Travelers at the Denver International Airport can now use their fingerprint instead of a boarding pass.

Starting this Wednesday, TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will test new biometric technology that substitutes fingerprints for boarding passes and identity cards.

According to the TSA, the technology is being tested among travelers enrolled in their PreCheck matches passengers’ identities to fingerprints

The technology, which is being tested among travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck, matches passengers’ identities to fingerprints already on file when people applied to the fast-pass lane program. PreCheck travelers are able to pass through security with shoes and belts on, and liquids and laptops still in their carry-on bags.

 

We hope you’re as excited as #ThisGuy about innovative screening technology! He’s one of the technicians setting up the biometric authentication technology (BAT). Besides having a super cool acronym, the technology matches passenger fingerprints to those that have previously been provided when travelers enrolled in #TSAPrecheck. This pilot program is voluntary and all participating passengers will also be subject to the standard ticket document checking process of showing their boarding pass and ID. Bummer, we know… But in the long term, this technology has the potential to eliminate the need for a boarding pass and ID altogether. The pilot starts this week and will take place at one TSA Pre✓® lane at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport #ATL and another at the Denver International Airport #DEN starting this week. TSA will analyze the data collected during the pilot for potential implementation at other U.S. airports in the future.

A post shared by TSA (@tsa) on Jun 13, 2017 at 11:03am PDT

Airline companies have already begun to shift toward using biometrics. Denver International Airport already has ‘CLEAR’, which is a private company that is specialized in fingerprint and photo biometrics for security in selected airports.

A spokesperson for TSA said that Denver was selected for a number of reasons, including the ability to test the technology without disruption operations.

Participation in TSA’s test at Denver International Airport is voluntary. People who are not willing to volunteer will go through standard security screening.

PreCheck passengers who have not provided fingerprints are also eligible to test the system as it will provide valuable information during the proof of concept.

The PreCheck enrollment center at the Denver International Airport has the highest volume of request in the country. A traveling TSA PreCheck RV (Recreational Vehicle) that served as a mobile application center extended its stay Denver twice after seeing high demands.

Top Neighborhoods in Denver for families

AMandeep