Do you still print boarding passes / AirBnB confirmation / train tickets etc?

[rickyrickygrimes]

Random question... currently doing online check-in for some flights and wondering if I really need to print the boarding passes? In theory I can do everything on my phone but... When we last travelled (Christmas) I did print everything and take it with us, but didn't use any of it as everything was available on my phone and it was much easier than faffing around with paper copies.

Do you still print these docs off and carry them with you when you travel?

Just thought of another time I was glad I had a paper boarding pass! Flying home from a European city last year I dropped my phone and smashed the screen, which meant barcodes wouldn't scan and I couldn't scroll the phone without risking tiny bits of glass in my fingers. It's not just dead batteries that you have to prepare for...

Good point. If I’m not travelling solo (which l do for work) l always make sure everyone travelling together has boarding passes and tickets for everybody.

If you lose your boarding pass (or your phone smashes or whatever) you just wander up to the check in counter or the service counter at the gate, and they print you another one. Or do it at a self service kiosk.

It's really not something that warrants any effort in having an emergency back up. I could understand it for some other sorts of tickets but boarding passes are nothing to replace.

If you are flying with Ryanair, they will charge you for reprinting a boarding pass.

Why phone your surgery when you could look up your results in a nanosecond on an app though? Why have a theatre bother sending you tickets when you can just have it on your phone? Presumably at some point the theatre will stop producing paper tickets altogether as no one will want them!

Do you use WhatsApp? Get a train anywhere? On line banking? Look at the weather? How do you order supermarket shopping? I'm really surprised and curious given your age why you're so determined to resist the digital age.

I have more than one email address.

I have one for "official" stuff - the bank, insurance companies, HMRC etc and one for orders, bookings, parking apps etc.

I get very little junk mail to my first email address.

I just can't imagine not using email at all as so much important correspondence comes in that way.

Phone always. Only place so far that I had to print out was in Tirana (Albania) as they don’t have the facility to just swipe in.

@Lovethegreydays

Why phone your surgery when you could look up your results in a nanosecond on an app though? Well partly because it says you need photo id to set up access to your NHS account and I don’t have any, but mostly because I don’t need to phone them. If I need a prescription they send it through to my chemist automatically and if I need to see a gp, they text me and tell me to make an appt. If I don’t hear from them, then it’s clearly nothing to worry about.

Why have a theatre bother sending you tickets when you can just have it on your phone? Presumably at some point the theatre will stop producing paper tickets altogether as no one will want them! For the same reason everyone else on this thread prints out boarding passes etc. It’s for my convenience rather than the convenience of the theatre and it’s what I prefer. And I find it more convenient to have actual physical tickets than mess about with a phone that I might not want to even take out with me.

Do you use WhatsApp? No, I text and phone people. What does WhatsApp offer me that I don’t already have?

Get a train anywhere? Several times a week. Very quick and easy to get a ticket, why would I need an app for that?

On line banking? No. Don’t need it.

Look at the weather? Why would I need an app to look at the weather? I can see it on tv, or google it. Or look out the window.

How do you order supermarket shopping? I don’t. I like a wander around the supermarket at my convenience, rather than having to plan when I’ll be in to have it delivered. I much prefer to pick my own stuff, choose the longest use by dates and choose my own alternatives if something isn’t available, and pack my own stuff so frozen bits aren’t next to fresh bits and bread isn’t underneath cans. If it’s meat, I phone the butcher to order it, pay over the phone with my card and they deliver it.

I'm really surprised and curious given your age why you're so determined to resist the digital age. I’m not at all. I love a bit of MN and some on line shopping. But I use it in the way that is most convenient for me. And wading through piles of irrelevant junk emails and being so willing to be utterly beholden to a device just strikes me as very odd. There is nothing of benefit in that for me, and I see no benefit to Apps, over what I do currently, so why would I embrace it?

My Dad is in his 90's and he is less of a luddite! 🤣 Sorry but I get people having paper back up possibly for a flight but the rest of your examples are just ...so resistive. What do your friends/family think?

