Travel Tech That Can Speed Up Airports: The End of Long Lines

How can you speed up airports? Air travel can be frustrating, especially when you find yourself standing in long security lines, customs queues, and baggage claim waits.

Luckily, new technologies are helping to speed up the airport experience and reduce congestion.

Here are some of the latest travel tech innovations that will get you to your gate faster.

Another way to speed up airports – Smartphone Tickets and Passes

Instead of fumbling with printed tickets and forms, many travelers now use mobile tickets and security clearance apps that they simply scan at checkpoints. Digital wallets from airlines like Delta, American, and British Airways allow travelers to easily access boarding passes. Clear and TSA PreCheck let travelers go through dedicated, faster security lanes by scanning their fingerprints or photos. These digital systems mean fewer errors or lost documents and a quicker experience through ticketing and security.  

Automated Bag Drops definitely speed up airports

No more struggling to lift heavy bags up onto check-in counters. Automated bag drops powered by companies like SITA use scanners to read your luggage tags, then automatically sort and transport your bags to the correct departure gate behind the scenes. Travelers simply place their bags on the designated spot, scan their boarding pass or ID, pay any excess baggage fees, and the system whisks the bags away. This cuts down on staffing needs and congestion at check-in kiosks.

Smart Gates and Kiosks

Automated passport control gates use biometric technology like facial recognition to verify travelers’ identities and check them in for their flights. Customs kiosks also allow travelers to fill out declaration forms electronically instead of on paper. These systems reduce lines at immigration and customs desks. Major international airports in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East now use smart gate and kiosk technology to streamline the arrivals experience.  

RFID Baggage Tracking

Tiny RFID tags placed on checked bags allow airlines to track the location of luggage at all points of its journey to the destination. Travelers get updates on an app so they know their bags have made tight connections or will be on the right baggage claim belt. This also cuts down on lost luggage instances and ensures travelers get their bags faster after landing at their final airport. 

Speed up Airports with Biometrics on the Move

In the near future, biometric technologies may allow travelers to use facial recognition or fingerprints to complete an entire airport journey. From checking in for your flight, to going through security and boarding your plane, your face or fingerprints could be your ticket and ID. Your bags might also be automatically checked in and rerouted to your next flight without you having to claim and re-check them. Biometrics promise to create a seamless airport experience where travelers don’t have to repeatedly present travel documents or wait in long queues. Airport congestion may soon be a thing of the past.

In Summary

New travel technologies are reducing wait times and improving the airport experience for passengers. Smartphone tickets, digital wallets, and security clearance apps allow travelers to scan their mobile boarding pass and ID to get through checkpoints faster.

Automated bag drops speed up the check-in process by automatically sorting and transporting luggage behind the scenes after passengers scan their IDs and pay any bag fees. Smart gates and kiosks use facial recognition and biometric scanning to expedite immigration and customs.

RFID baggage tracking gives passengers real-time updates on their luggage location and delivers bags more quickly at baggage claim.

Emerging biometric systems may soon allow passengers to navigate an entire airport with just their face or fingerprints, reducing the need for boarding passes, IDs, and baggage claim stubs.

These innovative technologies aim to decrease congestion and make air travel more seamless for passengers.

Want to learn more?

For a deeper dive into the world of new travel tech – here’s a great post from Booking.com – The Future of Business Travel – where they take you out all the way to 2050!

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