American Airlines Going Digital? Cuts Paper Boarding Passes? What You Need To Know?

Published on April 6, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

In a bid to reduce costs and promote sustainability, American Airlines has made a significant change to its check-in process. Starting from April 2025, the airline has reprogrammed its kiosks so that passengers who have already checked in online or via the airline’s mobile app will no longer receive automatic printed boarding passes when they drop off their bags. Instead, passengers will need to manually select the option to print a boarding pass through the kiosk’s mini menu, if they still wish to receive one in paper form.

This shift is primarily aimed at reducing the airline’s reliance on paper, helping it save $175,000 annually. According to American Airlines, the change will result in 12.5 million fewer boarding passes being printed each year. The decision is part of a broader strategy to push travelers toward using digital boarding passes, which can be stored on smartphones, thus eliminating the need for paper altogether.

While this move may seem like a small adjustment, it reflects a larger trend in the airline industry toward digitalization and environmental responsibility. Digital boarding passes, which are already widely used by most travelers, have been praised for their convenience and eco-friendly benefits. American Airlines is hoping that by making digital passes the default, it can streamline operations and cut unnecessary operational expenses associated with paper, ink, and kiosk maintenance.

However, some passengers may find the new process inconvenient. Although the option to print a boarding pass is still available, it requires extra steps, which could cause delays for those unfamiliar with the new setup. The change is especially relevant for travelers who may not be comfortable using their phones or prefer the physical copy of a boarding pass. But for the airline, the cost savings far outweigh these minor inconveniences.

American Airlines’ decision to implement this change comes as the airline, like many others, continues to focus on cutting costs in the face of rising labor expenses and high debt servicing obligations. While these factors are difficult to mitigate, the airline is finding ways to reduce overhead by cutting down on unnecessary expenditures. In the past, airline executives like legendary CEO Bob Crandall made headlines for small, yet impactful cost-saving measures. For instance, Crandall reportedly saved $40,000 in the 1980s by removing an olive from first-class salads—a gesture that, when adjusted for inflation, would be worth over $150,000 today.

Similarly, American Airlines is looking to save every penny, with the paper boarding pass reduction serving as a modern-day equivalent of Crandall’s olive. The savings from eliminating the printing of 12.5 million boarding passes annually might seem modest in the grand scheme of airline finances, but it’s a step in the right direction.

While this change will save the airline money, it has also required significant investment in IT infrastructure and programming time to reconfigure the kiosks and ensure a smooth transition for passengers. Despite these associated costs, the long-term savings and the environmental benefits make it a reasonable decision.

American Airlines’ push to encourage digital boarding passes marks another move in the industry’s ongoing trend of technological innovation and cost-cutting measures. By embracing digital solutions, American is not only reducing costs but also working toward a more sustainable and efficient travel experience for its passengers.

Image Credit: American Airlines