One thing is abundantly clear, you have a lot more time on your hands than most, going to the doctor's, bank, supermarket in person is very 1950's. I can't imagine choosing to do all that when you don't have to. WhatsApp is fab by the way, you're definitely missing out there 😁

Because digital tech isn't going away and the less you engage the more you fall behind.

Exactly, it will be the only way to do things soon

Yes. Signal can go down in the oddest places.

The infrastructure needs to be better though, loads of places where phones don't work as well as they should, usually where there are large gatherings of people all trying to use their phones as well and using all the bandwidth

@RampantIvy

Crikey, I can't imagine never using apps and emails. It’s utterly liberating 😊

Tickets - nothing I have booked in recent years posts tickets out any more. If I go to the local cinema my booked tickets are emailed to me and I need to show them the QR code I get the tickets at the same time I get a drink and some popcorn. I can’t remember the last time the screening was full. It’s not something that requires a digital solution.

I am a member of a charity and we communicate via email and WhatsApp
I am a member of another group that meets regularly and meetings are arranged via email There’s never been an occasion where I haven’t been able to communicate with friends and family, or anyone else come to that, either by text or phone. What does WhatsApp offer me that texts and calls aren’t already giving me?

Our utilities supplier, building societies, bank, HMRC all communicate via email They do it by post as well, if you don’t give them an email address. You get a lot less junk that way, too.

Hotel bookings, holidays and other travel is always confirmed via email We only do UK holidays to Center Parks or through booking companies and you can always see your booking details on their website. Email is unnecessary there.

Orders are confirmed via email. I can track them and make sure I am in to receive them I do have an email address, I just didn’t bother finishing setting it up, so I can still buy things on line but no emails are sent or received. And there’s always someone at home, even if we’re away, so delivery doesn’t need to be tracked.

I have various store cards as apps on my phone - Tesco, Sparks, Boots etc. Takes up much less room than a bulging wallet I only have a nectar card, it’s really not a problem to keep it in my purse. The receipt gives you your points balance, so I don’t need to check that.

I use the Trainline to buy train tickets. I also have my railcard on my Trainline app I use the train station to buy them as and when I need them. There’s never a queue and I’m fairly confident, second for second, that it would take around the same amount of time for us to each buy a ticket. Even if I’m wrong, I’m never so desperate for time that the 30 seconds you’d save over me is enough to warrant a digital solution. Plus, there are people who pay their bills by manning ticket offices. I don’t like the thought of contributing to them becoming surplus to requirements due to technology.

Not using apps and emails would definitely make my life more difficult and very small I find the exact opposite. I’m not tethered to anything or at anyone’s beck and call, or having to wade through dozens of junk emails trying to find the important stuff and delete the rest. It’s all done for my convenience and not for anyone else’s. It’s so easy.

I understand that I’m not a typical user of technology, especially for my age group, but I’m struggling to see how it makes your life any more convenient than mine, or why I’d want to take on more admin, or be utterly dependent on having battery, a signal etc.

Do you use WhatsApp? No, I text and phone people. What does WhatsApp offer me that I don’t already have?

I came off WhatsApp when Facebook took it over, there was no way I was going to agree to FB having access to my phone number. It doesn't offer anything extra apart from more annoying people can get in touch with you, I have no desire to send pictures and videos to anyone apart from DS and I can just use iMessage instead

@Lovethegreydays

😂 Yes, I know I come across as a total Luddite. I’m not, I promise. I use very up to date technology at work, and I’ll embrace it outside of work if I see a benefit to me in doing so, but I’m not seeing any benefits that you have that I don’t.

What do your friends/family think? I don’t know; I’ve never asked them. I know DH is slightly annoyed I don’t do on line banking as he does like to know the current location and status of every available pound, but that’s his issue, and if he wants a balance that badly, there’s a cash point 50 yards from our front door.

