Passed through Heathrow the other day, they took my photo at the first stage, while checking my boarding pass. I asked why and the girl said rather grumpily that it's for "domestic security". I wanted to bleat at her, but it wasn't worth missing my flight for. When did this start? How long is the photo kept for?
adam
Been like that for a year or two. It's in the other London airports as well, I think. When they scan your boarding pass as you get on the plane, it brings up your picture again, so they can see that it's the same person who went through security and got on the plane.
No ideas how long the photo's kept for. Makes sense to delete it once the plane leaves, but could well be kept indefinitely in case they need to check up on you.
I haven't seen it the past few times I have been through Luton (infuriatingly regular at this stage) Stan's Dead and Heathrow during the Summer. Granted, by the time that I get to the airport, never mind the check in desk, I am generally frazzled anyway, so I could have missed it. Is the camera hidden or is it in your face or what? I'm flying back again this weekend (Luton, mon amour), so I can be looking out for it.
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
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Originally Posted by Dodge
Once it's labelled as being for 'security', I'd be surprised if it's disposed of in a normal fashion. I'd google, looking for an answer, only I don't want to end up on a blacklist.
You can't spell failure without FAI
When you go through security the first time - putting your bags through the x-ray machines - they ask you to look straight into a camera to take a picture.
Pineapple Stu is right - it is used later to check the person getting on the plane is the same one that checked in. I asked what happened to the photos when I last came through Heathrow, and was told they were deleted after the flight had left. Now, whether that is true or not........
yeah being in europe allows you to travel and work in other EU countries, (as it said on the add in the cinema last night), as long as you have regular security checksi think they left that line out,
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I didn't see anyone looking at a screen when I was heading onto the plane. Must pay more attention the next time I'm there, but it looks like more ridiculous security theatre to me. Like the dividers they put in the departure lounge, where if you actually wanted to get through you could just clamber over the Aer Lingus desks; and which also appear to block access to the toilets.
They were supposed to drop the shoes stupidity a few months ago too, but that's still going on, all over one demento that wasn't connected to anything or anyone.
adam
They do it at Gatwick too, but say that they only keep your photo for 24 hours.
The shoe thing is infuriating though. Belfast City are the worst for it.
Is much of any of their security otherwise?
I've found that to be really inconsistently enforced, to the extent that I now walk through with my shoes on unless explicitly told to take them off (which I did in the US recently, only for them to take the shoes apart: apparently mine don't X-ray well).They were supposed to drop the shoes stupidity a few months ago too, but that's still going on, all over one demento that wasn't connected to anything or anyone.
You can't spell failure without FAI
The photo thing at Heathrow and Gatwick is because they have stopped separating domestic and Common Travel Area (UK & Ireland) and international passengers at both those airports. Because it isn't currently a legal requirement to have photo ID for travel within the CTA (although some airlines do require a passport, it isn't actually legal requirement as for civil liberties purposes you can't really force people to get a passport solely for domestic flights), the potential exists for passengers to do a "swap" in the departures area and to take a different flight to that booked, with obvious security implication.
Therefore the photos are allegedly required.
I'd place it up there with the liquid requirements as a pointless control that doesn't actually reduce any risk but makes them look like they are making people more secure.
As Dahamsta said, security theatre.
You can't spell failure without FAI
But most airports don't seperate these passengers though. Doesn't happen in Dublin, for instance. But these airports don't feel it necessary to take your photo at security.
Had this done in Gatwick over 2 years ago so it's been on the go a while.
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That's kind of the point though brendy_éire, Dublin is in Ireland and not the UK, which has taken it's obsession with "security" to ridiculous levels. The CCTV camera to solved crime ratio of 1000:1 is a another good example.
On a point of pedantry, I'm pretty sure there's no way of flying into the UK from Ireland without presenting a photo ID.
Last time I was in Heathrow was April '08 and it wasn't there then. They were still refurbishing T1 at that point though.
adam
I actually quite like the photo one. Mainly for show, and bit worried about their data retention policies. Think it was Gatwick - there's no separation of passengers boarding and disembarking or by travel area. They take your photo when you enter the area from airside or groundside and check you're exiting where you should be. Saw one guy in the uk and ireland queue told he would have to go through customs.
Hate the fill in you passport details in advance.
Best one is the fingerprint scanner. Scan at check in. Scan to get to passport control, before normal checks. Scan at boarding gate
Am I that innocent looking? I've never had any of this and I've flown between Britain and Ireland and the continent a couple of times - out of the EU on one occasion - and once intercontinentally since Easter.
The trip to the US was the only one where I'd to fill in passport details (online) or get a fingerprint and eye scan (in the US). Was this in a London airport?
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
They had been doing it in Aberdeen for a few years but it's not always in service.
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Think France and Spain, maybe a few others, have started the passport in advance thing.
I've only encountered the photos in gatwick, or was it heathrow.
And can't remember where the fingerprint thing was, somewhere in the former eastern block (Prague?), might have been a bit hungover. But the place was so new there was still stickers on everything
Fingerprinting is particular to the US, you can't get into the country without providing one; it's why I won't travel there at the moment. I don't have anything to hide, but given their propensity to sell and even give away their own citizen's data, I don't trust them with mine.
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