British Airways is trialling biometric technology for international flights, enabling customers to travel abroad without having to show their passport.
The trial will run for six months on BA flights from London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Malaga in Spain. Select customers will receive an email three days before their flight with a link to scan their face, passport and boarding pass via a smartphone or tablet ahead of travel.
Once they arrive at the airport, Smart Bio-Pod cameras will recognise passengers “in under three seconds”, meaning they won’t have to provide their passport until they reach their destination airport. They will, however, have to show their boarding pass at security.
Customers taking part will also be able to make use of the fast-track security lane and receive complimentary priority boarding.