available ( i.e. they are auto downloaded to phone in background so still available via Google Drive without signal) 

DullGreyGuy

J_B said:

goodValue said:

I see some people carry a paper copy of their airline boarding passes in case something goes wrong with their mobile.

We carry paper boarding passes to save the hassle of using our phones - just fold it up and put it in our passports (which we also don't have on our phones! )

Have them on the phone to avoid the hassle of having to try and get a boarding pass printed when your overseas nor having to faff about with unfolding/refolding paper etc. With it in AppleWallet it'll be the default item when you double click the side button look at the screen and its there

Doshwaster

I still like to have a paper copy as it can help in planning a complex trip. I had got out of the habit pre-covid but what with all the forms you needed I started doing it again and haven't yet stopped but I really should.

I also use TripIt (https://www.tripit.com/en-uk/web - though similar services are available) where you forward confirmation emails for flights, hotels etc and it builds up an complete itinerary and it can inform you of any changes. 

For planning I keep a Google sheet for each trip with all of the details for each day, bookings, things to do etc. It can also be used to track budgets and costs.

HillStreetBlues

For me it's not the people with paper boarding passes you end up stuck behind, it's those who can't find it on their phone.

DullGreyGuy

HillStreetBlues said:

For me it's not the people with paper boarding passes you end up stuck behind, it's those who can't find it on their phone.

We obviously get stuck at different airports... its the people with a dozen bits of paper trying to workout which one they need at this time between their booking confirmation, their hotel booking confirmation, transfer conformation, resort vouchers etc etc etc for them, their spouse and 4 kids

Exodi

But then what if your backup device fails?

I generally keep the passes offline on mine and my wifes phone so we can separately swipe through the gates (downloading the pdfs/adding to Google Wallet).

Usually a folder in Downloads which has 'Boarding Pass - Outbound.pdf', 'Transfer.pdf', 'Vehicle Hire.pdf', etc.

I use to print off physical copies of absolutely everything and waddle round with a big document folder, then I realised I never used them and even if I did it was a pain to carry round a folder and quickly sort through it (as above), but we're also not in the middle ages and phones don't generally spontaneously combust. Even if my phone did, my wife has hers.

HillStreetBlues said:

For me it's not the people with paper boarding passes you end up stuck behind, it's those who can't find it on their phone.

I don't think this is an issues specific to phones, there are just some people who realise they will soon require their boarding pass and prepare it in advance, and some people who are seemingly oblivious to that.

I've stood behind people in the queue fannying around on their phones trying to scroll through their emails with bad signal, just like I've stood behind a couple rooting through their backpack exclaiming 'I gave you the boarding passes, I swear it'.

J_B

DullGreyGuy said:

J_B said:

goodValue said:

I see some people carry a paper copy of their airline boarding passes in case something goes wrong with their mobile.

We carry paper boarding passes to save the hassle of using our phones - just fold it up and put it in our passports (which we also don't have on our phones! )

Have them on the phone to avoid the hassle of having to try and get a boarding pass printed when your overseas nor having to faff about with unfolding/refolding paper etc. With it in AppleWallet it'll be the default item when you double click the side button look at the screen and its there

We can print them at home before we go and if not, we have a printer abroad!

And, I'm aPple free

HillStreetBlues said:

For me it's not the people with paper boarding passes you end up stuck behind, it's those who can't find it on their phone.

This!