The Best Boarding Pass to Buy for Major Printer Brands (Epson, Fujitsu, IER, Unimark, VidTroniX)

The best boarding pass to buy is the type that is compatible with the features of major printer brands. Its property must complement the features found in many major printers to facilitate the performance the printer was designed for. Since most printer brands have different boarding pass size requirements and printing speeds, choosing the right boarding pass ensures efficiency in check-in procedures, prevents printer damage, and provides passengers with a working document for their journey.

The most important features that should guide the choice of a boarding pass include printing speed per second, dots per inch (DPI), boarding pass size requirement, and weight. To understand the functionality of boarding pass printers, we should examine their capabilities. They are broken down below. These capabilities show the type of operations they are designed for. The quality of the image printed on the boarding pass depends on the printer’s capability and the compatibility of the thermal paper. In high-volume and fast-paced operational environments such as airports, maintaining consistent print performance and image quality is important. Especially because the operation requires a scannable barcode.

Some of The Major Brand Boarding Pass Printers Features

Major printer brands have different size requirements for boarding passes, which must be met to ensure seamless printing operations. From the breakdown above, we can see that boarding pass printers focus on fast speed, high volume printing by printing speed per second, DPI, and the nature of the airline industry at the checking-in point.  

Image Resolution and Speed

A common resolution for thermal printers has a DPI of 200 – 600. However, boarding pass printers commonly have a resolution of 200 DPI. The higher the DPI, the slower the print speed needs to be and a better-quality thermal paper is needed. At 200 DPI, the boarding pass printer aims for fast printing. A higher DPI generally results in higher-resolution images but requires a slower printing speed.

Since airport check-in counters require fast and high-volume printing, it is no wonder that speed is prioritized in most boarding pass printers. The average print speed from these printers ranges from 120–254mm (5–10 inches) per second, with the lowest speed at 76mm. This is to ensure quick processing of passengers.

Boarding Pass Size

The dimensions of a boarding pass play an important role in ensuring compatibility with printers. Standard boarding pass widths range from 54mm to 83mm. The correct boarding pass size prevents paper jams, misalignment, and machine disruptions.

Barcode Scannability

When it comes to thermal printing, there needs to be a balance between printing speed, the dpi, and heat application on the paper. While all the information printed on the boarding pass is important, the barcode scannability is the most crucial aspect. The barcode printout must be crisp and vivid, with clear contrast against the surrounding spaces. The thermal image should be dark and sharp, without smearing or white spots that could interfere with scanning.

Ensuring barcode legibility is essential for preventing problems during the boarding process. Since boarding passes are printed fast, they must be matched with highly sensitive thermal paper. Fast printing allows minimal time for heat from the printhead to be applied to the paper. If the thermal paper has standard sensitivity, the heat and quick printing time will not be enough, resulting in grey images at best. Grey images may also fade into white spaces, making the barcode unscannable. To accommodate the speed, the thermal paper needs to be highly sensitive for quick exposure to the printhead’s heat, triggering a chemical reaction that produces a clear and dark image.

Preventing Printer Jamming and Damage

Besides Besides barcode legibility, another challenge in fast printing is the potential damage caused by using below-standard boarding passes. Lower standard or cheaper boarding passes often have issues related to their physical properties, which can affect printing operations and damage the printer. One crucial feature is a clean die cut and perforation, which help prevent jamming and make it easier to tear the paper cleanly. When the die cut and perforation are not precise, tearing the pass can be uneven, potentially damaging the boarding pass.
Imprecise cuts can also lead to problems with paper feeding. If the pass is not torn off properly according to printer specifications, leftover paper may block the paper path, leading to jams.

Paper weight also plays a role in avoiding jams. Printer rollers are designed to handle specific paper weighted, and using boarding passes that are too thin or too thick can disrupt operations. If the paper is too thin, the roller will struggle to grip it properly, causing the paper to slip. Slipping is problematic during fast printing, as it can cause jamming. When the paper is too thick, the printer roller must use excessive force to move it, causing the paper to bend which will lead to jamming.

Lower-quality boarding passes often lack a clean die cut, leading to paper dust and dirt. This debris can accumulate on the printer roller, reducing grip and causing uneven movement of the paper, which ultimately results in jams. To ensure smooth operations, high-quality boarding passes should have precise die cuts and be free from excess paper dust that could interfere with printer performance.

What Makes the Best Boarding Pass?

The best boarding pass to purchase must satisfy two main criteria. First, it must be capable of producing a vivid and clear image to accommodate fast-speed printing operations. Second, it must be manufactured with features that prevent damage and jamming in high-speed printing environments. Based on our experience in manufacturing boarding passes, we have identified several key features that ensure compatibility with major printer brands and facilitate their high-volume, fast-printing performance.

Due to the fast printing process, the thermal coating on the boarding pass must be highly sensitive. Since the boarding pass is only exposed to heat for a short period, only a highly sensitive thermal coating can produce a sharp and vivid image. This is particularly critical for barcode printing.

In addition to thermal sensitivity, the physical properties of the paper also play a crucial role in ensuring smooth printing. We have found that a boarding pass weighted between 130-170gsm is optimal for major printer brands. When purchasing boarding passes, it is advisable to check the GSM to ensure that the weight and size are suitable for your printer model. This weighted range allows the printer roller to move the paper efficiently at high speeds without slipping or requiring excessive force. This prevents jams and ensures reliable performance, particularly during peak check-in periods when high-volume printing is necessary.

Other essential features include perforation and clean die cuts, both of which contribute to long-term, high-volume printing efficiency. A clean die cut prevents the accumulation of paper dust and dirt on the boarding pass, ensuring that the printer remains clean and functions optimally. Perforation allows the boarding pass to be torn off cleanly without leaving residue or dust inside the printer. By minimizing paper dust buildup, these features help keep printers clean, reducing maintenance needs and improving long-term reliability.

To Summarize:
To get the best boarding pass, it must have these features:

• High-sensitivity thermal coating.
• Clean die-cut and perforation.
• Paper weight between 130-170 gsm
• The right width size for your printer.

Tele-Paper: Manufacturer and Global Exporter of Boarding Passes

At Tele-Paper, we manufacture and export boarding passes designed for fast, high-volume printing operations. Our boarding passes are engineered to complement major brand printers, ensuring smooth and efficient check-in processes while reducing maintenance costs and downtime. We export them globally to major leading airlines, especially in Asia such as Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Oceania such as Australia and New Zealand. Our boarding passes are between 130-170 gsm, with a clean die-cut and perforation. The paper is also coated with a highly sensitive thermal coating with scratch resistance for the barcode to retain its scannability. We can also customize the sizes and the design to suit your needs.

For more details, visit our product page or click here.

Contact Us

If you have any inquiries or would like to request a quotation for boarding passes, please feel free to contact us. Our team is ready to assist you in selecting the best boarding pass for your needs.