Advance Boarding Passes Fading Away

US Airways became the latest airline to stop issuing advance boarding passes, a practice that is falling prey to security roadblocks and industry cost-cutting efforts.

Starting July 7, passengers flying US Airways and US Airways Express will be able to receive seat assignments up to one year before their date of travel, but they won’t get the additional piece of paper that allows them to board their flight directly.

“Almost all other air carriers have moved to this procedure now, and it’s something that passengers are getting used to, so we wanted to keep confusion to a minimum,” said US Airways spokesman Rick Weintraub.

Northwest Airlines stopped issuing advance boarding passes in November. American Airlines stopped doing so June 1, and United Airlines stopped issuing them Monday. Delta Air Lines still issues advance passes for domestic flights, but it stopped the practice for international trips Jan. 13.

While issuing advance boarding passes began as a marketing tool--indicating an airline’s interest in moving travelers through an airport quickly--it has become impractical since the government demanded increased security checks after the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in July 1996.

Steve Loucks, spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents, said the change will not diminish travelers’ right to expect the seat they bought.