One thing is abundantly clear, you have a lot more time on your hands than most, going to the doctor's, bank, supermarket in person is very 1950's. I can't imagine choosing to do all that when you don't have to Not at all. Why do you think I’m spending all my spare time going to those places? I can’t remember the last time I needed to go to my bank. It’s got to be getting on for seven or eight years. If I ever need to see a gp, it’s usually a phone call, the same as most gp’s surgeries these days, and the supermarket is an hour every other week max, which is no great stress, especially when I can pick my own products (along with the thousands of other customers who apparently don’t realise shopping in person is now outdated 😂)

WhatsApp is fab by the way, you're definitely missing out there 😁 How? My DH has it and I can’t see what I’m missing out on.

I'm fascinated I will admit. How do you know you're not missing out if you've never used any of it? The paper irks me enormously, I don't want to be chopping down trees just to send out bank statements, train tickets, receipts, theatre tickets etc that are all totally unnecessary. Hospital letters are notorious for turning up a week after the actual appointment, an app tells you immediately. How do you keep an eye on all your direct debits etc without on line banking? If you're going for a train how do you check for cancellations, running late etc? Don't tell me you just go to the station and look on the board! As for putting people out of work, I do get this but that ship has sailed unfortunately.

I find apps liberating having them not not having them. Don't you think there'll be a time when you find you have to use them and you'll be so far behind with the tech that you'll struggle?

Always take a paper copy as backup. My boss once dropped his phone in the check in queue and it got run over by a passing mobility vehicle and smashed. He had to find a lounge where I could email copies for him to print him (after having to find a pay phone to ring me in the office). Nearly missed his flight.

At a theatre, my friend had our tickets of her phone but couldn't get a signal. Just squeaked in as the performance started. Very stressful.

But if you download tickets to your phone you don’t need a signal.

No.. all on the phone.. try not to waste more paper than I need to. I do miss arriving for a long haul with the 'designated folder,' though! I used tp print all flight, hotel details, insurance- even coupons for things!
But not anymore, never use it and goes in the bin.

@Lovethegreydays

I'm fascinated I will admit That’s coming across 😂

How do you know you're not missing out if you've never used any of it? Well I’ve had a working email address before, so I can confidently say I’m better off without one, especially as I can still shop online, but nothing you’ve said, or that I’ve seen from family or friends, convinces me that you’re better off for having them, or that your life is more convenient than mine. Plus I don’t have to worry about carrying chargers around with me, or finding somewhere to plug in, because my battery is draining faster, or having to move photos where I can’t look at them instantly because of storage etc. Or losing an important email amongst junk. Or being driven mad by constant pings from WhatsApp conversations that you have zero interest in and having to mute them, then go back and check you haven’t missed anything. It seems beyond tedious and so tethering. Don’t you ever feel like you don’t want to be bothered by anyone? Do you never go out and leave your phone at home? Doesn’t it irritate you that people are so demanding of your immediate attention? That they can tell if you’ve read their message or not? Don’t you find it intrusive? Don’t you resent the time you spend having to delete rubbish from your in box, your junk emails and then again from your deleted items box?

The paper irks me enormously, I don't want to be chopping down trees just to send out bank statements, train tickets, receipts, theatre tickets etc that are all totally unnecessary I like paper. It’s mostly recyclable and, even if it wasn’t, I’m pretty sure that my carbon footprint is lower than average, simply by virtue of being poor, so it’s not something that prickles my conscience too much.

Hospital letters are notorious for turning up a week after the actual appointment, an app tells you immediately Well, again, the app is no good if you don’t have the photo id to access it, but even if I did, I don’t think I’ve ever had a late letter and my hospital sends out text reminders of appointments, so it’s not necessary.

How do you keep an eye on all your direct debits etc without on line banking? I don’t. They’re all set up to come out the day after payday so there’s always money to pay them. If one of them fails, it’ll be for a technical reason that won’t be my fault, and I’m pretty sure whoever is trying to collect the money will either try again or let me know. I’ve had dds for decades. I don’t worry about it. And I know how much money goes in my account each month, how much I pay out on bills and how much I’ve got left. It’s not something I need an app for.

If you're going for a train how do you check for cancellations, running late etc? Don't tell me you just go to the station and look on the board! Well, yes 😂 If the train is cancelled, I can get to my destination using a couple of other routes, so I still need to go to the station. And if it’s late, me looking at an app isn’t going to make it turn up any faster. I catch the bus to the station so knowing it’s late doesn’t mean I can leave any later because the buses aren’t that regular, so having an app would make absolutely no difference.

