A new way to conf irm ID
A company installs kiosks that enable fliers to confirm their identities with iris scans and fingerprints.
A company installs kiosks at LAX that enable f liers to use their fingerprints and iris scans.
With a fingerprint and a quick iris scan, passengers flying out of Los Angeles International Airport can now confirm their identity biometrically and avoid at least part of the airport’s security screening line.
Clear, a New York identity-authentication company, began operations at all LAX terminals Wednesday. Membership for the service is $179 per year, with discounts for some airline loyalty members.
The addition of Clear kiosks, which already are installed at 22 airports and six sports stadiums nationwide, represent the growing use of biometrics to confirm the identities of passengers at U.S. airports.
JetBlue Airways began to use facial recognition technology this month to verify the identities of passengers boarding flights between Boston’s Logan International Airport and Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba.
Delta Air Lines in May began letting members of its loyalty reward program use their fingerprints as ID to enter the Delta Sky Club at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, using Clear technology. Alaska Airlines began in 2014 to use fingerprint scans to screen fliers at the airline’s six airport lounges, including the one at LAX.
Clear representatives say LAX fliers can sign up for a membership at an airport kiosk in a few minutes by scanning a driver’s license or a passport, answering background questions and creating a biometric account that includes an iris and fingerprint scan.
Once a member’s identification is confirmed, the passenger is escorted by a Clear employee through a special lane that bypasses the identification portion of the Transportation Security Administration’s screening line. The Clear member then moves directly to the queue for X-ray machine and metal detectors.
Clear has hired 90 workers for its LAX operations.
“With Clear as an added benefit at LAX, we continue to improve the LAX guest experience by offering choices that help travelers save time,” said Deborah Flint, LAX’s chief executive.
Airline to switch uniform maker
Responding to thousands of complaints that its new employee uniforms are causing an allergic reaction, American Airlines announced Wednesday that it won’t renew its contract with the manufacturer.
In a letter to employees, the Fort Worth-based airline said it has agreed with garment maker Twin Hill to end its partnership to supply employee uniforms after its contract expires in 2020.
“It is clear we need a longterm solution because the current approach simply does not work,” according to the letter signed by Kerry Philipovitch, David Seymour and Kurt Stache, American Airlines’ senior vice presidents.
Twin Hill, a subsidiary of Fremont, Calif.-based Tailored Brands, issued a statement saying that tests discovered nothing toxic or harmful in the airline uniforms, made of a wool blend, but has agreed to breaking off the partnership with American Airlines to prevent further harm to the company.
“Twin Hill has determined that the reputational risk, management distraction, and legal and other costs associated with serving American in the future would be unacceptable to our business, given the likelihood of continued unfounded allegations about the safety of our garments,” the company statement said.
The problems began in September, when American Airlines began — for the first time in nearly 30 years — distributing new uniforms to its 70,000 flight attendants, pilots and other workers.
So far, at least 3,500 flight attendants have reported negative reactions to the material in the uniforms, including hives, rashes and headaches, according to the Assn. of Professional Flight Attendants.
American Airlines has offered employees who complain about the material the option of wearing uniforms made of polyester or 100% cotton, as well as uniforms made by an independent supplier.
The company’s previous uniforms were made primarily of synthetic material, such as polyester.
For now, American Airlines employees will continue to wear the Twin Hill uniform or the alternative outfits, at least until a new manufacturer is hired after 2020.
“We’re pleased that American Airlines has announced today that it will begin the process of ordering and delivering new uniforms for flight attendants and other American employees,” Bob Ross, president of the flight attendants union, said in a statement.