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Plan a trip to remember with the best travel agencies in Dubai

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Are you an avid traveller who is always looking for a new place to explore? Luckily, there are many travel agencies in Dubai that can help you plan your next adventure! These companies cater to local, domestic and international travel requirements, from business tours to family vacations. We’ve compiled a list of the best tour agents in the city who can help you plan the perfect trip.

List of Top Travel Agencies in Dubai

Here’s a look at the best travel agencies and tourism companies in Dubai. 

Emirates Holiday

The first on our list of travel agencies in Dubai is Emirates Holiday. They offer exclusive offers and holiday packages to fit your needs. Attention to detail is where they shine, from unique hotels to fascinating destinations, they guide you every step of the way so you can make the most of your vacay.

The best part is when you book with them, you get Emirates Skywards rewards.

• Location: Town Centre Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Road
• Timings: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
• Contact: 800-4969

dnata Travel

Book a holiday abroad or a staycation nearby via the experts at dnata. It is a top travel agency in Dubai that will take care of everything from airlines and hotels to leisure destinations.

Their representatives are available round-the-clock for your assistance on their UAN (800-36282). With dnata, you can enjoy a holiday abroad or a staycation in the UAE. Besides Business Bay , dnata Dubai offices are also located in Mirdif, Al Barsha, Motor City and several other locations.

• Location: dnata Travel Centre, Ground Floor, Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay
• Timings: Monday to Sunday, 09:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Contact: 800-36282

Musafir.com

Musafir, which translates to a traveller in Arabic is an online travel website promising premium destinations and holiday experiences. Musafir banks on its core values of providing choice, convenience and memorable experiences with every tour they manage. It offers affordable getaway packages from Dubai .

Whether you seek a relaxing holiday or a well-planned business trip, let Musafir.com take care of everything from visas to flights and accommodations for you. You can find Musafir offices in DIFC, Al Quoz and Jebel Ali too. 

• Location: DIFC
• Timings : Monday to Saturday, 09:00 am to 06:00 pm | Closed on Sunday
• Contact: 600-544-405

Rayna Tours & Travels

Next on our list of travel companies in Dubai is Rayna Tours. Their prominent services include a comprehensive portfolio of inbound Dubai-centric tours such as quad biking in Dubai or a safari, visa facilitation for multiple countries and signature tours to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Besides that, just like some other travel companies in Dubai, Rayna Tours always has an exciting range of seasonal local tours and excursions up for grabs for everyone. Rayna Tours is one of the best tour management companies in Dubai for those visiting the city for the first time.  They also offer some of the most exciting desert safari tours in Dubai .

• Location: ACICO Business Park Building, Port Saeed Road, Deira
• Timings: 24-Hours
• Contact: +971-4-208-7444

Green Apple Travel & Tourism

Want to skip the tedious visa application processes for your upcoming holidays? Head over to the experts at Green Apple travel company. Located in the vicinity of Umm Hurair , this tour agency in Dubai will get your visas approved to complement their holiday tour packages to various international destinations.

Whether it’s Russia, Belarus, Greece or Azerbaijan – it’s time to start ticking off your bucket list and travel to these stunning destinations. 

• Location: Office 408, Nasser Lootah Building, Consulate Area – Bur Dubai 
• Timings: Monday to Friday, 09:00 am – 06:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 09:00 am – 03:00 pm
• Contact: +971-4-370-5995

Al Tayer Travel Agency 

Al Tayer is counted among the most well-established travel agencies in the emirate. Operating in the industry since 1979, this Dubai travel management company specialises in outbound holiday travel.

The leisure services include hassle-free hotel reservations worldwide, cruise bookings, car rental and special interest tours. If a standard tour doesn’t fit your preferences, you can always custom-design your own. 

• Location: Atrium Building, Garhoud, Near GGICO Metro station
• Timings: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
• Contact: +971-4-205-5000

Sharaf Travel

Located in Bur Dubai , Sharaf Travel is your one-stop destination to find a good travel deal, book a flight and a hotel and set off for your intended destination.

Sharaf Travel offers outbound leisure travel, corporate travel, inbound tours and airline booking services for those living in Dubai. Sharaf Travel also has a branch in DIFC .

• Location: Sharaf Travel Building, Khalid Bin Waleed Street – Bur Dubai 
• Timings: Monday to Saturday, 09:00 am to 07:00 pm | Closed on Sundays
• Contact: +971-4-397-6161

City One Tourism & Travel

Whether you’re looking for a custom-designed holiday or facilitation for business travel, City One Tourism has you covered. This affordable travel company in Dubai provides a variety of travel itineraries and services for both amateur and seasoned travellers.

