Southwest Airlines boarding passes now compatible with iPhone Passbook

Good news for iPhone owners who fly Southwest Airlines: The carrier this week updated its smartphone app so customers can store mobile boarding passes in the iPhone Passbook, which aggregates tickets, loyalty cards and electronic coupons from compatible apps.

Southwest is last among large airlines to make its app compatible with Passbook.

"This is a feature our customers have asked for, since it further enhances our mobile offerings and leads to a more seamless airport and travel experience," Southwest spokesman Dan Landson said. "It's been well-received."

Customers can save mobile boarding passes, introduced last year on Southwest, in Passbook when checking in through the Southwest Airlines mobile app. Boarding passes emailed or sent via text message can also be stored in Passbook, the airline said on its blog.

The change is available when the Southwest iPhone app is updated. The new version also contains bug fixes, according to the updates description.

Passbook, a home screen app, operates on Apple devices running iOS 6 or higher.

Apps of other major airlines, such as United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, are compatible with Passbook.

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