Facial Recognition to Replace Boarding Passes at Six Thai Airports

[cowellandrew]

Ah fun I am going to have with this!

😁😁😁

[oceanbluejewell]

I'm sure more news will come but a step in right the direction; my sense is a retinal scan is better & more exclusive, meaning less likely to be tapered with. THAILAND already takes your picture and prints so what's the difference.

 

I've had this E- Gate in UAE now since 2017. Very fast, very effective, they allow people opt in or opt out. 

 

I'm sure no-one here would disagree there is room here in Thailand for improvement. The cues here are the worst (meaning waste lots of time) and thus I no longer check luggage.

 

I'm heading to Vietnam next month and the agent says entering will take ~2hrs

 

The above humorous comment is another point why I like retinal scans.

 

Anyway, let's see what happens.

[harryviking]

Seems like Thailand is heading for a total crash due to a digital madness! Thailand is racing for a situation that will scare off so many people that they will regret ever trying to be the "smartest guy" in the class!! imagine this new system suddenly failing on a busy day at Suvarnabhumi airport! Total chaos!! This will happen no matter how "good" they think the system. For safety reasons, I find this new system STUPID and irresponsible!! 

[Scottie12]

What can possibly go wrong.🤪

[madmitch]

They announce this the week before it's due to start yet it must have been in the pipeline for some time. Let's hope it's been properly tested.

 

Hope it's a bit more state of the art than the ancient webcams used at the immigration desks.

[Cabradelmar]

Doubtful this gets done by November 1 seeing as it's already October 29. I'll be shocked if any of this reported change happens as described in the article.

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, MangoRice said:

 

What a strange point of view from someone with the classic libertarian banner on their profile...

What do my politics have to do with the fact that I accept a fait accompli.

 

I voted for Trump btw.

 

Facial recognition isnt my line in the sand.

[Yagoda]

4 hours ago, 300sd said:

Following in Kuwait's footsteps:

https://www.biometricupdate.com/202409/kuwait-prepares-to-halt-services-for-unregistered-fingerprint-biometrics

Reminds me of a quote from Himmler: 

"They know you NEVER reveal the entire plan, for people will revolt. Lead them down the path ever so gradually, and you will transform the nation into whatever you desire".

Sounds like the US Democratic Party

[Peabody]

Remember back a few years when the IO numpties INSISTED on seeing a dead tree boarding pass?

 

[itsari]

9 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

How about make it for the 90 days reports?

Some problems could occur with this cutting edge technology as after 90 days your face could look so much different.

Bags under your eyes , unshaven and generally looking down and new tattoos on your face .

[wensiensheng]

To what will they stick my baggage tags?

 

Seriously, I am not aware of any other country/ airport in the world having this system. Presumably it’s not considered a robust enough system.  So why will it work in Thailand and not elsewhere?

[heybuz]

7 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Especially if you don't want them sticking your luggage tag and your seat assignment on your forehead.

 

The flight attendants are going to have a chip implanted linked to the airline computer, on boarding you will be instantly recognized.

[MangoRice]

30 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

What do my politics have to do with the fact that I accept a fait accompli.

 

I voted for Trump btw.

 

Facial recognition isnt my line in the sand.

 

Obviously you can choose to accept facial recognition throughout society. It's just a contradictory choice if you're a libertarian, fait accompli or not.

[impulse]

51 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Doubtful this gets done by November 1 seeing as it's already October 29. I'll be shocked if any of this reported change happens as described in the article.

 

I've been flying out of BKK each of the past 19 months and the face scanners have been installed for awhile at various chokepoints.  All they have to do is turn them on and try them out.

 

Edited October 29 by impulse

[Surasak]

7 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Have them write it on a piece of paper for you?

What time is it, Eccles. Just a minute my good man, I've got it written down on a piece of paper. It says here it is eight o'clock. Here, wait a minute, how do you know it is eight o'clock. Because it was eight o'clock when the nice man wrote it down for me.

[Reddavy]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Image: ASEAN NOW

 

Thai airports announced plans to introduce a facial recognition system by the end of the year, effectively phasing out the need for traditional boarding passes. This cutting-edge technology will be implemented in six major airports, aiming to streamline passenger movement and enhance security processes.

 

From 1st November, domestic travellers in Thailand will experience this new system, with international passengers following on 1st December. Passengers will register their identification details during check-in, either at a staffed counter or using a self-service kiosk.

 

Upon registration, their biometric data will be linked with their travel itineraries, enabling them to navigate seamlessly from baggage drop-off to boarding gate. Each registration will apply solely to the passenger's current travel itinerary.