What sets them apart from other travel agents in the city are their best-price quotes, simple booking process and round-the-clock customer support. Their travel packages to Marrakech have a starting price of AED 2,999 per person. Other discounted deals are also available.

• Location: G04, Tamani Arts Offices – Business Bay  | 1904, Palace Towers T1, Dubai Silicon Oasis
• Contact: +971-4-392-2959 |+971-4-252-5516

Regal Tours

If you’re a tourist visiting or planning to visit Dubai, Regal Tours in Al Qusais is a good place to start. This travel agency in Dubai specialises in local Dubai tours and visa services.

An ISO 9001-certified company, Regal Tours prides itself on its professional and multilingual staff that is capable of getting the job done. Be it getting a UAE visa issued on your behalf or bringing you city tours that you just can’t ignore, Regal Tours is reliable and quick to respond.

• Location: Office: 312, 3rd Floor, Bin Fahad Building 4, Damascus Street, Near Dubai Grand Hotel
• Timings: Monday to Saturday, 09:00 am – 08:00 pm | Closed on Sunday
• Contact: +971-4-263-5888 | +971-50-847-4794

Catering to individual and corporate clients, uTravel ensures they deliver nothing but the best in terms of tours and tour facilitation services in Dubai. This travel company in Dubai seamlessly combines the parameters of concierge, consulting and event management with personalised low-price travel packages to guarantee bespoke travel experiences for you.

With travel itineraries to cities like Paris, Phuket, Rome and Kuala Lumpur on their popular panel, you are in for a world of possibilities to explore with uTravel .

• Location: Al Seef Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, JLT 
• Timings: Monday to Friday, 09:00 am – 10:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm – 07:00 pm
• Contact: +971-4-447-4047

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TRAVEL AGENCY IN DUBAI?

Choosing the best travel agency in Dubai is essential for a smooth and enjoyable travel experience. Here are some tips to help you select the right Dubai travel agency:

• Start by researching different travel agencies. Look for reviews and testimonials from other travelers. Online review platforms, social media and travel forums can provide insights into the experiences of previous clients.
• Consider the agency’s experience in the travel industry. A well-established agency with a positive reputation is likely to have more expertise and resources to handle your travel needs effectively.
• Some travel agencies specialise in specific types of travel such as luxury travel, adventure travel or group tours. Choose an agency that aligns with your travel preferences and needs.
• Evaluate the range of services offered by the agency. Ensure they can handle all aspects of your trip, including flights, accommodations, transportation and any specific activities or tours you have in mind.
• Pay attention to the level of customer service provided by the agency. Responsive and helpful communication is crucial, especially when dealing with unexpected issues or changes to your travel plans.
• Look for a travel agency that is transparent about its pricing. Hidden fees and unexpected charges can be frustrating, so make sure you understand the full cost of the services you’re receiving.
• Check if the agency provides travel insurance options or has financial protection measures in place. This can be crucial in case of unforeseen circumstances affecting your trip.

FAQS ABOUT TRAVEL AND TOURISM AGENCIES IN DUBAI

Why should you book your holiday with a travel agent in dubai.

Booking a holiday abroad with a travel agent in Dubai has its merits. They have an array of hotels and resorts and professional guides who can ensure that your journey and stay are picture-perfect. You might get a discounted deal on your package via the agent for the most popular holiday destinations from Dubai compared to booking your own at a hotel.

Can I save money using a travel agent in Dubai?

Yes, there’s a chance you might end up saving big on tickets and hoteling at international destinations as travel agencies have discounts available.

Do travel agents charge a fee?

Yes, travel agents usually charge a nominal fees for their services.

How do I find a reliable travel agent in Dubai?

You can research Dubai travel agencies through online reviews, recommendations, and industry associations. Look for accreditation by relevant organizations and check their reputation for providing excellent customer service.

Can a travel agent help with visa and documentation requirements?

Yes, many travel agents in Dubai assist with visa applications and guidance required for the necessary documentation for your chosen destination.

That’s all we have for this list of travel agencies in Dubai. Apart from these options, you can also check out Al Futtaim Travel, Al Rostamani Travels, Holiday Me, AFC Holidays and more for travel management services in Dubai.

