TSA Facial Recognition Is Being Tested at More US Airports—Here’s What to Know

08.03.2024 - 18:02 / cntraveler.com / John F.Kennedy / Katy Nastro / Airlines

One of the most unpredictable aspects of flying these days just might be how long the security line will be when you get there. There's nothing worse than arriving at the airport to an endless string of passengers snaking through the terminal, as officers go through the essential but tedious task of ensuring that each flier’s boarding pass, government ID, and face all match up.

But now, more airlines and airports are testing facial recognition technology that automates this process in a bid to decrease the time spent at ID checks and keep up with the growing demand for air travel in the US. Last week, United Airlines joined Delta Air Lines in testing facial recognition technology on PreCheck travelers in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) through an initiative called TSA PreCheck Touchless Identity Solution.

Katy Nastro, travel expert and spokesperson for Going.com, says the program will help address the “common pain point” of long lines at US airports. “Not having to worry about your ID for identity verification is a pretty significant step into the future of air travel,” she tells Condé Nast Traveler.

United and Delta passengers with TSA PreCheck can consent to the technology at seven US airports: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with Delta Air Lines, and at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and O’Hare International Airport (ORD) with United Airlines. Clear, the $189-a-year membership that allows enrolled travelers to cut to the front of airport security lines, has also begun using facial recognition technology at its checkpoints.

From how the technology works to the ways passengers can opt in to—or out of—of TSA facial recognition, here's everything travelers should know as the technology becomes a more prominent part of flying in the US.

Now available at two of the carrier’s busiest terminals, Chicago’s O’Hare and Los Angeles, United passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck can opt in to the service when they check in for their flights on the airline's mobile app, adding a consent indicator to their mobile boarding pass. Passengers who choose not to opt-in will not receive a consent indicator and are not eligible to participate in the pilot program.

Once they reach the security officer, instead of presenting their IDs and boarding passes, they’ll have their photo taken. “In just a few seconds, they’ll be through security and on their way,” the Chicago-based airline tells Condé Nast Traveler.

In addition to being active PreCheck members, United passengers also need to have their