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From 28 November 2007, it will be a requirement to disclose at point of sale the fact that a biometric and a photograph will be required when booking for Terminal 5 flights.
Why will passengers travelling on domestic flights departing from Terminal 5 need to provide biometric data?
For the first time, at Heathrow, Domestic and International passengers will use the same departure lounge. This will ensure a more efficient journey through the airport with shorter walking routes. In addition, all passengers will have full access of the exciting facilities that Terminal 5 has to offer. To enable this to happen and meet border control requirements, Border and Immigration agency (BIA) and BAA have designed new technology, which will capture biometric data on entering the lounge, which is then validated at the gate.
What is biometric data?
The passenger will be required to place their right hand onto a scanner, which captures a copy of their fingerprints. In addition a camera will take an image. Provision will be made for those for whom this is not possible e.g Infants. At the boarding gate this data will be validated ensuring that the boarding pass has not been passed to another individual.
What about data protection?
All personal data will be encrypted immediately after capture and will be destroyed within 24hrs in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 1998.
Please read following statement to customers for domestic bookings from Terminal 5:
"If you are travelling on a British Airways UK domestic flight from Heathrow Terminal 5 you will be required to register a biometric (finger prints) and a photograph on entering the departure lounge. When boarding the flight your biometric and/or photograph will be checked*. Alternative arrangements will be made if you have a disability which makes it impossible for you to comply with this requirement."
*This wording will also appear on ba.com, e-ticket receipts and itinerary letters.
What will customers have to do?
In the transfer area, all customers connecting onto a UK domestic flight will be directed to follow the international route.
At the entrance to the departure lounge these customers will be asked to provide their biometric information, which will consist of the reading of 4 finger prints and the taking of a photo.
What happens next?
Customers then proceed to the main terminal departure lounge where they can take advantage of most of the retail, leisure and restaurant facilities usually reserved only for those travelling internationally.
What happens at boarding?
As the customers proceed to board their flight in the domestic area, they will be asked to verify their biometrics at the point of entry.
After this point, only domestic customers will be mixing together. Verification requires the passenger to present their boarding card and re-present their fingers to allow the guard to ensure that it is the same customers that presented at biometric capture.
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