When you’re flying in 2026, make sure you verify your airline profile earlier than you head to the airport.
Hundreds of thousands of frequent flyers at the moment are eligible for the most effective time-savers round … however provided that they log off forward of time.
During the last couple of years, the Transportation Safety Administration started piloting its new TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program at a number of the nation’s largest airports.
And within the coming months, the high-tech, fast-tracked safety possibility shall be accessible at dozens of further hubs.
This system makes use of facial comparability expertise: Vacationers passing by means of these lanes get their image taken as they strategy the TSA officer, and the TSA’s computer systems evaluate that picture to a passport picture on file.
Sometimes, vacationers utilizing these quick lanes are capable of then fly by means of with out pulling out their pockets or boarding cross, with the expertise usually sooner than utilizing another safety lane.
TPG’s Clint Henderson wrote about his expertise utilizing the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes, that are usually marked by blue-and-green signage at checkpoints.
Learn extra: 8 methods to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, International Entry and Clear
Who can use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
When you’re a TSA PreCheck member or get your TSA PreCheck entry by means of International Entry, you are eligible to make use of the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes — that’s, for those who choose in.
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The best way to choose in
To try this, you may need to go to your airline frequent flyer profile, add a picture of your passport and consent to the facial identification program.
I am flying United Airways out of Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) subsequent month, so I pulled up my United app. I clicked on “TSA PreCheck and journey paperwork.”
Then, I chosen “TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.”
The app prompted me so as to add a photograph of my passport, similar to you would possibly earlier than a world flight.
After which there have been a few pages the place I needed to choose in and consent. When you do that, you ought to be clear to make use of the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes.
Which airports provide TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
The brand new TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program is increasing to a rising variety of airways and airports nationwide.
Every of the 5 largest U.S. carriers now companions with the company on the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes at a handful of the nation’s largest hubs.
Here is the complete rundown of airways and airports the place it is accessible as of January 2026.
You will solely be capable to use the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes in case your airline companions with the service at that airport and provided that you choose in to the service with that provider.
As TPG reported in January, anticipate to see these lanes at dozens of further U.S. airports within the months to return because the TSA hopes to have its TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program up and working at 65 main hubs by spring.
Backside line
It is best to nonetheless deliver your Actual ID or an appropriate various like a passport to the airport, even for those who’ve opted in to TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.
As I’ve seen on quite a few events at airports, expertise can malfunction or another snafu can come up that might lead officers to ask you to current a legitimate ID.
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