Facial Recognition and Airlines: The Path to the Future

Facial Recognition and Airlines: The Path to the Future

For a long time during the pandemic, people were avoiding flying on planes because of the fear of transmitting or catching COVID-19. There were also a lot of restrictions on traveling based on the number of cases an area had. However, people still needed to fly for certain reasons. So airlines had to come up with some creative solutions to keep everyone safe. Here is an overview of the future of facial recognition in airlines.

Traveling Guidelines

The CDC has guidelines for people who plan to travel during the pandemic.

Unvaccinated

If you are unvaccinated, the guidelines are as follows:

• Before Traveling:
  • Get a viral test 1-3 days prior to your trip (make sure to leave plenty of time to get your results)
• While traveling:
  • Wear your mask over your mouth and nose. Wear a mask when on buses, planes, trains, or any other type of public transportation.
  • Avoid any crowds and make sure to stay at least six feet away from anyone who is not a part of your group.
  • Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
• After traveling:
  • Go and get a viral test 3-5 days after you return from your travels. You should also stay home and self-quarantine for seven days after returning.
    • Even if your test result is negative, you still need to self-quarantine for the entire seven-day period
    • If your test comes back positive, isolate yourself from anyone else to protect them from getting infected.
  • If you don’t get a test, you need to stay home for ten days to self-quarantine
  • Avoid being near anyone who is at high risk for severe illness for fourteen days after you return.
  • Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms; If you develop any symptoms isolate and get tested.
  • Follow all local and state recommendations or requirements.

Vaccinated

Travel guidelines are as follows:

• While traveling
  • Wear your mask over your mouth and nose. Wear a mask when on buses, planes, trains, or any other type of public transportation.
  • Avoid any crowds and make sure to stay at least six feet away from anyone who is not a part of your group.
  • Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
• After traveling
  • Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. Get tested and isolate once you develop any symptoms.
  • Follow all local and state recommendations or requirements.

There is no need to get tested or self-quarantine if you have been fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the previous three months.

Facial Recognition

One of these solutions was to use facial recognition to limit the amount of contact that occurs during the check-in process. Ordinarily, there would be a lot of passing documents from person to person which increases the risk of passing on the virus. Airlines began using facial recognition for check-in at the counter and getting your bags processed.

Effects of Pandemic Guidelines

The pandemic has brought about a lot of contactless procedures that a lot of people are thoroughly enjoying. However, it is a bit creepy that your face is going to be the key to doing a lot of things in the future. Despite how uneasy it may make people feel, going touchless has proved to be extremely beneficial for our country. The number of flu illnesses in the last year went down dramatically. Less touching, mask-wearing, and more handwashing have really helped keep people healthier.

What’s Next?

If we continue these habits going forward we are likely to help people remain healthy and avoid getting sick. It’s amazing how proper handwashing, wearing masks, and keeping distance can keep someone who regularly gets cold from getting sick at all.  Airlines will likely continue to use facial recognition for many aspects of flying.

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