For the most part, each of these travel agents in Dubai offers a mix of standard and customised tour packages in Dubai. The availability and prices for each vary according to seasons, destinations and popular demand. So, it’s always better to check with the best tour operators in Dubai for the latest deals.

If you’ve read this far, you’re definitely someone who loves to explore. So, have you tried the Seawings seaplane tours in Dubai yet? Or if the sea is not your calling, maybe the Atlantis helicopter tours would bring you the much-needed thrill! Either way, you’re guaranteed plenty of excitement. 

If you visiting the emirate for the first time, these apps for tourists in Dubai will surely come in handy. We’ve also got a list of Dubai rules for tourist to make your trip hassle-free.

And while we’re talking about tours and travel and tourism companies in Dubai, UAE, maybe you’d like to check out the best yacht rental companies in Dubai for your next mini-vacation. Enjoy!

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dnata’s travel operation in Bahrain boasts over 10 years of experience in the market. Currently ranked among the top 10 Travel Management Companies in the Kingdom, our areas of expertise range from corporate travel management to travel agency support, leisure holidays, cruise handling and more.

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Travel agents are back

Millennials and Gen Z are taking big trips — but they don't want to plan them.

I had just turned 9 when I discovered Anthony Bourdain's show "No Reservations." It wasn't like the other Travel Channel shows. Sure, the premise was straightforward: Bourdain traveled around the world to meet up with locals and try their cuisine. But instead of focusing on tourist hot spots and flashy, curated experiences, "No Reservations" was about traveling by the seat of your pants and getting as close to the local culture as any outsider could be allowed. I was an immediate disciple.

Travel shouldn't be about checking off items on a bucket list by sticking to sanitized excursions marketed to foreigners; it should introduce you to someone else's slice of life. On family trips to New York City, I cringed when my mother pulled out a paper map. "Everyone is going to know we aren't from here," I thought.

Though I grew less self-conscious over the years, that mentality remained. Others in my generation — I'm on the cusp between Gen Z and millennial — were on the same page, determined to seek out "authentic experiences." For years, people explored the world with the help of travel agents. But those services — sending you to places curated just for tourists — seemed to fly in the face of the Bourdainian ethos. Travel agents felt like vestiges of the preinternet world, like video-store clerks or pay phones, and I couldn't imagine ever needing them. What could they tell me that Reddit couldn't? Isn't it simpler to just book my own flights? Doing everything myself felt easier.

As of late, though, my attitude has changed.

Ever since the pandemic-era travel restrictions subsided, travel has boomed. Everyone is jetting off to Italy , Japan , and Costa Rica . Money spent on travel and entertainment surged 30% in 2023, fueled largely by young people. We're all desperate to make up for lost time, but there's a catch: Many of us 20- and 30-somethings are tired. It turns out that aspiring to be a DIY traveler takes a lot of energy — energy that we've already exhausted on careers, relationships, and day-to-day responsibilities. When we do finally have the time to venture away from home, we're burning ourselves out trying to coordinate all the details of our trip. Meanwhile, the sense of precarity we all felt during the pandemic hasn't left. Flight delays and cancellations from weather , short staffing, technical issues, and random bad luck are more common than before. The odds that something could go wrong feel higher.

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That's precisely why some are turning back to travel agents. In 2014, the number of travel agents was half of what it was at the industry's mid-'90s peak , with many expecting it to become obsolete. But by 2021, 76% of advisors were seeing more customers than before the pandemic. And in a 2023 survey of 2,000 American travelers, 38% of Gen Z and millennial respondents said they preferred a traditional travel agent over online booking. Only 12% of Gen Xers and 2% of boomers said the same. Whether we're bopping around the Mediterranean or just posting up at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico for a week, a lot of us are deciding we'd rather put the planning in someone else's hands.

Matt James, a 29-year-old software engineer in New York City, was initially excited to plan his summer trip to Vietnam himself. Like many his age, he's primarily interested in sightseeing in cities. "I found myself going down hourslong internet rabbit holes trying to hone in on a perfect itinerary," he said, "Googling 'best neighborhoods in Hanoi Reddit,' 'two-week Vietnam itinerary Reddit,' etc."

After a while, though, he said it was hard to find the time and energy to plan. Doing his own research was mentally exhausting. He decided to give up the hunt and hand the work over to a travel advisor who was also a family friend. "He was able to take care of booking visas, flights, hotels, and a few excursions," James said. "It was very tempting to have him take care of it all in one email thread for a couple-hundred-dollar fee." Now, he said, all that's left is deciding what to see and eat at each location — something that lets him satisfy his urge to rabbit-hole.

