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JetBlue Launches Revolutionary Facial Recognition Boarding Process

By Mike Richard Dec 19, 2019 12:31 AM

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Even with the proliferation of new technology, the airline boarding process is more soul-sucking now than ever. Sure, we have access to mobile boarding passes and dedicated airline apps. But, when (if) they work as advertised, how much better have they really made the entire affair? One domestic U.S. airline is rethinking their strategy in a way that could eliminate traditional boarding passes (printed or otherwise) altogether.

JetBlue Airways has long been at the forefront of aviation technology. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise when we learned this week that the carrier is working with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on a state-of-the-art boarding process. The program uses facial recognition to replace traditional boarding passes and passports entirely. It requires no previous enrollment in a government-sanctioned air travel program. The process is similar to the automated customs and immigration checkpoint kiosks currently in use at many U.S. airports. Travelers step to a digital camera that snaps their photo which is relayed to CBP officials. In five to seven seconds, the facial recognition system automatically matches the traveler’s profile pic to archived passport, visa, or immigration photos. Once confirmed and approved, the passenger is green-lit to proceed to the jetway.

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Like all new-wave technologies, particularly in the airline industry, adoption can be slow. There’s the inevitable sky-high cost of rollout, plus passengers are increasingly antsy about having yet another piece of their lives scanned, digitized, and archived. Plus, biometrics are already a hot-button issue in the world of personal digital security. However, the airline is assuring passengers that it will not have direct access to the photos.

It’s hard not to imagine this is the way of the future for air travel. Imagine a hyper-streamlined airport a la Minority Report where passengers — particularly those enrolled in one of the government’s Trusted Travel Network programs — can breeze through security without ever pulling out a document or interacting with a human. The technology already exists; now, it’s just a matter of implementing it.

The current rollout begins June 12 and will be extremely limited, as these pilot programs always are. JetBlue is only trialing the process on select international flights out of Boston. If all goes well, they’ll consider expanding the plan nationwide. Delta is testing a similar program in the lobby of the Minneapolis airport to authenticate checked baggage drop-offs.

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He’s kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South… Read Full Bio

5 Tips If You’re Traveling With Cigars: I Learned No. 2 the Hard Way

Wood, Hardwood, Accessories

Traveling with cigars can be challenging if you’re not prepared. The lack of preparation can lead to your favorite cigars getting smashed from inadequate storage, or they can peel because they weren’t kept at the proper temperature, among other issues. Sometimes you do all the right things, and still come away shaking your head.

I’ve been smoking cigars for two decades now, and it’s not beneath me to admit that I’ve made plenty of cigar travel mistakes in that span, and as recently as two weeks ago. You live, you learn, and hope you don’t waste a stogie on the next trip. My most recent cigar travel mistake is what inspired me to share these tips. Sure, there are plenty of articles out there offering similar advice. But this list comes from a cigar smoker and writer who has visited six countries and about a dozen states in the last year alone. And in that time, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

The art of adventure packing: packing light but effective

Clothing, Coat, Jacket

If you are like me, you grew up with stories of adventure. Whether you were fans of fictional adventure like Indiana Jones and Alan Quartermain, or you loved the true-life accounts of Ernest Shackleton and David Livingstone, there is a deep pull to venture into the unknown. The desire to abandon the Mon-Fri 9-5 in search of something deeper. You could spend your time thinking about hopping a boat and sailing the seven seas like the pirates of old. You could look up at the elusive peak of a mountain and believe it begs to be summited. You could stare into the depths of a jungle and wonder what treasures it hides beneath its canopy. No matter what kind of adventurer you are, you need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at you. I have climbed Salkantay Peak and explored the jungles of Peru. I have scanned the plains of Africa in search of a giant cat (the prospect of which was much more comforting than the actual sighting and wondering if I was far enough away). And I have disappeared into the secluded areas of Svalbard. One thing that remained constant was the need for the right pack.

Here is what I learned when packing for my adventures.

Savannah Beyond the Postcard

Architecture, Building, Spire

Savannah is one of those cities that seems almost too easy to like. The live oaks are dramatic. The Spanish moss does exactly what it is supposed to do. The brick sidewalks buckle in all the right places. The houses look like they were designed by people who understood proportion, shade, and the value of a proper front step. Even the light seems to arrive with better manners than it does in most places.

I have a built-in advantage when it comes to Savannah. We have family there, so we have been back several times, not just once for the checklist version of the city. I have also done a photography workshop there, which is a terrific way to learn any city. You get up early, stay out late, and pay attention to alleys, doorways, ironwork, reflections, and the way a city changes when the tourists are still asleep.