self boarding gates are here
Jan 30, 2017, 1:01 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Thames Valley
Programs: BAEC, LHM&M, and even a dusty KLFB!
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You've just moved the problem from the gate to the pre-security area.
You'll still need a person to make sure the documents are okay and that the documents match the person. Only then can the biometric be stored against the document. And this has to all be done at the same time, otherwise person A can get his docs approved against the passport, and then swap with person B for the biometric scan. Person B gets on the plane despite not looking anything like person's A passport picture.
Now okay doing all three at once is not a big deal, but it isn't really clear to me what problem has been solved: why not just move the person to the gate and forget the biometrics stuff?
The difference from domestics is that there are no passports or documents to care about so it can be automated without human intervention.
You'll still need a person to make sure the documents are okay and that the documents match the person. Only then can the biometric be stored against the document. And this has to all be done at the same time, otherwise person A can get his docs approved against the passport, and then swap with person B for the biometric scan. Person B gets on the plane despite not looking anything like person's A passport picture.
Now okay doing all three at once is not a big deal, but it isn't really clear to me what problem has been solved: why not just move the person to the gate and forget the biometrics stuff?
The difference from domestics is that there are no passports or documents to care about so it can be automated without human intervention.
Jun 19, 2017, 9:31 am
#62
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T5 - Automated BP Scanners at Gates
Not sure if already posted. At T5 gate A3 and noticed 3 Automated scanners for BP. Are these for priority Boarding? Gold , Silver , Bronze?
Also at A1 and A2
Also at A1 and A2
Jun 19, 2017, 9:53 am
#66
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That would be nice, then they could have 3 separate lanes for the 3 tiers. And once priority boarding complete, then switch them on for everyone to use.
Jun 19, 2017, 9:56 am
#67
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
They certainly don't seem to do any enforcement at the moment on a software level. On a flight a few days ago they were enforcing Gold/CE boarding only at the queue entrance (but were allowing one guest, which I isn't strictly allowed I think?) but the gates were just allowing anyone through.
Jun 19, 2017, 10:25 am
#69
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They certainly don't seem to do any enforcement at the moment on a software level. On a flight a few days ago they were enforcing Gold/CE boarding only at the queue entrance (but were allowing one guest, which I isn't strictly allowed I think?) but the gates were just allowing anyone through.
Jun 19, 2017, 10:38 am
#70
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A7 has them too - I used them when heading to NCL last week. The lady was checking that it was Gold / CE only manually before we used the gates. Seemed to work fine.
Jun 19, 2017, 10:44 am
#71
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Jun 19, 2017, 10:49 am
#72
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See also this thread with pictures:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ates-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ates-here.html
Jun 19, 2017, 12:50 pm
#74
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 84
The call went out for Club Europe and Gold passengers to board. Nearly the entire priority queue surged forward, myself and a couple of other polite silvers stood to one side.
I thought it seemed a lot of CE and Gold passengers in the queue. When I saw someone going through with Bronze luggage tags and clutching a boarding pass showing row 20, I gave up and joined the crowd to get through the gates.
At no point was there any enforcement, either by the automated gates, or the gate staff. The staff never policed or patrolled the queue and never asked to look at any boarding passes. There was no urgency as the flight was somewhat delayed and gate staff were present and standing around chatting well in advance of actually beginning boarding.
Why does BA seem to find it so hard to implement any kind of boarding process? What is the point of having any boarding process if it's not enforced and the staff don't care? On a departure from ORD last month the gate staff boarded by row number (i.e. cabin class) alone, completely forgetting about BAEC holders until an annoyed passenger reminded the person in charge of the gate!
It will only get even worse at LHR with these automated gates.
Last edited by TownCar; Jun 19, 2017 at 1:19 pm Reason: Grammar