United Airlines has debuted new facial scanning technology in coordination with TSAPreCheck at two of its hubs: Chicago and Los Angeles. The implications are limited for now, but this lays the groundwork for a much more seamless airport experience of tomorrow.
United Airlines Introduces Facial Scanning Technology At LAX + ORD
TSA PreCheck Passengers traveling through Chicago O’Hare (ORD) or Los Angeles (LAX) can soon check in bags and proceed through TSA security checkpoints without having to produce their government-issued ID (or boarding pass).
Bag Drop Shortcut With TSA PreCheck Touchless ID
Passengers can opt-in to this service in the United app and when they arrive at the airport, they can head to a bag drop shortcut kiosk where their photo is taken, and their bag tag will print. Next, an agent will tag their bag without having to check their ID. Well, almost. United is still testing so you may be asked for your ID…but that is only as United ensures the system works as intended.
Again, it is only available currently at LAX and ORD.
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID At Security Checkpoints
To use this feature, passengers can opt-in to this service in the United app when they check-in for their flight. When they arrive at the airport, they can head to a TSA security checkpoint where their photo is taken, verified against the system, and no presentation of ID or boarding pass is necessary.
For the avoidance of doubt, these programs are only for passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck. Furthermore, passengers must upload their passports to the MileagePlus app and be traveling solo…the technology is not in place yet for multiple travelers on a single reservation.
The Implications Are Big
While this program may be of limited value for now (though I must imagine it makes the folks at CLEAR start to sweat), think about the implications.
One premise for this program is that 4.7 billion people are expected to travel worldwide this year. Imagine a world in which we could seamlessly drop our bags, go through security, and board our flight without having to deal with airport personnel. We are already seeing this with facial recognition at boarding gates. In my experience, it works quite well.
Is it worth the privacy we give up in not having our faces tracked everywhere we go? I tend to think that is already happening and I would welcome the day when airport security is so streamlined that we can simply walk right up to the checkpoint, place the baggage on the belt, and walk through without having to interact with any TSA or airline agent.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines has debuted touchless baggage drops and security screenings in Chicago and Los Angeles. While these programs are still in their infancy, they do represent the start of a new era of airport experience in which the curb-to-aircraft process might be easier than ever.
Delta has already had this technology for bag drop and secuitry at ATL and DTW for at least a year now. They call it “Digital ID”
Trusting electronics is similar to “inability to be sure what is going on” .
As in : Trusting politicians is similar to “not knowing what is their actual intention” .
I’ve used this at ORD several times now and its great. Separate Pre-Clear line basically puts you at the front with Global Services customers and the whole thing is a breeze. They really need to implement this everywhere fast, DEN, ATL, MCO, SFO…lets go TSA…it works, expedite it.
I tried this at ORD today, it sent me straight to an agent… still some bugs to work out, love the idea though
I just made this suggestion in a previous post from Matt about Alaska Airlines dropping printed passes from kiosks.
The next stage in evolution should be to have baggage trackers such as Airtags used for luggage without paper tags whatsoever. It would be neat if there was a barcode/baggage tag standard we could put on our baggage tags to identify us (such as our name, telephone number, email) for the bag to be used on multiple trips, but just put the Airtag in the bag and reuse it for multiple airlines.
“Hi, my name is Werner Brandes. My voice is my passport. Verify Me.”
Can’t recall exact details of reviewing ID & boarding pass, but in 6 roundtrips this year using (unrelated to UA) TSA Precheck to/from LGA, DEN and/or SLC, I’ve experienced facial recognition instead of verification of ID & boarding pass.
Matthew, this reminds me that new UA check-in and baggage/ski tagging procedures at DEN (very popular ski destination) are abominable. UA has removed many human agents and human staffed counters and replaced them with automatic kiosks. Even after tagging and “bag drop”, ski bags (oversized) must be carried by the traveler to a cart several steps away from the bag drop conveyor belt. UA expects/demands that the traveler do much of the process themselves.
It’s quite annoying, especially when traveling for a ski trip possibly with a heavy suitcase (usual and ski clothing), ski bag, and boot bag. Their attempt to reduce labor costs and transfer much of those costs to travelers (kinda like self-service checkout at the grocery store) is obvious and dissatisfying. I hope UA doesn’t next ask me to load my own bags onto the airplane.
And of course DEN, being a relatively new airport, is undergoing a major renovation which has rendered the bridge security line (to Concourse A without a trainride) useless (no Precheck) and required everyone to use the underground trains which have no adjacent pedestrian tunnels (like ATL has) for use when the trains malfunction which at DEN ends up requiring (slow to load and overcrowded) buses from one concourse to another. Incredulous to believe they paid an architect or designer millions of dollars for a lousy design.
As a professional, in part devoted to UA, it would be appropriate for you to write about the new check-in and bag drop procedures at DEN and the renovations at DEN, perhaps UA’s largest hub. (I can’t recall ever reading anything about you skiing, if you do want to witness ski bag drop at DEN, FYI ski season largely ends within the next few weeks and probably more ski bags transiting on weekends.)
I love Digital ID in ATL, I love using Airside to enter Admiral’s Clubs in DFW. I love eGates in the UAE and LHR. I love the new passport free Global Entry kiosks.
This tech is inevitable, and incredibly convenient. If you are concerned about privacy, you have no business setting foot in an airport anyway; cameras are everywhere. I wish this would roll out on more stuff.
As others point out, Delta has been doing this for quite awhile now in ATL. It’s also fully rolled out across LGA, JFK, and LAX for Delta.
Following DL’s lead again
When I flew AA to ORD a few weeks ago, the Pre line was much longer and slower than usual. When I got to the front, I saw why: the TSA agent was asking people to scan in their IDs only, presumably for this type of service. No boarding pass. It seems we’re just getting in the system if we want? It didn’t take long at all, just longer than typical for DFW.