Could we see boarding passes and check-in made obsolete in a matter of years, as one of the biggest shake-ups to the flying experience in decades (thanks to Jay for flagging this)? While I’m sure the technology could become a reality, I’m skeptical about the timeline…
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Digital journey pass to replace boarding passes & check-in
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations body that oversees many aspects of aviation, is promoting the concept of new “digital travel credentials,” which could completely revolutionize the travel experience in a matter of two to three years, and make checking in for flights (whether at the airport or online) completely obsolete.
How would this work? Under the plan:
- When you book a flight, you’ll be issued a “journey pass” on your phone, which will automatically be updated if any changes are made to the booking; this will also contain your passport details
- Rather than checking in, airlines will be alerted to a passengers’ intention to fly when they arrive at the airport, and their face is scanned
- Those checking bags will continue to use a bag drop, while those traveling with just carry-ons will have their faces scanned at security checkpoints
- You can then board an aircraft simply with biometric data, since your passport is saved in your journey pass
These plans require airports to upgrade their infrastructure with new facial recognition technology. As you can see, the idea is that facial recognition would allow travelers to move through the airport without taking their phone or passport out of their pockets. Amadeus emphasizes how it has developed a system where passenger details are wiped within 15 seconds of each contact at a “touchpoint,” to ensure security.
The idea is that this would only be the start of what’s possible with this technology. Similarly, the idea is that if you misconnect on a flight, you’d just automatically be sent your updated flight details, with no need to actually check-in for your new flight, but instead, you could just head straight to the departure gate and board.
Here’s how Valérie Viale, Director of Product Management at Amadeus, describes this:
“These changes are the biggest in 50 years. Many airline systems haven’t changed for more than 50 years because everything has to be consistent across the industry and interoperable. The last upgrade of great scale was the adoption of e-ticketing in the early 2000s. The industry has now decided it’s time to upgrade to modern systems that are more like what Amazon would use.”
How realistic is this game changing technology?
There are many aspects of the flying experience that are ripe for innovation. While much of the technology in the airline industry is outdated, it’s also worth remembering how much things have changed over time. For example, it was only in 2008 that ticketing moved entirely electronic, and paper tickets were no longer a thing.
The industry is definitely headed in the direction that ICAO is proposing, and we’re seeing signs of that everywhere. Nowadays you can go through a TSA checkpoint by scanning your driver’s license, and then a machine verifies your identity. Biometric boarding is becoming increasingly common as well. In some ways, just fully ripping off the band-aid when it comes to biometrics is evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
So there’s no aspect of this new technology that seems unrealistic. For that matter, the whole concept of needing to check-in within 24 hours of departure seems kind of silly, since it’s basically just a roll call of who actually intends to make the flight, among those who are booked — it doesn’t accomplish anything else.
My only skepticism with this new concept is the timeline, as I don’t think we’ll see this implemented on a widespread basis within the next few years. The logistics seem challenging:
- You’d need this airport-wide facial recognition technology to be available on a widespread basis across airports, or else this would only have niche uses
- I operate under the assumption that we have no privacy and the government knows everything about us, but I have to imagine there will be pushback from some, who feel their privacy is being violated
- While smartphones have become common, there are still lots of people around the globe who don’t have them, so what’s the plan when that’s the case?
In terms of timeline, I think it’s interesting to keep in mind that most airport security authorities think that new security scanners make it safe to leave larger liquids in carry-on bags. While these are being rolled out, the TSA claims that it likely won’t lift liquids restrictions until 2040. That’s 15 years from now.
So I have a hard time believing that we’ll see a journey pass concept implemented in the next two to three years, especially given the amount of cooperation it requires between countries.
Bottom line
The ICAO believes that digital travel credentials will be the next major innovation to the travel experience. With this, we could see check-in and boarding passes replaced by journey passes, where you upload everything digitally, and then the entire airport experience takes place with biometrics. Airlines will know whether you’ll make the flight based on facial recognition, you’ll board using biometrics, etc.
There’s no denying that this could happen, and that the technology is there for this to become a reality. The question is just about the timeline, given the scale of this project.
What do you make of the prospects of this shake-up to the travel experience?
