Mobile Passport Scanning with American Airlines

(December, 2019)

American Airlines has become a trail-blazer in the airline industry when it comes to passport scanning.  Recently, the airline announced a new mobile app passport feature that gives international travelers a more convenient travel experience. American Airlines’ app allows travelers to enter their passport information and scan their passport with an Android or iOS mobile device. The feature can scan a passport’s Near Field Communication (NFC) chip and securely send that information to the mobile app for check-in. Currently, the app will work for single-traveler itineraries, but the functionality is expected to expand for multi-travelers in the future.

What This Means for the International Traveler

The app provides easy-to-follow instructions for the process and saves travelers valuable time, allowing for a better customer experience. “We are continuously adding features to our app to make travel easier and worry-free for our customers,” said Maya Leibman, American’s Chief Information Officer. “Mobile passport scanning removes a time-consuming step, providing our customers with a smoother check-in experience for international flights.”

Growth in Tech

Airlines are continuously looking to implement the best experiences for their customers. Outside of the new passport mobile app feature, American Airlines redesigned their self-service kiosk, introduced online virtual 3D aircraft tours as well as biometric international screening. The airline has also revamped app notifications and Siri shortcuts for boarding.

The industry is watching to see if this new feature is something that will substantially speed up international boarding times, as well as keep passenger information secure.