As the partial government shutdown drags on, there appears to be no end in sight for the political standoff or the security lines at the airport that are occurring as a result. But there are some ways to bypass them. Among them is TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, a lesser-known and newer pre-screening option that can save travelers hours in security lines. Here’s how it works.
What is TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is an optional feature that allows eligible travelers to move through security checkpoints using facial recognition technology rather than a physical ID or boarding pass. Developed over the last few years through a pilot program previously known as Digital ID, the opt-in is available exclusively to TSA PreCheck members who have already paid for the program and are flying from a participating airport on a participating airline.
TSA PreCheck itself is not free—enrollment starts at approximately $85 depending on the provider and is valid for five years—but Touchless ID is available at no additional cost once PreCheck is active.
Touchless ID lanes are separate from standard TSA PreCheck lanes and sometimes move faster as travelers only need to look at a camera for identity verification rather than presenting documents. (Travelers should still always bring a physical ID such as a passport or Real ID-grade driver’s license or state identification card in case the machine doesn’t work or a TSA officer requests your ID to double check. Gate agents could always ask to see your ID again before boarding, too.)
As for privacy concerns, the TSA states that facial images collected during the process are not used for law enforcement or surveillance, are not shared with outside entities, and are deleted within 24 hours of a scheduled flight departure. The program is entirely optional; passengers who prefer not to use facial recognition can use the standard TSA PreCheck lane as usual.
How to sign up for Touchless ID
Three things are required to use Touchless ID: an active TSA PreCheck membership, a frequent flier account with a participating airline, and a valid passport on file with that airline.
Once all three are in place, travelers can opt in through their airline profile or at check-in. If eligible, a Touchless ID designator will appear automatically on the mobile boarding pass after checking in, granting access to the dedicated lane. (If it doesn’t, you can try calling the airline’s customer service number before heading to the airport, but don’t wait until getting to the check-in counter. The lines are likely to be long as well.)
Which airlines support Touchless ID?
Touchless ID is not available through every airline. The program requires participation from the carrier, meaning travelers must be booked with one of the airlines that has opted into the program and have an active frequent flier account with that airline. Currently, only five U.S. carriers participate:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
Which airports have Touchless ID lanes?
As of February 2026, Touchless ID is available at 40 airports across the United States. TSA previously announced an expansion that would bring the program to 65 airports by this spring, but that was before the partial shutdown started on February 14.
Here are the airports where Touchless ID lanes can be found currently:
- Anchorage (ANC)
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Baltimore (BWI)
- Boston (BOS)
- Charlotte (CLT)
- Chicago-Midway (MDW)
- Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
- Dallas-Love Field (DAL)
- Denver (DEN)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Honolulu (HNL)
- Houston-Hobby (HOU)
- Houston-Intercontinental (IAH)
- Kansas City (MCI)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Long Beach (LGB)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- Minneapolis (MSP)
- New Orleans (MSY)
- Newark (EWR)
- New York-JFK (JFK)
- New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
- Oakland (OAK)
- Orange County (SNA)
- Orlando (MCO)
- Palm Beach (PBI)
- Philadelphia (PHL)
- Portland (PDX)
- Sacramento (SMF)
- Salt Lake City (SLC)
- San Antonio (SAT)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- San Jose (SJC)
- Seattle (SEA)
- St. Louis (STL)
- Washington-Dulles (IAD)
- Washington-National (DCA)