Do boarding passes use QR codes or barcodes?

Most airlines actually use Aztec codes, not QR codes, for boarding passes — a different 2D barcode standard that's more resilient to the printing and scanning conditions found in airports. It's a common mix-up, since both look similar to the untrained eye.

Can I generate my own boarding pass QR code?

No — the code on a boarding pass is generated by the airline's reservation system and encodes specific ticketing data in the IATA-standard format their gate scanners expect. A general QR generator like Capy QR can't produce a code an airline scanner will accept as a valid boarding pass.

How do travel companies use QR codes around air travel?

Not on the boarding pass itself, but around the trip: a code on a printed itinerary linking to a digital version, a code on airport signage linking to services, or a code on travel documents linking to check-in or visa information. Capy QR fits these supporting use cases.

Can a travel agency use a QR code for itineraries?

Yes — a code on a printed itinerary or travel document linking to the live digital version (which can be updated if flights change) is a practical use, distinct from the airline's own boarding-pass code.

Do QR codes for travel documents cost money?

The code is free on Capy QR — styled, dynamic, no signup, no watermark. Whatever it links to (a digital itinerary, a travel portal) may have its own hosting cost; the QR just carries the link.

QR codes on boarding passes (honest guide)

Here's the detail most articles about boarding passes get wrong: most airlines actually use Aztec codes, not QR codes, for the scannable square on your boarding pass. Aztec codes look similar to QR codes at a glance but are a different 2D barcode standard, chosen because they hold up better under the printing and lighting conditions found at airport gates. Worth clearing up before going further — this guide covers what a general QR code generator like Capy QR can and can't do around air travel.

What you can't do: generate your own boarding pass

A boarding pass's scannable code is generated by the airline's reservation system and encodes structured ticketing data in the IATA-standard format gate scanners are built to read. Capy QR cannot generate a code an airline scanner will accept as a valid boarding pass— that requires the airline's own check-in system, whether via their app, website, or airport kiosk.

What Capy QR is actually useful for around travel

Printed itineraries. A code linking to the live digital version, so a flight change updates the destination without reprinting the paper itinerary.
Travel agency documents. A code on a travel packet linking to a client portal, check-in reminders, or destination guides.
Airport and venue signage. A code linking to wayfinding, services, or Wi-Fi information — similar to hotel in-room codes in spirit.
Visa and document checklists. A code linking to a current requirements page, useful since travel requirements change and a printed checklist can go stale.
Baggage tags.A code linking to a contact page or lost-baggage form, separate from the airline's own tracking tag.

Why a printed itinerary's code should be dynamic

Flight details change — delays, gate changes, cancellations — but a printed itinerary can't update itself. A static code linking to a fixed summary is useless the moment something changes. A dynamic code keeps the printed itinerary the same while pointing at a live page that reflects the current status.

Capy QR's free plan includes dynamic codes and scan analytics. Encode a live itinerary link with the URL QR code generator.

Build yours in the editor → capyqr.com

What Capy QR does, and what the airline does

To be unambiguous: Capy QR makes general-purpose QR codes for links, contact details, and information — not IATA boarding-pass codes.For the pass itself, use your airline's official check-in process. Capy QR fits the supporting materials around the trip.

A travel-document code, ready to print

Here's a Capy QR styled for a printed itinerary — clean, high-contrast, exported as sharp SVG, no watermark, no account:

A travel-document QR with the Sky Cloud preset — clean and high-contrast for print. Export as SVG or PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Do boarding passes use QR codes or barcodes?: Most airlines actually use Aztec codes, not QR codes, for boarding passes — a different 2D barcode standard that's more resilient to the printing and scanning conditions found in airports. It's a common mix-up, since both look similar to the untrained eye.
Can I generate my own boarding pass QR code?: No — the code on a boarding pass is generated by the airline's reservation system and encodes specific ticketing data in the IATA-standard format their gate scanners expect. A general QR generator like Capy QR can't produce a code an airline scanner will accept as a valid boarding pass.
How do travel companies use QR codes around air travel?: Not on the boarding pass itself, but around the trip: a code on a printed itinerary linking to a digital version, a code on airport signage linking to services, or a code on travel documents linking to check-in or visa information. Capy QR fits these supporting use cases.
Can a travel agency use a QR code for itineraries?: Yes — a code on a printed itinerary or travel document linking to the live digital version (which can be updated if flights change) is a practical use, distinct from the airline's own boarding-pass code.
Do QR codes for travel documents cost money?: The code is free on Capy QR — styled, dynamic, no signup, no watermark. Whatever it links to (a digital itinerary, a travel portal) may have its own hosting cost; the QR just carries the link.

The short version: for the boarding pass itself, that's your airline's system (and it's usually an Aztec code, not a QR code). For everything around the trip — itineraries, document checklists, travel signage — a dynamic Capy QR code keeps printed materials current. Start with a live-itinerary code or see QR codes for hotels for the rest of the trip.