American Airlines Passengers Will Soon Be Able to Use the TSA's Touchless ID Program

01.11.2024 - 14:41 / travelandleisure.com / Will Soon Be / Kim Cisek

Loyal American Airlines passengers will soon be able to go through airport security without having to show their boarding pass or ID.

That is because the airline has signed up to participate in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck Touchless ID program in which the agency uses facial recognition to verify a passenger’s identity. American said the program will be available to loyal AAdvantage members in select airports in the months ahead.

“We want to give our customers an easy experience while they move through every point of their travel journey, and the airport is a big part of that,” Kim Cisek, American’s vice president of customer experience, said in a statement. “Introducing this option will help customers move more seamlessly from the airport lobby through TSA security to enjoy the next step in their travel.”

As part of the Touchless ID program, a live photo is taken of each traveler, which is then matched against an existing photo the passenger has already provided to the government (like for a passport or visa). Participation in the program is optional and travelers can opt-out and instead choose to go through a standard identity verification process by a TSA officer.

In order to use the program, American Airlines travelers must opt-in and provide their AAdvantage number, their valid U.S. passport information, and their Known Traveler Number (which they get when they are approved for programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry).

American travelers can then renew their enrollment once per year.

A spokesperson for American told Travel + Leisure the carrier would provide information on which airports the touchless ID program would be available in at a later date.

Currently, the TSA’s Touchless ID program is available at several airports with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and more. This month, Delta expanded the program to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

“Over the past year, as Digital ID has been in operation at some of our busiest hubs, customers have come to rely on the time-savings and convenience it provides,” Greg Forbes, Delta’s managing director – airport experience, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled for this technology to expand… introducing a more streamlined, hands-free airport experience to a new group of customers.”