Real ID in US came into law in 2005. 20 years later and it is barely functional. I won't hold my breath that "digital travel credentials" will happen any sooner.
Of course the face recognition is new, but the scrapping the need for check in is old news. When I fly domestic in Japan I don't check in, I just scan my phone or credit card at security check, that is my check in.
Back in 2002 I was travelling on Scandinavian Airlines in Scandinavia (and some European airports) without the need to check in, I'd just swipe my Eurobonus frequent flyercard at security, and...
Of course the face recognition is new, but the scrapping the need for check in is old news. When I fly domestic in Japan I don't check in, I just scan my phone or credit card at security check, that is my check in.
Back in 2002 I was travelling on Scandinavian Airlines in Scandinavia (and some European airports) without the need to check in, I'd just swipe my Eurobonus frequent flyercard at security, and that would be check in. In 2010 or 2011 I was issued with a NFC chip from SAS to use for security, lounge, and boarding. Which of course quickly moved to the phone and the app.
But it would be great if more airlines and markets waken up to the lack of a need to check in.
Mandatory face recognition: terrible idea. No smart phone, you are excluded ( second class citizen).
It sounds awful.
Its basically just china and middle east style tracking. Facial recognition and everything held digitally? Nah.
@frrp any government around the world probably already tracks and maintains your data so you actually think it is just limited to certain countries?
In the US, there's something called the "Plain Sight" Doctrine. If someone is in plain sight, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. Walking down the street. In WalMart. In an airport. For over 25 years, casinos have been using facial recognition. Before you even step inside, they're tracking your every movement and (while they don't say it) you've been cross-matched to databases to know your life story and marked as to loss potential.
PS - While your cellphone app store tells you that your apps are safe, they're not. They piggy-back on other apps and your browser and scrape your personal and financial information. Your social media apps are hosing you. They sell it to information brokers. This ain't the government doing it to you. It's your own negligence doing it to you. I don't want to hear another complaint about privacy.
And you completely took "plain view doctrine" out of context.
Isn't that for search and seizure?
Would be great to force some airlines to require everyone to physically check in for a boarding pass. Recently flew Condor and was annoyed to do so even though my travel documents were submitted and approved and had already paid for extra carry on. Thankfully wait at JFK was non existent but imagine major pain at Frankfurt.
Slightly unrelated note but am I the only one sad to see passport stamps going away. Recently had...
Would be great to force some airlines to require everyone to physically check in for a boarding pass. Recently flew Condor and was annoyed to do so even though my travel documents were submitted and approved and had already paid for extra carry on. Thankfully wait at JFK was non existent but imagine major pain at Frankfurt.
Slightly unrelated note but am I the only one sad to see passport stamps going away. Recently had my last passport stolen with my luggage and sad my new one won’t be collecting too many more in the future and won’t have old one for memories
I don't want my face scanned and I think it's very presumptuous to expect everyone to own a phone.
You don't realize how many times your face has *already* been scanned. Your driver license image has likely been propagated through a number of commercial and government databases.
If they're going to do it. Then do it right.
Just like everything else commercial aviation related. Everything is still based on the 60s.
Digitizing paper boarding pass doesn't mean you're improving the system. You're just changing a document format by eliminating paper in the old system.
Rethink and redesign the whole system from the ground up. That's what we need.
And who is paying for all these upgrades in technology? I doubt the current administration is up for forking over billions of dollars and we all know the billionaires aren't up for a tax hike.
This, or something similar, is already happening in Asia. North America is really behind in implementing this technology.
I won't hold my breathe. Heck, I couldn't even get pre-check for a flight I took within 24 hours of booking (or even on the return leg 3 days later).
What about documentation verification for visas ?...I'd hope there would be a functional back-up for when the system crashes for any of a multitude of reasons....
Timeline totally unrealistic, and we all know who will pay for this massive undertaking !
This in theory is already in place at some US airports. In my experience I’ve flown through ORD, did faceless ID at TSA, and proceeded to board my INTL flight using my face. I love the convenience behind this.
What I don’t like is being dependent on technology, when possibly I always get my physical boarding pass. And the logistics of knowing whether or not someone has checked in can become a pain for...
