Just in time for the start of the busy spring break travel season, United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) has introduced mobile check-in and mobile boarding passes, enabling customers on the go to check in using a mobile phone or Web-enabled mobile device and proceed through security and boarding without needing to present a paper boarding pass.

Customers flying on any United or United Express-operated flight within the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands may check in at the new mobile.united.com beginning 24 hours before departure. Mobile check-in is especially helpful to customers in hotels or in business meetings who want to check in before arriving at the airport.

United’s additional mobile boarding pass feature is available to customers departing from the airline’s five hubs – Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport – and from airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas, New York LaGuardia, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., and Seattle. United plans to introduce mobile boarding passes at additional airports, including in Atlanta, Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Salt Lake City and Orange County-Santa Ana, in the coming weeks.

After checking in at mobile.united.com, customers can receive an email link to access a mobile boarding pass that includes a two-dimensional barcode. The barcode can be scanned at airport security checkpoints and at the gate during boarding. A refresh of the mobile boarding pass will reflect any changes to seat assignments, gate changes and upgrade confirmations.

“Mobile check-in and paperless boarding give our customers more choice and control over their travel experience,” said Cindy Szadokierski, vice president of airport operations planning and United Express.  “These options enable travelers to have greater flexibility and efficiency in their travel day, particularly as we enter the busy spring break travel season, where thousands of additional customers will pass through airports every day.”

In addition to using the more environmentally friendly paperless boarding pass option, customers may also access mobile.united.com to check flight status, flight availability, itineraries and Mileage Plus® accounts, and sign up for notification via email, phone or text message of any changes to flight status. With the My ItinerariesSM function, customers can view their itineraries and, in the event of missed connections, see the flights on which they have been automatically rebooked, rather than waiting in line at the airport for agent assistance.