The Transportation Security Administration plans to significantly expand use of its PreCheck Touchless ID screening option, which uses facial comparison technology for identity verification instead of physical documents.
In a statement, the agency said Touchless ID will be available at 65 U.S. airports this spring. United, Delta, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest are all participating in the program.
With Touchless ID, passengers clear airport security checkpoints with a facial scan and do not have to present a physical ID or boarding pass. Travelers must have TSA PreCheck, an active profile with a participating airline, and a valid passport to qualify.
According to TSA, collected images are not used for law enforcement or surveillance purposes, and passengers’ photos and personal data are deleted from the system within 24 hours of their scheduled flight departure.
The agency listed currently participating airports for each airline:
Alaska: Atlanta, Washington National, Denver, New York-JFK, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.
American: Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington National, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Newark, New Jersey, Washington Dulles, Houston, New York-JFK, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Chicago O’Hare, Palm Beach, Florida, Portland, Oregon, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.
Delta: Atlanta, Washington National, Denver, Detroit, Newark, New Jersey, New York-JFK, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.
Southwest: Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.
United: Atlanta, Washington National, Denver, Newark, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.
