Technology within the aviation industry is so far advanced that airlines are almost ready to throw away boarding passes all together and replace them with biometric scanners.
Delta Air Lines has confirmed it’s taking air travel into the future with the introduction of biometric boarding passes, which are currently being tested at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Launched this week, phase one will see SkyMiles members enrolled in CLEAR and travelling through Ronald Reagan board an aircraft without having to show a boarding pass or ID, Global Traveler USA reported.
Instead, loyalty members will simply need to lift their hand, point their finger and push it against a scanner, which will use their fingerprint as proof of identity.
Once phase one proves to be successfully, the airline will move into phase two – using biometric scanners to check in bags and enter the Delta Sky Club lounge.
The airline’s Chief Executive, Gil West, said the airline is “rapidly moving toward a day” when fingerprints or face will become the only form of ID travellers need.
“We’re excited Delta’s partnership with CLEAR gives us an engine to pioneer this customer experience at the airport.”
Gil West, Delta Air Lines Chief Executive
Gosh, next thing you know we’re all going to have robot maids called Rosie, bubble-like space ship vehicles and portable antennas on our hats – argh! We’re entering the age of The Jetsons.
That’s actually pretty cool.