I tried the DigiYatra app for the first time: Here’s my experience

Here is my experience of using DigiYatra at Bengaluru international airport.

Digiyatra App | Digiyatra how to use | Digiyatra app experience

Using the Digiyatra app, one can easily check-in to an Indian airport. (Express Photo)

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When I first heard about the DigiYatra that would cut down the security check time at the Indian airports, I was intrigued to try it at my next trip. When the time came, I was left disappointed as I wasn’t able to verify my name on my boarding pass using Aadhaar.

This time around, I was running a bit late for airport and I wanted to give DigiYatra another try just to ensure I clear the security as quickly as possible. I was in a luck this time around as the booking had my correct name — Vivek U, thanks IndiGo for understanding people can also have single digit sur name.

Some flight carriers want users have have a full second name with at least two characters (surname) while I just have a single initial on Aadhaar although I have a longer surname on my passport.

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Setting up the DigiYatra app

Setting up the DigiYatra app is fairly simple. I downloaded the app from the Google Play Store and logged in using my phone number and quickly likned my Aadhaar, again using the OTP verification method. The app is also available for iPhones.

Next I uploaded the flight ticket (pdf) for the DigiYatra to fetch all the details about the flight. Lastly, I had to take a selfie to authenticate and then allow the app to share my data with the airport, in this case it’s the kempegowda internernational airport.

The app requires users to link their Aadhaar card. (Express Photo)

My experience of using DigiYatra

At the initial security checkpoint, all I have to do is show my face to the digital kiosk and scan the barcode on the DigiYatra app. My face will then be verified with the one I shared earlier on the app along with my details via the Aadhaar that I have linked to the DigiYatra app.

Once I got in, during the primary scanning area, I again posed at the digital kiosk and I was let in and all this took less than three minutes. The next 13 minutes were spend at putting by luggage through the xray scanner.

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Why I liked about the DigiYatra app

It cuts down the time spent at security checks. I was able to cut the regular cue and then there is no need to carry any additional documents, where, your face works as the authenticator. I was able to complete my two-level security checks in just 15 minutes, which is the least time that it has ever taken to clear security at the Bengaluru airport.

While there are no actual cons of using DigiYatra instead of conventional security process at the airport, I do have a few suggestions to make. The app should allow users to add more types of documents, such as a passport, where the majority of people have their full name.

Right now, DigiYatra doesn’t show the terminal number or the boarding gate details, which is quite frustrating, especially in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, which have more than one boarding gate at the airport. Overall, DigiYatra is another example how Aadhaar can be used for making domestic travelling easy and hassle free.