I have no idea. It's been many years since I set foot on a commercial jet. But, when my wife returned from visiting her family in S. Korea earlier this year, they didn't ask for her passport. Just facial recognition scan and they waved her right through.

Probably eventually, if enough countries get on board with a shared facial recognition protocol and database(s).

I'm making a lot of assumptions but maybe they are able to compare the photo just taken with the one already in 'the system' and they matched. If they hadn't (for whatever reason), I'm guessing she would have been asked to present her passport. I don't really know the technology though and I could be completely incorrect.

I recall first having my photo taken on entry to the US (I'm a US citizen) several years ago. I didn't like it but there's nothing I can do about it. I was asked for my passport that time but I wouldn't be surprised if I don't need to show it now.

Interesting. If it was a facial recognition scan, then she must be in some database. At first I thought, maybe relaxed security as they recognized her as South Korean but then again, how would they distinguish against a N. Korean operative.

One thing I notice is that people who just came from America have a distinct smell around them also. The contrast with the local air is pronounced when you open your checked in luggage from the US.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
But, when my wife returned from visiting her family in S. Korea earlier this year, they didn't ask for her passport. Just facial recognition scan and they waved her right through.

If you use Global Entry, the kiosks utilizes facial recognition instead of fingerprints. Is your wife on the GE program?

Was facial recognition used for entering/exiting S.Korea through their border controls?

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
One thing I notice is that people who just came from America have a distinct smell around them also. The contrast with the local air is pronounced when you open your checked in luggage from the US.

That's the smell of freedom.

(Which, it turns out, is mostly the combined scents of deep fryer oil, beer, apple pie, gasoline, and gunpowder.)


Or, maybe your clothes just stink.

Heh. I was going to ask, "What do people coming from America smell like? Cheeseburgers?"

I like Rogue's answer better though.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
But, when my wife returned from visiting her family in S. Korea earlier this year, they didn't ask for her passport. Just facial recognition scan and they waved her right through.

If you use Global Entry, the kiosks utilizes facial recognition instead of fingerprints. Is your wife on the GE program?

Was facial recognition used for entering/exiting S.Korea through their border controls?

No GE.

In Korea, they did both passport and facial recognition. Coming back in the US, facial only.

Never, because there are so many countries that would be way behind the curve to go digital. Just like we still use a driver's license here. It's not just a driver's license, but also doubles as a photo ID.

No. We turn down facial recognition every time.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Interesting. If it was a facial recognition scan, then she must be in some database. At first I thought, maybe relaxed security as they recognized her as South Korean but then again, how would they distinguish against a N. Korean operative.

One thing I notice is that people who just came from America have a distinct smell around them also. The contrast with the local air is pronounced when you open your checked in luggage from the US.

A veteran I worked with had the same thing to say about the smell of Korean. He couldn’t describe the smell but it was just different.
Eventually we will controlled with something other than a piece of paper which can easily be forged or lost. People will use it willingly for convenience and then it will evolve into that social credit system that’s all the rage with the commies.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Interesting. If it was a facial recognition scan, then she must be in some database. At first I thought, maybe relaxed security as they recognized her as South Korean but then again, how would they distinguish against a N. Korean operative.

One thing I notice is that people who just came from America have a distinct smell around them also. The contrast with the local air is pronounced when you open your checked in luggage from the US.

Most (probably all) states are using facial recognition to issue driver's licenses.

I would imagine that they (immigration and customs) already have the manifests from incoming flights, already have the data for her departure, and can make these kinds of decisions (whether facial recognition is enough) pretty confidently.

Certain airports have the facial stuff. When I came back from Finland in April via DFW, I was asked to stand on a spot and asked if I was traveling with anyone, and that was it. Off I go.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Interesting. If it was a facial recognition scan, then she must be in some database. At first I thought, maybe relaxed security as they recognized her as South Korean but then again, how would they distinguish against a N. Korean operative.

One thing I notice is that people who just came from America have a distinct smell around them also. The contrast with the local air is pronounced when you open your checked in luggage from the US.

Most (probably all) states are using facial recognition to issue driver's licenses.

I would imagine that they (immigration and customs) already have the manifests from incoming flights, already have the data for her departure, and can make these kinds of decisions (whether facial recognition is enough) pretty confidently.

Yes, that's what I think is happening. You have to send in photos to get a passport and they must be scanning them in to a database. There's no way 'they' are not going to keep that information.

Similarly, if your picture is on 'social' media you're in their databases forever, even if you delete your account.

I just returned from Europe and Passport control was a real thing (Ireland, UK, Spain and France). Not even a break coming from Barcelona into Paris. Having said that, I wasn't from a EU country so perhaps that's why.

Returning to the US (Seattle) from London we all got herded though Customs and Border control with Photo's taken in the US Citizen queue. I'm fine with the tight security and border checks.

When we did our cruises this year coming back was strictly facial recognition. It was easy. And fast. Just walk through and grab your luggage. I don’t have GE so that ain’t it.

She has a passport, right? So the scanner just matched her to the passport.

So, she needs a passport.