AIRLINE POLICIES

FEATURES AND CHANGES

You can use airlines’ apps and websites to check in online and seek customer service, reducing touch points and crowds.

Delta has eliminated its $75 fee for most customers who want to stand by for an earlier flight on the day they are scheduled to travel domestically.

The airline has also temporarily waived its restrictions on basic economy tickets for travel through Dec. 31 due to backups on customer service phone lines. While basic economy tickets normally do not allow any changes to the itinerary, Delta is allowing changes to be made online without paying a change fee through the end of this year.

If you are traveling internationally, remember U.S. citizens and permanent residents returning to the U.S. by air will need to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding. The CDC lays out specific requirements on its webpage for international travel. Before your trip, check also for travel restrictions for countries you will be entering. Delta has an interactive map to show travel requirements for different destinations. Southwest lists on its website its destinations with operational restrictions. The CDC also has travel health notices for different countries and the State Department issues country-specific travel advisories.

DELTA FACIAL RECOGNITION

Delta has added facial recognition in the domestic terminal for frequent fliers who qualify.

The airline has used facial recognition in the international terminal for a few years, but its pilot program expands the use of the technology to those flying domestically.

Facial recognition is an option for Delta domestic passengers out of Atlanta who meet certain criteria: they have a passport, are members of the TSA’S Precheck trusted traveler program, are Delta Skymiles members with their passport information and Known Traveler Number in their profile, and check in via Delta’s app.

If they are checking in for a domestic flight, they will be asked on the Delta app if they want to opt in to the facial recognition pilot program that’s a partnership with the TSA.

Those who opt in can go to a new lower level “Precheck Express bag drop” room with facial recognition camera stations to print out bag tags and drop luggage on a conveyor belt.

Delta also has the cameras at its gates on Concourse T, where those who are part of the pilot program can notify the gate agent during boarding to use facial recognition instead of scanning a boarding pass.