On a recent Thursday morning in Queens, travelers streamed through the exterior doors of La Guardia Airport’s Terminal C. Some were bleary-eyed — most hefted briefcases — as they checked bags and made their way to the security screening lines.
It was business as usual, until some approached a line that was almost empty.
One by one, they walked to a kiosk with an iPad affixed to it and had their photos taken, as a security officer stood by.
Within seconds, each passenger’s image was matched to a photo from a government database, and the traveler was ushered past security into the deeper maze of the airport.
Some travelers, despite previously opting into the program, still proffered identification, only for the officer to wave it away.
Organizations:
La Guardia, Delta Air Lines, Transportation Security Administration
Locations:
Queens, Guardia, La