UA testing face recognition boarding
Sep 12, 2022, 4:40 am
#76
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Somewhere between N.A. and S.E.A.
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This is also being done at IAD, at least by NH operated UA codes share (which is the only time I fly NH). No prior registration needed nor was there any 3rd party branding.
I flew IAD - NRT on September 2nd and there was dedicated hardware in the boarding line. Surprisingly, it seemed to work smoothly, making fairly short work of a long BG2 line.
My connecting flight out of NRT was also set up for facial recognition but the GA team didn't use it.
I flew IAD - NRT on September 2nd and there was dedicated hardware in the boarding line. Surprisingly, it seemed to work smoothly, making fairly short work of a long BG2 line.
My connecting flight out of NRT was also set up for facial recognition but the GA team didn't use it.
Sep 17, 2022, 6:52 am
#77
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K, KF
Posts: 59
At IAD too...and not optional?
IAD-BRU last Wednesday had biometric boarding and there didn't seem to be any opting in or out. I did overhear another gate agent boarding a different flight who said they were testing it out on the first 100 passengers to board. No such announcement at my gate. It worked fine and perhaps even faster...but I found it somewhat disconcerting that there was no obvious way to opt out. I get that they already have our biodata.
Sep 17, 2022, 7:40 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
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My guess is that for international flights, soon enough you'll no less be able to opt out of the facial recognition as opt out of having a photo in your passport. The goal of the program is to do a positive match to track who leaves the country. Most other countries have exit passport control, the US is an outlier, but obviously doesn't have the infrastructure or funding to create such a formal system with desks and passenger separation. This is a technology solution to that.
Sep 17, 2022, 8:47 am
#79
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
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My guess is that for international flights, soon enough you'll no less be able to opt out of the facial recognition as opt out of having a photo in your passport. The goal of the program is to do a positive match to track who leaves the country. Most other countries have exit passport control, the US is an outlier, but obviously doesn't have the infrastructure or funding to create such a formal system with desks and passenger separation. This is a technology solution to that.
Personally I don't really care because my biometrics and travel plans are in enough places anyway but others have a greater level of concern
Dec 1, 2022, 8:06 am
#80
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 587
Boarding at IAD using face recognition only
2 weeks ago I was departing IAD for FRA. During boarding, the gate agent asked all passengers to look at the camera installed next to the gate counter. No BP or passport required to show. Is this a new thing they are doing elsewhere or only at IAD?
Dec 1, 2022, 8:21 am
#81
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I've personally only seen it in use at IAD, never at EWR (was also an IAD-FRA flight). I don't get it though. It means you can leave the US and get to Frankfurt (or wherever) with no physical passport in your hand. There's almost no way Germany (or most other countries) are letting you in without your passport. The airline is responsible for transporting you back to the departure country if you fail to show a passport on arrival; and the airline likely gets fined as well. Seems like a recipe for disaster.
The GAs should at least be making sure you have your physical passport with you before letting you board, even if they don't have to check it.
-RM
The GAs should at least be making sure you have your physical passport with you before letting you board, even if they don't have to check it.
-RM
Dec 1, 2022, 8:25 am
#82
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
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Posts: 587
Another thing is, how do they know the picture belonged to me. I fly out of DFW a lot and recently I have seen that using my driver's license is the only thing needed to get through TSA precheck. I wonder if they have linked my picture to the one on my international flight.
Dec 1, 2022, 8:43 am
#84
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Another thing is, how do they know the picture belonged to me. I fly out of DFW a lot and recently I have seen that using my driver's license is the only thing needed to get through TSA precheck. I wonder if they have linked my picture to the one on my international flight.
This technology has been around for years already. United may be just using it now. Other airlines have been using it on select flights/airports for years.
Dec 1, 2022, 10:22 am
#86
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,238
Is that the same database for Global Entry? I flew into EWR this past week and the GE kiosk only did the face recognition, not the fingerprints.
Dec 1, 2022, 10:26 am
#87
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 572
Another thing is, how do they know the picture belonged to me. I fly out of DFW a lot and recently I have seen that using my driver's license is the only thing needed to get through TSA precheck. I wonder if they have linked my picture to the one on my international flight.
This has been expanded to many other airports as well.
Dec 1, 2022, 10:30 am
#88
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
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Posts: 4,590
Dec 1, 2022, 8:00 pm
#89
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 177
Originally Posted by DFWFairy;[url=tel:34798727
34798727[/url]]Another thing is, how do they know the picture belonged to me. I fly out of DFW a lot and recently I have seen that using my driver's license is the only thing needed to get through TSA precheck. I wonder if they have linked my picture to the one on my international flight.
Originally Posted by tarheelnj;[url=tel:34799066
34799066[/url]]Is that the same database for Global Entry? I flew into EWR this past week and the GE kiosk only did the face recognition, not the fingerprints.
Dec 1, 2022, 9:01 pm
#90
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
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Another thing is, how do they know the picture belonged to me. I fly out of DFW a lot and recently I have seen that using my driver's license is the only thing needed to get through TSA precheck. I wonder if they have linked my picture to the one on my international flight.