What Is Touchless ID and Where Can I Use This New TSA PreCheck Perk?

Airport security is about to get a whole lot faster for TSA PreCheck members.

A new feature called Touchless ID is expanding to 65 airports this spring, and it’s the kind of upgrade that could genuinely change how quickly you get through the checkpoint. If you’re already enrolled in PreCheck and wondering whether this applies to you, here’s a full breakdown of what it is, how to get started, and where it’s available.

A Quick Look at How Touchless ID Works

The basic idea is simple: instead of handing over your ID at the security checkpoint, a facial comparison photo does the verification for you.

TSA PreCheck Touchless ID uses biometric technology to confirm your identity faster and with less friction, so you can move through the dedicated PreCheck lane without digging around for your documents. It’s opt-in only, and you’ll need to set things up in advance through your airline profile.

Making Sure You Qualify

There are a few boxes you’ll need to check before you can use Touchless ID.

First, you need to be an active TSA PreCheck member. Second, you need a profile with one of the five participating airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, or United Airlines. Third, you’ll need a valid passport number on file with that airline. All three conditions have to be met, so it’s worth double-checking your profile details before your next flight.

Getting Yourself Set Up

Once you’ve confirmed you’re eligible, the setup takes just a few minutes. Open your profile with a participating airline and enter your Known Traveler Number along with your passport information. From there, select “OPT IN” either in your profile settings or during the check-in process. Before heading to the airport, check your mobile boarding pass for the Touchless ID indicator. If you see it, you’re good to go for the dedicated lane.

One thing to keep in mind: you still need to carry a REAL-ID-compliant physical ID every time you fly, even with Touchless ID enabled. TSA officers can still request it, so don’t leave it at home.

What Happens to Your Data

This is the question a lot of people have, and the answer is pretty reassuring. Your photo is not stored long-term. Personal data and images are deleted within 24 hours of your scheduled flight departure.

The technology is not used for law enforcement or surveillance, and it’s not shared with outside entities. If you want to dig into the specifics, TSA and DHS both publish Privacy Impact Assessments with the full details.

The Full List of Participating Airports

By spring 2026, Touchless ID will be live at all 65 of these airports:

ABQ (Albuquerque, NM)
ANC (Anchorage, AK)
ATL (Atlanta, GA)
AUS (Austin, TX)
BDL (Hartford/Windsor Locks, CT)
BHM (Birmingham, AL)
BNA (Nashville, TN)
BOI (Boise, ID)
BOS (Boston, MA)
BUF (Buffalo, NY)
BWI (Baltimore, MD)
CHS (Charleston, SC)
CLE (Cleveland, OH)
CLT (Charlotte, NC)
CMH (Columbus, OH)
CVG (Cincinnati, OH)
DAL (Dallas Love Field, TX)
DCA (Washington Reagan, D.C.)
DEN (Denver, CO)
DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX)
DTW (Detroit, MI)
EWR (Newark, NJ)
FLL (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
HNL (Honolulu, HI)
HOU (Houston Hobby, TX)
HPN (White Plains/Westchester County, NY)
IAD (Washington Dulles, D.C.)
IAH (Houston George Bush Intercontinental, TX)
IND (Indianapolis, IN)
JAX (Jacksonville, FL)
JFK (New York Kennedy, NY)
LAS (Las Vegas, NV)
LAX (Los Angeles, CA)
LGA (New York LaGuardia, NY)
LGB (Long Beach, CA)
MCI (Kansas City, MO)
MCO (Orlando, FL)
MDW (Chicago Midway, IL)
MIA (Miami, FL)
MKE (Milwaukee, WI)
MSP (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN)
MSY (New Orleans, LA)
OAK (Oakland, CA)
OKC (Oklahoma City, OK)
ORD (Chicago O’Hare, IL)
PBI (West Palm Beach, FL)
PDX (Portland, OR)
PHL (Philadelphia, PA)
PHX (Phoenix, AZ)
PIT (Pittsburgh, PA)
PSP (Palm Springs, CA)
PVD (Providence/Warwick, RI)
RDU (Raleigh/Durham, NC)
SAN (San Diego, CA)
SAT (San Antonio, TX)
SEA (Seattle, WA)
SFO (San Francisco, CA)
SJC (San Jose, CA)
SJU (San Juan, PR)
SLC (Salt Lake City, UT)
SMF (Sacramento, CA)
SNA (Orange County/Santa Ana, CA)
STL (St. Louis, MO)
TPA (Tampa, FL)
TUL (Tulsa, OK)

Disney World fans heading through Orlando will be happy to see MCO on that list, and anyone flying through Tampa or Fort Lauderdale for a Disney cruise is covered, too.

Worth Opting In?

If you’re already a PreCheck member flying on a participating airline, there’s really no reason to skip this. A quick profile update is all it takes to unlock a noticeably smoother checkpoint experience. The time savings may not be dramatic every single trip, but on a busy travel day heading into a Disney vacation, every minute counts.

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