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AEP vs Boarding Pass — What's the Difference?
Last updated: 6 Jul 2026Reviewed by Ms. Rubab Nizami, Lead AVSEC Faculty
In short
An Airport Entry Pass (AEP) is a staff credential that lets an airport worker enter specific security zones day-to-day. A boarding pass is a passenger document that authorises one person to board one specific flight. Staff use AEPs; passengers use boarding passes.
AEP vs Boarding pass — side by side
| AEP | Boarding pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds it | Airport/airline staff and contractors | A travelling passenger |
| Authorises | Entry to specific airport zones | Boarding one specific flight |
| Issued by | BCAS via eSahaj (after vetting) | The airline at check-in |
| Validity | Months to a few years | One flight |
Which should you use?
If you work at the airport you need an AEP; if you are flying you need a boarding pass. They are not interchangeable.
Quick answers
Can a boarding pass get me airside like an AEP?
Only as a passenger — a boarding pass does not grant the staff-zone access an AEP does.