A flight to Mexico City and five nights at a boutique hotel in Coyoacán, however, feels a little more firmly within our grasp.

In a Business Insider survey, in collaboration with YouGov, millennials cited travel as one of their most important goals for the next five years, more important than having fulfilling romantic relationships, owning a home, advancing their career, or starting a family. In fact, the only two goals millennials considered more important than traveling were being financially stable and improving their health. Amid rising costs for housing, childcare, and everything else, key milestones get pushed further down the road. A flight to Mexico City and five nights at a boutique hotel in Coyoacán, however, feels a little more firmly within our grasp. In a 2023 Morning Consult survey , both millennials and Gen Zers were more likely than older generations to travel frequently, with half of each cohort saying they took three or more leisure trips a year. Gen Zers were also more likely to go overseas than their older peers.

For as little as $100 — or nothing at all, given that some agents work on commission from the hotels and other travel companies they work with — overwhelmed young travelers can have someone take all the pressure off the experience. There are travel agents specializing in just about every type of travel imaginable, from multicountry group tours to luxury all-inclusive trips. And different types of agents can offer different perks.

For complex overseas trips, where a million things could go wrong, it makes sense to hire an agent to not only ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible but also handle the rebookings in the event of a hiccup. When something goes awry, it's someone else's problem.

While James decided to have his agent handle just the basics of his Vietnam vacation, many agents can help curate the experiences in between, promising to find their clients the coolest markets to shop at or the most-recommended museums. On a different trip, to Oktoberfest in Germany, James' travel agent — a native German speaker — was able to secure all sorts of reservations that James would never have been able to land on his own.

Increasingly, travel agents are luring people in through social media, where they can speak straight to the millennial and Gen Z desire for a unique experience and a relaxing trip. "We can give you the special slice-of-life experience you want," they pitch, "just without the hassle." Companies like Fora, for example, use TikTok and Instagram to seed sleek ads for package trips to the Croatian coast or boutique hotels in the Florida Keys, with extra attention given to "sustainability" and travelers' specific "aesthetic" desires.

Agents elsewhere on TikTok tout all-inclusive trips where the point is to just lie on the beach and chill the hell out for a second. Searches for topics like "best all-inclusives Cancún" heavily feature travel agents promoting their services , ranking their favorite resorts and highlighting the perks they can offer clients who book with them. One of their main selling points: Their services are free. And many agents also claim that their customers can receive better deals thanks to the special pricing and perks available to agents.

"We can give you the special slice-of-life experience you want," they pitch, "just without the hassle."

"Many of my Gen Z clients are in entry-level careers, graduate programs, or saving for other big expenses, so they're often looking for destinations that allow them to relax while making the most of their limited vacation days and budget," said Kayla Smith, a travel advisor for Sojourney Travel, a company specializing in beach vacations, cruises, and theme-park trips.

Smith is a Gen Zer and said that over half her clients are Gen Z. "Going from school to the workforce is already a huge life transition, and when you add on a pandemic and varying career expectations, you're bound to see a generation who is experiencing burnout at a rapid rate," she said.

For that reason, resort groups like Sandals are seeing an influx of Gen Zers and millennials. Ashley Kooker, a senior business-development manager for Unique Vacations, a sales and marketing affiliate of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, said that these properties had been attracting younger customers in part by blending the all-inclusive format with the opportunity for more exploration. At Sandals Royal Curacao and Sandals Royal Bahamian, guests can opt to go off-resort and visit local restaurants as part of their all-inclusive plan — allowing experience-minded vacationers to have their cake and eat it, too.

Exhaustion aside, many of us 20-somethings still yearn for these hard-to-get-to, out-of-the-box journeys — the trips that make us feel like travelers rather than tourists. William Lee, a travel agent at Chima Travel , a family-owned agency in Ohio that's been operating for over 100 years, told me he often gets requests for obscure destinations young clients see on social media. "We had a client come in and ask us about Oeschinen Lake in Switzerland," he said. "They saw the lake on TikTok and wanted to go there. I had to let them know that to do so would require hiking into the Swiss Alps and going a bit off the beaten path."

I recently wrapped up a 10-day trip to Peru, where I hiked for three days through the Lares District, ate quinoa soup in the San Pedro Market in Cusco, and bar-hopped in Lima. It was a trip packed with experiences — the kind that my generation is always talking about prioritizing — but I don't think I relaxed for a moment. And that's despite leaving all the planning to my friends.

