TSA PreCheck travelers will no longer have to show ID or boarding pass at certain airports

27.02.2024 - 20:29 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines

Editor's note: This post has been updated with additional information. It was originally published on Feb. 27, 2024.

As the Transportation Security Administration continues to implement its facial recognition technology at airports nationwide, United Airlines joins Delta Air Lines in offering TSA PreCheck customers a touchless ID experience during bag drop and security checkpoints. United is launching the service at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD).

TSA PreCheck's Touchless Identity Solution allows select PreCheck travelers to avoid using a physical ID or boarding pass to verify their identity. Instead, travelers can get a quick facial scan when checking bags and passing through the PreCheck lane.

"TSA has partnerships across these various identity verification solutions, with Delta Air Lines Digital ID and United Airlines' Touchless ID programs and American Airlines' digital ID," a TSA spokesperson said via email. "Passenger participation is voluntary. Passengers may request alternative identity verification if they do not wish to participate, and by doing so, passengers will not be delayed or lose their place in line."

As of February, United flyers at both ORD and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can opt in for touchless ID.

"We recently launched TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID at O'Hare International Airport, which allows travelers* to seamlessly drop off their bags and make it quickly through security – all without having to present an ID," a United spokesperson said via email. "United is the first airline to offer this technology at O'Hare."

Thus, United PreCheck customers can now use their face to check their bag(s) and pass through PreCheck security, without showing their boarding pass or a driver's license. Note that while United continues to test Touchless ID at O'Hare, travelers should still prepare to have their physical IDs checked after the facial scans.

United is currently testing both features at ORD. The security checkpoint feature is also available for United travelers at LAX, where the bag drop shortcut is expected to be available by March, per a United spokesperson.

"For bag drop shortcut with Touchless ID – when customers arrive at the airport, they can head to a bag drop shortcut kiosk where their photo is taken and their bag tag will print," the spokesperson said. "For TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at security – when they arrive at the airport, they can head to the TSA PreCheck security checkpoint where their photo is taken."

Per an airline spokesperson, the airline expects ORD's test run to be implemented fully by May 2024. After that, travelers will no longer have to show their IDs.

"We plan to continue rolling out TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at our hubs this year,"