i’m talking with strangers. here’s why.
i’m inching my way up the security line at the airport. for the first time, i am going paperless, so i have my phone out with the QR code boarding pass ready…
*looking at my phone, the security guard (SG) puts his pen down* *turns on a machine.* *indicates i should put my phone over it.*
me: *puts phone face down over scanning device.* *nothing happens.* like this?
SG: yes, but you shouldn’t have to hold it there that long. this thing is still warming up, i guess. *shuts off the machine.* *turns it back on.* that ought to do the trick.
me: *puts phone up for scanning.* *green light blinks.* restarting a machine works every time!
man behind me (MBM): is that an app for US Airways?
me: no, just my boarding pass. when i checked in, they emailed me a link and this is what opened when i clicked.
MBM: what’s next in the world of paperless things?
me: this was actually my first time without a paper boarding pass. i was nervous.
SG: *hands me my ID.* not related to mumford and sons, are you?
me: i wish!
SG: yeah, they’re not doing too badly, are they? they won a grammy.
me: i know.
SG: have a good flight.
me: thanks. have a good day.
he turns to the MBM and i trudge on through the gauntlet of airport security.
Abigail Mumford 
What happens if your phone battery runs down on the way to the airport?
well, if you’re OCD about your phone battery being charged (like me), you’ll never have to find out. plus, i had a paper boarding pass tucked away if all else failed. ;)
see now, if it were me, I’d be all like, “If I am related to M&S do I get a free upgrade to first class?” ;)
umm…is it just me or does that abbreviation look like a backwards S&M? how does one do S&M backwards? *ponders*
i’m pretty sure the TSA agent has nothing to do with upgrading seats to first class, but then again, i’ve never flown it, so how would i know?
and for the sake of innocent eyes that read my blog, i’m going to let you continue to ponder your second point while i slowly back away from it without commenting on it… ha.
I just witnessed someone using their phone instead of a paper boarding pass this weekend. Yay paperless! Though I too would be worried that the phone might malfunction at the worst time, and then what? :)
You should’ve lied about Mumford and Sons. “Yeah, I’m the daughter!” :)
if only i could do a british accent, i could totally pass as a relative. maybe a cousin because i’m pretty sure if i was their daughter, i would have been born when the dad was still in diapers!
But we are related to them remember?! *coughs* Secod cousins once removed and all that *nervous laughter*
oh, yeah, right. i forgot. silly me.
I have been doing the paperless thing for a while. I really like my tech gadgets. Like you I have never worried about my battery running out. I have more than one for everything. Should I admit that out loud? Maybe not.
BTW Karla’s comment totally cracked me up. Only she could S&M backwards. Sends my thoughts to a place I’d rather not go.
i’ve found that only certain airlines allow the paperless boarding pass, which is mainly why i haven’t fully embraced it — because they haven’t either.
and yes, leave it to karla to change the attitude of the conversation. :)