Bar-Coded Boarding Passes (BCBP) Implementation guide - IATA

Checklist and timeframe
Recommendation
The following fields define a unique BCBP, without storing personal data:
• Date of flight
• Operating carrier code
• Flight number
• Seat number
• Sequence number
Sequence number should be unique for a given flight. However an airline may use a blank
sequence number for an infant. The seat number helps to differentiate the infant (usually INF)
from the adult.
If a duplicate BCBP is detected at security check:
• It may be that a passenger went airside, came back landside, and returned airside
• Otherwise the airline and other agents are alerted
6.4.2. Fast track
A fast track is a service offered to selected passengers to bypass the queue at a security
checkpoint. An agent controlling the passenger’s boarding pass decides whether to grant the
access to the fast track. The BCBP enables to automate the control, and consequently to make it
self-service.
Recommendation
The following items should be used to control a boarding pass and grant access to the fast track:
• Operating carrier designator
• Compartment code
There is no specific item in the bar code such as ‘access to fast track’.
6.4.3. Immigration
The ET Itinerary Receipt provides proof of return travel where required by immigration. A proof of
onward travel is provided by BCBP, where accepted.
Recommendation
• Government requiring immigration agent to stamp the boarding passes should reconsider
their policy and processes in order to accept digital boarding passes (that cannot be
stamped because they are not paper).
• Immigration agent should prevent from stamping over the bar codes, because the stamp
will make the bar code unreadable, which will delay the boarding of the aircraft.
6.4.4. Taxes
In some countries authorities require passenger to pay departure taxes at a counter located
before the security checkpoint. Passengers who paid the tax receive a sticker that is then
scanned when entering security.
4 th edition - June 2009 - www.iata.org/stb/bcbp 75/128