Streamlined Identification at Airports: New York Introduces Touchless ID to Speed up TSA PreCheck Process
In an effort to enhance airport security and improve the travel experience, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has introduced a new solution: TSA PreCheck Touchless ID. This innovative technology is now available at major airports across the United States, including LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy International (JFK), and Salt Lake City (SLC), in addition to previously mentioned locations.
To take advantage of TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at LGA, you must first be an existing TSA PreCheck member and have a mobile boarding pass indicating eligibility for Touchless ID. Enrollment into TSA PreCheck itself requires an application, background check, fingerprinting, and payment (typically $77–$85), but Touchless ID is a free enhancement for PreCheck members at participating airports.
Using TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at LGA involves a few simple steps. First, check in online or via the airline’s app to receive a mobile boarding pass that shows the Touchless ID indicator—a green human icon next to the TSA PreCheck logo. Next, present this mobile boarding pass at the dedicated Touchless ID lane at LGA. Stand in a designated spot for a live, touchless facial scan that verifies your identity against government biometric records already linked to your PreCheck enrollment. Finally, proceed through security without needing to show your physical ID or boarding pass, as the facial biometric verification replaces them.
It is essential to carry your physical ID as a backup, though it is rarely needed once your identity is verified via Touchless ID.
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID offers several key differences compared to traditional TSA PreCheck. Identity verification is performed through biometric facial recognition, eliminating the need to show physical documents. A boarding pass must be mobile and display the Touchless ID indicator to access the dedicated line. The process is faster and more convenient, providing a touchless, fully automated experience that speeds up identity verification at the checkpoint with no document handling required.
While TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is not a panacea for long lines at airport security, it promises to be the fastest way to verify travelers' identification documents. To use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, travelers must add their Known Traveler Number (KTN), valid passport number, country, and opt-in on their airline profile or at check-in.
Participating airlines for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. Members must opt-in with one of these airlines to use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.
In summary, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID streamlines the PreCheck experience by using facial biometrics to eliminate showing physical documents, speeding up identity verification at the checkpoint with touchless technology. However, it requires a mobile boarding pass with the Touchless ID marker and preexisting TSA PreCheck enrollment.
- By enrolling in TSA PreCheck, travelers can access the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID feature, which uses biometric facial recognition technology to verify identities, eliminating the need for physical documents, making the travel experience more efficient and touchless at airports like LaGuardia (LGA).
- For those concerned about their privacy, it's worth noting that TSA PreCheck Touchless ID uses biometric facial recognition to confirm identities, but physical IDs must still be carried as a backup, though they are rarely required once touchless verification is successful.
