BA to fingerprint domestic passengers

[Sebastien Lahtinen]

On Fri, 29 Feb 2008, Roland Perry wrote:

>        "To allow both international and UK domestic customers at
>        Terminal 5 to enjoy .. your fingerprints will be
>        scanned electronically at Security and then again as you board. 
>
> Which raises more questions than it answers. I'm struggling to 
> understand the model here (although it presumably will all become clear 
> when it starts working).

I've e-mailed them when they contacted me to tell me about this suggesting 
that they consider alternatives for those who are uncomfortable with this 
(suggesting iris instead of fingerprints, or carrying a password as an 
alternative--Which I would personally be entirely happy with).

(As a background I object to fingerprints on the grounds you leave them 
behind everywhere so the scope for abuse is greater than with iris.)


> 1) What if I'm a domestic passenger and don't want to use the shops and
>    restaurants - is there a bypass lane straight to the domestic gates?

That would mean BAA wouldn't get shopping revenue.


> 2) What's special at T5 - domestic and international passengers mingle
>    freely in the shops and bars at East Midlands Airport

Gatwick they take photographs and do this. I think they want to improve 
accuracy/security.


> 3) Why fingerprint just domestic passengers - surely all passengers have
>    to provide photo ID?

What they need to prevent is an inbound international transfer passenger 
scheduled to depart to another international destination getting onto a 
domestic flight instead and bypassing UK immigration.

Hence if you are flying to an international destination you aren't going 
to bypass inbound UK immigration so no fingerprint needed.

(This may further change when they want controls on those leaving the 
country).


> 5) All records are deleted. Yes, of course they are (BA don't say when,
>    "after" could be much longer than 5 min after the plane departs).

I believe it's 24 hours.. I've seen that somewhere.

seb