DHS biometric program begins in Atlanta and Detroit

Non-U.S. citizens flying from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport will now have to leave their fingerprints as they leave the country. The objective, of course, is to prevent the use of forged or otherwise fraudulent documents, curb identity theft and apprehend “criminals and immigration violators.”

“Collecting biometrics allows us to determine faster and more accurately whether non-U.S. citizens have departed the United States on time or remained in the country illegally,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The pilot programs in Atlanta and Detroit will help us determine and develop standard procedures for use at airports across the country to expedite legitimate travel and enhance our nation’s security.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will be taking the fingerprints at the boarding gate in Detroit, with Transportation Security Administration officers doing the honors at the gate in Atlanta. The program is expected to run through early July at these two airports. If the test run goes well, it will be implemented across the United States within the next year.

Clear Traveler: Register for a Fast Pass Through Airport Security

Willy wrote about the Clear Registered Traveler Program in February, but last week when I heard yet another story about someone who keeps getting pulled in for hours of questioning because of his name, I wondered if this pass might help fix that situation.

Let’s say you’re one of those people whose names (or looks) gets you stopped for hours of questioning each time you meet up with airport security. Maybe your name is on the No-Fly list. Or perhaps, airport security moves too darned slowly for your tastes–you’re a frequent traveler, and if you were paid for the hours you’ve waited in airport lines, you’d be a rich person.

As Willy wrote, the Clear Registered Traveler Program serves as an early security check-point that, once you’ve been approved and pay your membership fee, you get to breeze through the subscriber security line at the airport using your Clear pass. Here’s a recap of how it works. First, you go through a background check for TSA approval, and once you are found to be a-okay, you’re issued a card that has your encrypted fingerprint image or an iris scan. This is not a through the mail process, but involves an in-person visit.

At the airport, you insert your card into a kiosk that reads it and matches the card with your fingerprint when you put your finger on the scanner. Once cleared, you get a clearance stamp that shows TSA you are good to go. You and your baggage still have to go through TSA screening, but I assume this is faster? Otherwise, what’s the darned pass for? Still, it does sound very James Bondy or something. This is biometrics, baby.

Not all airports have this service, but the list is growing. Clear security lanes in La Guardia in New York are the lastest ones–they were to open this month.

The membership fee runs about $100 per year. Here’s the link for how to join. If your security status changes, your membership is revoked. By, the way, I’m not sure if this would work if your name is on the No Fly List even though you are not the person who is the security threat, but a person who has the same name.

10 tips for smarter flying


Using Technology to Improve Airports

The Airport of Tomorrow isn’t coming fast enough.

Unlike most everything else in life, airports have actually gotten worse in today’s modern age. All the technology has only managed to slow things down and raise stress levels.

Things have got to get better, however.

According to Michael Dumiak writing for Fast Company, Siemens is working hard to make this happen.

Dumiak highlights how the German company is trying to perfect a luggage distribution system as well as the fickle science of biometrics. Both of these concepts have been kicked around for a long time now. What I found most fascinating in Dumiak’s article, however, had to do with parking and check-in.

Apparently the 15,000 space garage at the Munich airport has an automated system that is able to locate the nearest free spot and provide directions to it through a series of LED screens. No more circling around for hours while your plane is getting ready to take off.

Dumiak also reveals that Lufthansa, KLM, and SAS are looking into a Siemens mobile application that will allow passengers to download a ticket’s bar code onto their phone and then swipe it through a scanner when boarding the plane. The application will also allow users to purchase tickets, change seats, and make other arrangements on the phone itself rather than a website or with a customer service rep. Expect some serious TSA red tape before this service ever arrives in America, however.