HAVING a beard and being hungover could be delaying passengers at airport security, new research has revealed.
Thanks to the rise of facial recognition services at ePassport gates, travellers are now being identified with their facial features.
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However, they are not error-free, with a number of people struggling to pass through if their face is obscured.
According to research by Feel Good Contacts, some of the most common ways passengers get stopped from passing through are being hungover or tired.
This can alter your face, making it more difficult for the technology to match up.
Having a beard can also cause problems, as they can block any definite features for the machine to match.
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Kevin Smith, Head of Technology at facial recognition specialist Credas, said: “Improvements in technology now mean that around just one per cent of passengers fail these tests.
“However, this does mount up when you consider the sheer amount of passengers passing through the terminals of the UK’s airports on a daily basis.”
“Facial recognition is no doubt one of the most important developments in airport security in recent years, but it’s important to remember that errors can still be made, particularly if a passenger’s passport photo is particularly old.”
Nimesh Shah, Managing Director at Feel Good Contacts, added that the figures showed delays of up to a minute – when this factors into account hundreds of people on a flight, this could mean your security check takes hours longer.
The research found that in a year, it works out to over 9,000 hours of delays, or 380 days.
With half a million people failing the tests, and having to go through to a person, passengers can try and make it easier for the technology to work.
This includes removing any glasses and hats, as well as updating the passport photo regularly in case it is older or is before any drastic face changes such as plastic surgery or weight gain or loss.
Nimesh added: “If you’re stuck in a long queue after a long flight at the ePassport gate check, be mindful about your strategy when it comes to choosing a line – you may want to avoid the hipster beard if you want a swift passage through after a long flight.”
Last year, it was suggested that passport queues could get even longer if ePassport gates are opened to the US, Canada and Australia.
In March, it was announced that this was coming into place later this month, as well as for citizens from Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.
Soon, Brits won’t even need to show their passports at London Heathrow as the airport rolls out biometric technology.