 

The six key airports set to adopt this system are:

 

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Don Mueang International Airport

Chiang Mai International Airport

Mae Fah Luang/Chiang Rai International Airport

Phuket International Airport

Hat Yai International Airport

 

Kirati Kitmanawat, Director of the Airports Authority of Thailand, highlighted the potential benefits of this system amidst rising passenger numbers.

 

He reported nearly a 20% increase in airport users in September and October compared to last year, with expectations for further growth in the coming year.

 

The biometric system is designed not only to meet heightened security demands but also to enhance passenger convenience during their journey.

 

This venture aligns with global trends towards digital solutions in travel, aiming to make procedures more efficient while maintaining rigorous security standards.

 

As these airports gear up for implementation, travellers can expect a technologically advanced and smoother travel experience in Thailand.

 

The initiative promises to set a new standard in airport technology, potentially serving as a model for other airports globally, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-10-29

 

 

 

 

What could possibly go wrong 🙈

[digger70]

Facial Recognition to Replace Boarding Passes at Six Thai Airports

 

Disaster waiting to happen,

More Delays, Wrong Gates wrong Planes at the Wrong time .  😇

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, impulse said:

How do I know where to sit on the plane if I don't have a boarding pass?  And if I sit in the wrong seat (has happened), how do the flight attendants straighten out the mess?

 

 

Further, how does a passenger initially know their seat number? Will it appear on a screen but no document, passenger has to remember his/her seat number.

 

Can the passenger ask 'what's my seat number at the gate?

 

Is there's a seat dispute with another passenger, what happens?

[koolkarl]

More invasion of privacy.

[Richard5]

Another nightmare from the folks at Hypnotopia

[PETERTHEEATER]

3 hours ago, sandrew33 said:

The replies in this thread are staggering. 

 

The no boarding pass no human interaction system isn’t exactly a new thing. Many domestic systems have had it for ages and in Singapore there has been facial recognition on arrival and departure for quite a while too, As to boarding passes, you get them when you check in online and they sit in your phone and you scan then or show them if and when required. 

 

Anyone departing Thailand at swampy recently surely saw the speed benefit in the new no human interaction departure gates, just scan passport and use fingerprint scanner. Rolling that system across more parts of the airport is a win. 

Singapore has had facial recognition for some time? But...but...the OP states the initiative promises to set a new standard in airport technology, potentially serving as a model for other airports globally, reported Bangkok Post.

[Burma Bill]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

effectively phasing out the need for traditional boarding passes.

 

Excuse my ignorance but how do you know your seat number and show it to the cabin crew?

Please do not say "smartphone" because I do not own and cannot use one due to finger disabilities.

Here at the airports in Cambodia, you must present your boarding pass with passport to Immigration after arrival.

Another Thai "cock up" by morons! 

Edited October 29 by Burma Bill
additional information

[trainman34014]

Computer says NO !

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, oceanbluejewell said:

my sense is a retinal scan is better & more exclusive

What resolution would the photo have to be to recognise an individual's retinae?

[pepi2005]

I don't want sensitive biometric data to be shared with unknown other entities in Thailand.

Will definitely refuse at the airport.

[Paul333]

No use to me. In Vietnam to claim your flight expenses through the company you must retain the boarding pass or you cannot claim the cost of the flight as business travel irrespective of having a vat invoice for it.

[Lucky Bones]

10 hours ago, impulse said:

How do I know where to sit on the plane if I don't have a boarding pass?  And if I sit in the wrong seat (has happened), how do the flight attendants straighten out the mess?

 

I got relocated on my Qantas Bkk-Melbourne flight. The overhead light did not work to read my book.

Luckily the flight was not full.

Did I care what seat # they put me in?🙃🙃

[Kinok Farang]

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Gonna be as bad as waiting behind an empty head at Big C paying with her phone.

[Yagoda]

3 hours ago, MangoRice said:

 

Obviously you can choose to accept facial recognition throughout society. It's just a contradictory choice if you're a libertarian, fait accompli or not.

Well it isnt a choice and I cant open fire on everything. 

[Sigmund]

What about the potential risks of ID theft as the whole system will run on public spaces... ?

 

Nevertheless, always remember to get the physical boarding card even if you don't use it. Depending on which type of immigration chap you bang into, they will ask on arrival to see the card.

 

Happened to me last year on a fast track gate on ARRIVALS at Swanpy airport. 

 

The agent waiting for me aftert a long walk near gate D5 (they don't pick you up direcly at the gate anymore) showed me the fast track gate and then just walked away.  The immigration chap in his glass cage was a bald grumpy fellow looking to see where he could make some trouble and asked for the boarding card of the flight. When I produced it, he seemed disappointed, but not to loose face, snootily scribbled on the card as if it was some big official task...all this to say always have your boarding card in paper and have it handy even on leaving the aircraft when comming to Thailand. Once they refused the digital version and were trying to make a fuss on arrivals at Bangkok airport.