Are Boarding Passes and Check-Ins a Thing of the Past?

Plans backed by the UN to digitise air transportation may render boarding passes obsolete, as facial recognition systems and a ‘journey pass’ available on passengers' phones may become mainstream. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has plans that will significantly change the existing rules for airports and airlines through the introduction of a “digital travel credential”. 

This means that information related to passports and other necessary details for air travel can be stored on passengers’ devices, making the overall experience smoother than the one involving boarding passes. According to sources, these changes could begin rolling out within the next three years. 

Now, the current procedure requires those who are flying to check in, either online or at the airport upon arrival. They are then issued with a boarding pass with a barcode, which is scanned at various points throughout the airport, including at the gate before boarding. 

Once the proposed changes are in effect, flyers will download a “journey pass” to their phone when they book a flight. The pass will be automatically updated if any changes are made to the booking. Passengers would be able to upload their passports, which will later be used for their facial recognition for verification. 

While these changes will make things easier, this will require significant infrastructure upgrades at airports, including facial recognition technology and the ability to read a passport from a mobile device. 

The new technology could spark privacy concerns, but it is speculated that systems are being developed where passengers’ details are wiped within 15 seconds of each contact with a “touchpoint” – such as the pre-security gates.