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I have TSA PreCheck® and CLEAR+ and use both services depending on which line is shorter. Thanks to elite status and holding certain credit cards I do not pay for either membership. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) introduced another option for speeding through security called TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID. It’s been rolling out across the country and is quickly becoming one of the fastest ways for TSA PreCheck® travelers to clear airport security. The service rivals CLEAR+ in that you don’t have to take out an ID, but it takes it a step further and you don’t even need to show a boarding pass. A major expansion is about to make the service available to far more passengers across the United States as the TSA is increasing the number of airports offering the service from 15 to 65 this spring.
As mentioned, the opt-in program allows eligible travelers to move through security without presenting a physical ID or a boarding pass. Identity verification is completed through a quick facial scan. This is done through a separate line that is often the quickest. Currently, Touchless ID is available at only 15 airports nationwide. That number is expected to jump to 65 by the end of spring. The TSA is rolling out the technology to 50 additional airports. This is massive and I’m excited to see this pop up in more airports.
How Touchless ID Works
Touchless ID is available exclusively to TSA PreCheck® members and requires advance enrollment with each airline that you fly. Travelers must upload a valid US passport to their frequent flyer profiles. I have done this for American, Delta, and United. Enrollment is not automatic, even for PreCheck® members. Passengers may only use the Touchless ID lane when an indicator appears on their boarding pass (it’s usually green).
When available, passengers can proceed through a dedicated checkpoint where facial recognition technology verifies their identity. Participation remains voluntary and travelers can choose a traditional ID check instead.
Airlines Currently Offering Touchless ID
At present, Touchless ID is supported by five US airlines. These include:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
These airlines currently offer Touchless ID across a limited group of major hubs and focus cities.
Airports Currently Participating
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) (American)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (Delta)
- Denver International Airport (DEN) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) (American, Delta, United)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (American, United)
- New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (Alaska, American, Delta)
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) (American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Portland International Airport (PDX) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United)
Airports Being Added First
The initial phase of expansion will prioritize the following airports:
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- San José Mineta International Airport (SJC)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Additional Airports Joining by the End of Spring
By late spring, Touchless ID is also expected to launch at:
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Boise Airport (BOI)
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
- Westchester County Airport (HPN)
Anthony’s Take: Once fully deployed, TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID will be available at 65 airports nationwide. Travelers should remember that enrollment is required in advance and that availability depends on airline participation and boarding pass eligibility. For frequent flyers with TSA PreCheck®, this is big news and will save even more time.
(Image Credits: TSA.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
