American Express smart cards can save time, reduce
Ray Van Eng (11/25/96)
The computer chip enhanced plastic will go to work the moment the employee logs onto to a participating travel agent's web site for airline, hotel and car rental reservation services. Booking information will be downloaded to the smart card through a smart card reader built into the user's computer keyboard. At airport boarding gates, hotel check-ins and car rental outlets, pertinent information from the intelligent Amex card will be read by special smart card terminals to complete the transactions, totally eliminating the tedious process of filling in forms, issuing tickets, checking IDs, paying for services etc.
American Airlines, one of the project's participants who has installed new boarding devices at twenty-one U.S. airports, said that currently cardholders still have to show their photo IDs to satisfy security requirements, but future systems may incorporate FBI developed technologies to screen out high-risk subjects without delaying passengers for ID checks. American Express says that their latest foray into smart cards is part of the travel industry's initiative in making travel arrangement an easier process and to reduce time spend in lines especially for those who frequently jet around for business. In the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in which U.S. president Bill Clinton also attended, a number of government officials including those from South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines are supporting a proposal for a "business travel card" that would allow business people to fly in and fly out the 18 member nations in the area without a visa. However, some fear that such a system could be exploited for illegal immigration.
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The
system would not only save time, reduce manual input errors and provide
a higher level of security, it may also be able to carry out on-the-spot
redemption of frequent flyers mileage or other customer loyalty programs.