Automated Ticket and Boarding Pass (ATB)

An Automated Ticket and Boarding Pass (ATB) is a single document issued to passengers that combines both a flight ticket and boarding pass. This format was introduced in the 1980s to streamline the check-in process and reduce paperwork at airports.

The ATB document is typically printed using a special type of card stock that can be processed by machines. It contains passenger information, flight details, seat assignments, and barcodes that allow airlines to scan and verify the ticket. This format was widely used before the industry shifted in the 1990s to fully electronic records through the Electronic Ticket Record (ETR) systems.

Although ATBs are now less common due to the widespread adoption of self-service reservation systems and mobile boarding passes, they played an essential role during the airline industry’s early stages of digitalization.