I'm already plotting my next big, multiweek international trip — I'm looking at Vietnam, myself — but before then, I need to book a few days somewhere where I can be by a pool with a margarita in hand. Where will I go? I'm not sure. That's for a travel agent to decide.

Magdalene Taylor is a writer covering sex and culture. She lives in New York City and publishes the newsletter Many Such Cases. 

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DART’s lax board travel protocols should serve as cautionary tale

The transit agency tightened rules after an audit found problems with internal spending controls..

By Dallas Morning News Editorial

2:01 AM on Jun 13, 2024 CDT

When you serve as a high-level policymaker, travel sometimes comes with the job. You might hop on a plane to Austin or Washington to seek funding from state and federal officials, or you might set off to other cities for training and networking with industry insiders.

It’s to be expected that board members who oversee a public transit agency would make some of these trips. But recent reporting by KERA News and an internal audit by Dallas Area Rapid Transit revealed a lack of guardrails around board travel that raised suspicion about expenses.

DART updated its travel policy and tightened accounting rules in March after the audit findings. Other government agencies should review their own policies and learn from the messy lead-up to DART’s new travel rules.

Let’s start with the December 2023 audit, which was obtained by KERA. DART’s chief audit officer found that board members “overall” adhered to travel rules but said internal controls needed to be strengthened. The auditor cited overpayments to travelers for expenses that DART had already covered, travel expenses that did not include detailed receipts and inconsistent record-keeping regarding travel requests and approvals.

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A five-year review of board travel expenses by KERA found board member Paul Wageman had been reimbursed by DART for a legislative trip in which he represented himself and the city of Plano, not DART. Former board chair Michele Wong Krause of Dallas was reimbursed more than $50,000 over five years for board travel, including international trips, while board member Flora Hernandez expensed trips from a vacation site in Colorado to attend DART meetings in Dallas last summer.

It’s worth stepping back to review explanations for some of these expenses. As former board chair, Wong Krause said she had additional responsibilities including regularly scheduled visits with federal officials. She has also served in leadership roles in the American Public Transportation Association, an industry group that advocates for agencies like DART. She said she was reimbursed by APTA for the group’s leadership retreats or events in which she represented the industry group as its chair. Wong Krause said her DART reimbursement requests as board chair had been approved by agency staff.

Hernandez told us she had scheduled time off last summer but was asked to be in Dallas to secure a board quorum to vote on parcel purchases for the Silver Line project and avoid delays. She said her travel expenses were approved by the DART board chair and the agency’s legal counsel.

The reasons for these trips appear to be within the bounds of what’s appropriate for a DART board member. But lax enforcement of accounting rules and the absence of reasonable limits on spending understandably drew scrutiny.

The DART board’s new travel policy sets a $6,000 annual limit on travel expenses per member, not including conference registration fees. All international travel must now be approved by a majority of the board. The policy also clarifies that DART will be reimbursed for canceled trips for which the agency had already paid.

It’s worth noting that the DART board’s travel rules will be difficult for the public to reference because they’re not pinned anywhere on the agency’s website, as of this writing. DART should take a page from its industry advocate, APTA, which makes its own board travel policy easy to find.

Travel may happen for valid government business, but costs add up. Every government body should review its protocols to ensure prudent limits and proper reimbursements. If taxpayers must live within their means, so should their government agencies.

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Dallas Morning News Editorial . Dallas Morning News editorials are written by the paper's Editorial Board and serve as the voice and view of the paper. The board considers a broad range of topics and is overseen by the Editorial Page Editor.

Anti-corruption watchdog drops potential probe into Tourism Australia travel scandal

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) informed Tourism Australia it would not launch an investigation into an expenses scandal, just hours after its chief executive refused to answer questions about the matter in parliament.

Last week, Tourism Australia CEO Phillipa Harrison revealed she had referred three former staff to the NACC after they were sacked for charging taxpayers for personal travel.

Appearing before Senate estimates, Ms Harrison said the three staff had repaid $137,441 after the incident came to light.

But she insisted could not provide parliament with further details of the incident — including the names of those involved — because that could prejudice a future probe from the NACC, and the commission had provided her with advice to show restraint in her public comments.

The anti-corruption watchdog said it informed Tourism Australia the day after Ms Harrison's evidence to the Senate that it would not wade in.

