How would you like to use your BlackBerry or iPhone to board a plane next time? That may soon become a reality as Continental Airlines has started an electronic boarding pass pilot program. This was something I was just thinking about a few days ago but it looks like Continental Airlines is one step ahead.

Continental is the only carrier in the United States to begin testing the electronic passes, allowing those travelers to pass through security and board the plane without handling a piece of paper. Their boarding pass is an image of an encrypted bar code displayed on the phone’s screen, which can be scanned by gate agents and security personnel.

With the majority of travelers using self-service options already, they would no longer have to print out a pass or use a kiosk at the airport.