As for putting people out of work, I do get this but that ship has sailed unfortunately True, but I’m not going to help speed it along its way.

I find apps liberating having them not not having them. Don't you think there'll be a time when you find you have to use them and you'll be so far behind with the tech that you'll struggle? I have to say, I’m still not seeing the benefits over the extra work and general inconvenience. And it’s possible, I suppose, but it’s not something I’m massively concerned about. I use technology all day, every day at work, so I’m fairly confident that I have it in me to Google how to do something if I can’t work it out myself. And I think the time where it’s not possible to function comfortably in life without apps is still a while off yet.

During COVID we were flying back from Toulouse and in order to board the flight everyone had to show a passenger locator form which had been completed online. DH and I had filled ours in and we emailed them to one another so we had them on both of our phones plus my iPad just in case.
Another passenger's phone had crashed so he couldn't show his to the airline staff. He tried to log-in to his account on DH's phone but couldn't and as a result was denied boarding. There is only one flight a week from Toulouse to Edinburgh so just jumping on the next flight wouldn't have been easy.

I was wary of relying on just my phone before that so I now, when possible, have a printed copy too.

@WilfredsPies Our local cinema is small and if you really want to see a film you need to book seats or risk not getting in. The only way to get physical tickets ahead would be to go to the box office and buy them.

Re train tickets. Our station isn't manned and the ticket machine often breaks down, so it is better to buy a ticket online.

What does WhatsApp offer me that texts and calls aren’t already giving me?

Group chat function. I have a friend who won't use WhatsApp or Messenger and it is a real PITA arranging something if there are a few of us because we have to play text hockey. It is so much easier to put all the arrangements into one message that goes out to the three of four people involved. You can mute Whatsapp so it dosn't ping all the time

Our post is unreliable, and if I want tickets for something I want them to arrive before I leave the house for the event I needed the tickets for. We get about two postal deliveries a week now.

Re spam emails - just set up another email address. This is the reason I have two email addresses.

I know DH is slightly annoyed I don’t do on line banking as he does like to know the current location and status of every available pound

Why doesn't your husband have a banking app then?

I don't find it tethering at all to use my phone for all of the above. I find it very freeing. For a start I can leave the house with just my phone (and keys) in my pocket. As DD is a student living away I keep my phone on me all the time anyway in case she needs to contact me.

All that said I always print out travel documents and open the email with the QR code on for the cinema, theatre etc before I leave the house so that I can show it straight away without faffing around.

No I don't find it tethering at all, I think it's wonderful. Group chats on WhatsApp are absolutely lovely, it's like being in a virtual cafe every day with different groups of friends and family. Of course I see them just as much in person but the little daily chats are very lovely and such a brilliant invention. Don't all your friends and family have group chats that you're not part of? I'd hate that so much. All this life going on without you being included.

I turn off notifications so never get any unwanted pings, I just look at the phone whens it's convenient and catch up at my leisure. I would never leave the house without it no. I love being able to look up various bits of information in an instant if I need or want to know something. I love being able to contact anyone at anytime including my DC when they're away. You can turn off people being able to see if you've read the messages and if you don't open them and just read on the screen they also won't know you've seen it so no need for immediate attention.

I love downloading music and podcasts, do you not do any of that either? Such a wealth of interest out there that you wouldn't be able to access otherwise.

I run long distances and I love that my family can track my route so that I feel safe and secure. If I got into trouble out on the hills I have GPS tracking and could SOS for help. I love uploading all my runs on to Strava which is another incredible app full of lovely people. I book all my gym sessions on the app, I don't think there's actually any other way of doing it.

All this tech has thoroughly improved my life to a huge degree, it's transformative.

All this WhatsApp and stuff is probably fine if you are the mixing type, I couldn't think of anything worse than having to chat to family and people I know, I see them occasionally, that is enough, I wish sometimes I could block texts like I can calls.