"The commission can confirm that it has recently decided to take no further action in relation to the referral, on the basis that, prior to the referral, the matter had already been fully investigated, the employees terminated and the funds repaid, so there was nothing that the commission could now usefully add to the process," the NACC told the ABC.

Tourism Australia said it had now asked the police to investigate, and would cooperate with the Senate.

"Following on from the confirmation that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had decided to take no further action, Tourism Australia has now referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police," a spokesperson told the ABC.

"In addition, Tourism Australia has advised the Senate committee of its intention to withdraw the public interest immunity claim now that the NACC has concluded its consideration of the matter. 

"Tourism Australia will respond to the relevant questions as part of the questions on notice process where appropriate."

Opposition demanding answers from government and Tourism Australia

The federal opposition argued it was now incumbent on the government to come clean with details of the incident.

"The minister was made aware that taxpayer dollars had been fraudulently spent by public servants in late 2023," Shadow Trade and Tourism Minister Kevin Hogan said in a statement.

"There is now no anti-corruption investigation to hide behind.

"We need details about the embezzlement and how it has been handled."

The incident had caused some consternation in the Senate, with the demands for secrecy from the NACC as it considered the referral seen as interfering with the work of parliamentarians scrutinising Tourism Australia's operations.

"I have to say, this is the first time in my experience where a direction from the NACC has directed an official not to make a public statement," Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell told the Senate committee last week.

"This does present some significant issues which I myself would like to get clarified."

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TSA at Westchester County Airport gets new credential authentication technology to enhance security in time for the summer travel season

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. —  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA ) is prepared for the highest passenger volumes the agency has seen at airport security checkpoints nationwide during this summer’s travel season, which began on Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day. TSA has been seeing such high passenger volume nationwide that several days within the past four weeks have made it into the top 10 busiest days in TSA’s 22-year history.

“Here at Westchester County Airport we are coordinating with the airport, airlines and other travel partners and we are ready to handle this summer’s busy travel volumes,” said Robert Duffy, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “We strongly suggest that travelers get to the airport early and expect a crowd. Additionally, if individuals have not flown out of Westchester lately, they will see new credential authentication technology (CAT) units at the checkpoint, and we encourage travelers to follow the guidance that the TSA officers are providing.”

The new technology that is now in use at the airport confirms the validity of a traveler’s identification (ID) and confirms their flight information in real time.

This deployment is the latest generation of credential authentication technology (CAT) to verify the identity of travelers. First generation CAT units are designed to scan a traveler’s photo identification, confirm the traveler’s identity as well as their flight details. The new CAT units at Westchester County Airport are referred to as CAT-2 and have the same capabilities, but are also equipped with a camera that captures a real-time photo of the traveler.

CAT-2 compares the traveler’s photo on the ID against the in-person, real-time photo. Once the CAT-2 confirms the match, a TSA officer verifies and the traveler can proceed through the checkpoint, without ever exchanging a boarding pass. The photo is then deleted.

The CAT-2 units are equipped with cameras on tablets and are used to match the face of the person standing at the checkpoint with the face that appears on the traveler’s ID such as the person’s driver’s license or passport. The technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents at the security checkpoint. The photos are not saved and are only used to match the person standing at the travel document checking podium with the photo on the ID that is being presented.

As an additional feature, the unit is touchless meaning that the passengers insert their ID and do not have to hand it to a TSA officer. Thus the units reduce touchpoints. Travelers insert their ID, look at the camera and if the ID is validated, the traveler then proceeds into the checkpoint. Even with TSA’s use of these units, travelers still need to check-in with their airline in advance and bring their boarding pass to their gate to show the airline representative before boarding their flight.

“This latest technology helps ensure that we know who is boarding flights,” Duffy said. “Credential authentication plays an important role in passenger identity verification. It improves a TSA officer’s ability to validate a traveler’s photo identification while also identifying any inconsistencies associated with fraudulent travel documents.”

The system also confirms the passenger’s flight status by verifying that the individual is ticketed to fly out of the airport on that same day.

CAT-2 units have what is referred to as a “library” of IDs programed into them that allow the technology to authenticate more than 2,500 different types of IDs including passports, military common access cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards, uniformed services ID cards, permanent resident cards, U.S. visas and driver’s licenses and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments.

Photos captured by CAT-2 units are never stored or used for any other purpose than immediate identity verification. They are deleted after the traveler passes through the checkpoint. Travelers who do not wish to participate in the facial matching process can opt out in favor of an alternative identity verification process.