This in theory is already in place at some US airports. In my experience I’ve flown through ORD, did faceless ID at TSA, and proceeded to board my INTL flight using my face. I love the convenience behind this.
What I don’t like is being dependent on technology, when possibly I always get my physical boarding pass. And the logistics of knowing whether or not someone has checked in can become a pain for gate agents when it comes to processing, and I feel it could lead to more no shows. So yes I love the technology, but no we should not be solely dependant on this.
I've gone through Customs in OHare without showing one thing but the guy saying have a nice day. He didn't even ask a question.
On the topic of ORD, of particular interest to me as an Illinois is how this will intersect with Illinois’s nationwide best privacy law - the Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”). Notably, large tech companies have paid substantial sums to settle breaches of the BIPA, so there would need to be material modifications made to the BIPA to prevent e.g., United from violating the BIPA every time I go to the airport for my flight....
On the topic of ORD, of particular interest to me as an Illinois is how this will intersect with Illinois’s nationwide best privacy law - the Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”). Notably, large tech companies have paid substantial sums to settle breaches of the BIPA, so there would need to be material modifications made to the BIPA to prevent e.g., United from violating the BIPA every time I go to the airport for my flight.
As of now, CLEAR requires me to accept proactively their terms when using their service. That might not scale well when everyone at ORD or MDW is presented with lengthy legalese about biometric privacy.
I still want a paper boarding pass. I don't want everything dependent on the phone. If the phone breaks or runs out of battery, all life would end almost.
And how about the segment of the population that doesn't have a phone?
This sounds like you wouldn't need your phone, just your face.
Curious how this will work for people with multiple passports
Very good point.
It has always been sensible to enter and leave on same passport, and of the country if one has it, but UK is now copying the US requirement that that is mandatory, so this is now a hard requirement.
Curious how this will work for people with multiple passports
China has been using facial recognition technology for some years now for a variety of use cases. From picking up packages, to getting into your apartment building, to aprehending traffic violators. I could see this being used in travel but the timeline, at least in the US, is probably a lot further than 2-3 years. At least facial is being used by TSA, at least at my main airport.
As far as privacy, whoever...
China has been using facial recognition technology for some years now for a variety of use cases. From picking up packages, to getting into your apartment building, to aprehending traffic violators. I could see this being used in travel but the timeline, at least in the US, is probably a lot further than 2-3 years. At least facial is being used by TSA, at least at my main airport.
As far as privacy, whoever has an issue, get over yourself. There are cameras in most places with the exception of bathrooms. No expectation of privacy in public. If anyone or any agency wants to locate information about you or your face, trust that it can be found. We are all, all over the internet. Addresses, phone numbers, spouse's name and CC numbers. It's out there.
You get over YOURSELF. Privacy is a fundamental human right. Without it, you don't have freedom. Whoever has the information has control, and I believe in having control over my information and life. The idea that the government already knows everything is false. There's plenty they don't know and shouldn't. That's why we have encryption that the government can't break (though there are always unscrupulous companies that will put in backdoors under government pressure). The...
You get over YOURSELF. Privacy is a fundamental human right. Without it, you don't have freedom. Whoever has the information has control, and I believe in having control over my information and life. The idea that the government already knows everything is false. There's plenty they don't know and shouldn't. That's why we have encryption that the government can't break (though there are always unscrupulous companies that will put in backdoors under government pressure). The situation is far from hopeless or a forgone conclusion as people like you would have everyone believe. Facial recognition is one of the most dangerous threats to freedom humanity has ever faced, and if we continue down that road we'll all end up regretting it. You reference China's widespread surveillance as if that's the standard, but I doubt many freedom-loving people would want to live in a communist police state. I always opt out of the TSA facial recognition and get through security just as fast as everyone else... Just a 3 second look at my passport. Never any problems. And I always get paper boarding passes at the airport, even though I check in online. I work in tech so know how unreliable technology is and I'm certainly going to have a paper backup.
@Tom still recovering from your bender last weekend? You better hurry up and get to the store before you run out of gummies.
Now that's out of the way. What information and aspects of your life do you think someone couldn't find or locate? PI or government.
It's so cute that you think you have control over your data and privacy. Even at the most basic level, you give up those rights with each app you install and run on your mobile devices and every website you visit, etc.
