Airport security is getting a major upgrade, which will be welcome news to those tired of fumbling for their ID while juggling carry-on baggage and boarding passes.
TSA’s PreCheck Touchless ID technology is now available at 15 major airports across the country. It promises to make security lines move faster for eligible travelers.
It uses advanced facial comparison technology to verify your identity without you having to dig out a driver’s license or passport.
Instead, a photo taken at the security checkpoint is used to your face to the passport information you’ve already uploaded to your airline profile.
How to sign up for touchless ID
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is not available to everyone. To participate:
- You must already be enrolled in TSA PreCheck.
- You need a valid passport.
- You have to fly with one of the participating airlines and opt into its touchless ID program.
Currently, four major carriers have partnered with TSA to offer this service: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
TSA reports that setting yourself up takes just a few minutes. You log into your airline profile with one of the participating carriers and opt into the touchless ID program.
The opt-in step is crucial. Even if you have all the right credentials, you won’t automatically get access to touchless lanes.
Each airline handles this slightly differently, so check the carrier’s specific instructions when updating your profile.
Once you’ve opted in, look for the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID indicator on your mobile boarding pass. This special designation tells you that you’re cleared to use the dedicated touchless lanes.
What to expect at security
When you arrive at the airport, follow signs to the dedicated TSA PreCheck Touchless ID queue. These lanes are separate from both regular security and standard TSA PreCheck lines.
At the checkpoint, you’ll look into a biometric camera that captures your photo and compares it to your passport image. The whole process typically takes just seconds.
If the system successfully verifies your identity, you proceed through security without showing any physical documents. If there’s an issue with the match, TSA officers will ask for your physical ID as they would in any standard screening. That’s why you still need to carry identification.
Privacy-conscious travelers might wonder about those photos. According to TSA, images captured and data collected during normal operations are deleted immediately after verification.
TSA emphasizes that the agency does not use facial comparison technology for law enforcement or immigration enforcement purposes.
Where touchless ID is available
Following are the airports that use touchless ID technology as of August 2025, and the airlines that have signed on at each airport.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):
- Alaska
- American
- Delta
- United
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA):
- Alaska
- American
- Delta
- United
Denver International Airport (DEN):
- Alaska
- American
- Delta
- United
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): American
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW): Delta
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): United
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Delta
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS):
- American
- Delta
- United
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
- Alaska
- Delta
- United
LaGuardia Airport (LGA):
- American
- Delta
- United
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): United
Portland International Airport (PDX):
- Alaska
- American
- Delta
- United
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA):
- Alaska
- American
- Delta
- United
San Francisco International Airport (SFO): United
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC):
- American
- Delta
- United
If you haven’t already enrolled in PreCheck, know that you don’t necessarily have to pay to do so. We detail cheaper options in “4 Groups Who Now Get TSA PreCheck for Free.”
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