Ever had that airport scramble, you’re balancing a backpack, snacks, and your kid’s very important collection of LEGO minifigures, when suddenly you can’t find your boarding pass? Cue the dramatic dig through half the contents of your bag: juice box, lip balm, colouring pencils (yes, still), and finally… that crumpled piece of paper. 😅
The joys of travelling with kids.
But that little slip of paper might soon be a thing of the past. Yep, boarding passes as we know them could be checking out, especially here in South Africa! With digital travel tech on the rise and biometric boarding already in play at airports around the world, your face could soon be your next boarding pass.
Let’s take a look at what this futuristic shift means for South African travellers and whether we’re really ready to ditch the paper trail.
Biometric Boarding: What’s the Big Deal?
Biometric boarding uses facial recognition technology to match your face with your passport and flight details, no printed pass or phone scan needed. Just show up, look into a camera, and voilà, you’re cleared to board. It sounds super sci-fi, but it’s already being rolled out in airports like Heathrow, Dubai, and even parts of the US.
Here in South Africa, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has confirmed it’s testing biometric systems at select airports. The goal? To streamline the airport experience, reduce queues, and make everything more secure. (Also, fewer items to juggle when your toddler decides to bolt in the check-in queue. Win!)
🇿🇦 What This Means for South African Travellers
South Africa is catching up to global travel tech trends, but slowly. Right now, digital boarding passes via your smartphone are already accepted at most local airports, a welcome change for frequent flyers.
Biometric boarding would take it one step further by replacing both your boarding pass and passport scan at the gate with facial recognition. Think: no fumbling through handbags, no cracked phone screens ruining your QR code, and no awkward “Wait, where’s my passport?” panic.
For now, though, it’ll likely be a mix of digital passes and biometrics for the tech-savvy, with paper passes still available for those who prefer the old-school method.
Are We Really Ready?
Let’s be honest, we love a tech upgrade… when it works. But concerns remain, especially around data privacy, system glitches, and access for those without smartphones or digital literacy.
Not everyone’s ready to let go of their paper boarding pass, especially when you’re travelling with kids and the one thing keeping them occupied is your phone (because of course it is).
So while the future is going digital, it’ll probably take a little while longer before boarding passes are completely phased out in South Africa.
Final Boarding Thoughts
From facial scans to touchless check-ins, the way we travel is changing fast. And while we might still be stuffing juice boxes and LEGO into our carry-ons, we might soon leave printed boarding passes behind for good.
Less paper, fewer queues, and one less thing to lose in your bag? We’ll take it.
Until then, keep your pass close, your kids closer, and your snacks well-hidden.
See you in the skies!
xoxo,
Ash