Agreed
"Even at the most basic level, you give up those rights with each app you install and run on your mobile devices and every website you visit."
Not quite. That depends a lot on the settings, phone, software, privacy countermeasures, which app you're talking about, etc. You're both obviously clueless about how privacy and security work, which is evident by your ad hominem remarks instead of factual comments.
Who is this "someone"? There's obviously...
"Even at the most basic level, you give up those rights with each app you install and run on your mobile devices and every website you visit."
Not quite. That depends a lot on the settings, phone, software, privacy countermeasures, which app you're talking about, etc. You're both obviously clueless about how privacy and security work, which is evident by your ad hominem remarks instead of factual comments.
Who is this "someone"? There's obviously people who work at the bank or some government agency that have limited information that customers choose to give them or that they have access to from another source. That's a big difference from your false claim that all information about everyone is somehow available to anyone on the internet. It's not and shouldn't be.
And even if it were available to everyone, that doesn't mean it should be, or has to be, the case. That's not the kind of world any rational person would want to live in, and it shouldn't be promoted or championed by any of you. Go live in China if that's what you want.
Your phone and most of your electronics are made in China you frickin idiot lmao.
@Alonzo @Todd
Since you don't care.
Can you share SSN and DOB here please.
Who said hypocrites don't care about privacy.
Passports need to go fully digital. I think they would stand to make even more money off them when they go fully digital
My main issue with this is that I have had a couple experiences where I checked in for a flight and have a boarding pass, and then head to the airport at the last minute. The airline will then attempt to claw back the boarding pass because I haven't gotten to the airport within their inane timeframe. You can prevent this by taking a screenshot of your boarding pass, or having a physical paper one....
My main issue with this is that I have had a couple experiences where I checked in for a flight and have a boarding pass, and then head to the airport at the last minute. The airline will then attempt to claw back the boarding pass because I haven't gotten to the airport within their inane timeframe. You can prevent this by taking a screenshot of your boarding pass, or having a physical paper one. I've timed it before so I can go straight from arriving to the airport directly to my seat on the plane.
In the new system, you'd be penalized for being a pro at travel and getting to the airport last minute because they'd give your seat away.
More generally if their system messes up or theydo somethign underhand, I want evidence.
In certain countries the airline might bump one to fit in a VIP, and without the paper boarding pass I cannot prove that I am IVDB.
Let's see how well Real ID goes in a few weeks. Even though it's been years in the making and there are signs all over TSA checkpoints, you think everyone will show up with the right docs on the 7th? Though I suppose showing up with your face when it's all wired that way is slightly easier.
Technology can fail and that point you need paper. Checking in at T-24 or less gives the airline an idea of how many passengers actually plan to show up for the flight. Given the large number of flights that are overbooked airlines need to have a gauge on how many passengers aren't going to take the flight There may be 2-4 passengers a flight that never check in and will change plans afterwards or in...
Technology can fail and that point you need paper. Checking in at T-24 or less gives the airline an idea of how many passengers actually plan to show up for the flight. Given the large number of flights that are overbooked airlines need to have a gauge on how many passengers aren't going to take the flight There may be 2-4 passengers a flight that never check in and will change plans afterwards or in the case of a cheap basic economy ticket simply throw the ticket away.
"Given the large number of flights that are overbooked airlines need to have a gauge on how many passengers aren't going to take the flight..." Unfortunately, I think the major lobbying will be for this system for exactly that reason. Airports are essentially giant malls with a side business of travel, so the more they can force everyone to show up as early as possible and sit in their malls for hours on end, the more they profit.
And for fully-flexible tickets in premium cabins (a large proportion of revenue, if not of seats) the airlines understandably need a process of "Are you travelling on this flight or not"
The one I keep waiting for is passports to go fully biometric. The idea that I won't be allowed into/out of a country without a little blue book, in this era of digitization, is really anachronistic
In March, U.S. citizens on my flight into DFW from BNE all cleared passport control and customs with passports in pockets. We just had to do facial rec. This was all "regular" and MPC pax. Never scanned it or showed it to anyone (after showing it in BNE to get on the plane).
India already has had this for some time now, for domestic flights.
Look up DigiYatra.