Last week, Delta Air Lines launched phase one of a test program designed to enhance the gate experience and streamline the boarding process for customers at T Concourse at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

As part of the three-month pilot project in terminals 1, 2 and 3, customers will experience the following:

• Mobile agent pods — podiums smaller than traditional gate counters — that open up space for more efficient boarding and additional customer seating
• Handheld Nomad devices allowing gate agents to make seat changes, check bag status and more, while also freeing agents to more easily engage with customers rather than standing behind a counter
• Boarding pillars to create four parallel lanes, enhancing organization at the gate and providing customers a clear path to board
• E-gates allowing passengers to self-board by scanning their smartphones or boarding passes

Phase two of testing will focus on increased agent mobility, the customer’s digital experience at the gate and biometric boarding based on testing underway at Reagan National Airport.