New BA app lets you download your boarding pass

The days of worrying about losing your tickets or boarding pass could soon be over, as British Airways is about to launch a new version of its smartphone app which will allow more customers to check in and download a digital boarding pass at the touch of a button.

The latest app, released on Wednesday, works with Microsoft Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Passengers using the app are able to download a digital boarding pass which displays a barcode that can be scanned at security and at the departure gate, eliminating the need for traditional ticketing.

The new app also boasts several new features including terminal maps for most BA destinations and live flight information giving details of delays.

Although these extra features are not yet available for BA's existing apps for the iPhone, Blackberry and Google Android phones, they will be added as the apps are updated.

Mobile boarding passes can be used on 80 per cent of the airlines routes, including all departures from the UK. For departures from Heathrow Terminal 5, the iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7 apps also display your gate number.

In order to use any of the apps you must be a member of the Executive Club, the airline's frequent flyer programme, which is free to join.

Chris Carmichael, BA's manager of technology innovations, said 650,000 people have downloaded the airline's apps so far and more than 20,000 people per week use mobile boarding.

Related articles:

BA flight from Heathrow makes emergency landing in Ireland

Furious passengers stage mutiny at Heathrow