TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is going to change the way we travel forever, if they already introduced TSA PreCheck years ago, now comes its Touchless ID version. This means that a method arrives to pass the security checkpoint without showing either your passport or your ID, nothing, only your face. A photo, a scan and you can go through the checkpoints of up to 15 airports in the country (and they are waiting to adopt it in other airports too).
Although the TSA PreCheck service was already an advantage for millions of passengers, in recent years the lines had become just as long as the regular checkpoint, so with this change they want the lines to move fast, so no one despairs waiting and everything is much easier for everyone!
What is TSA PreCheck Touchless ID?
The new system works through facial biometrics, like the unlock of your iPhone. Instead of taking out the passport and handing it to an agent, the passenger simply stops for a second in front of a camera. One click, the system scans their face and compares it with the photo already registered from your ID. If everything matches, the identity is verified in seconds and you can move on. Like that, without touching anything and without taking any document out of your pocket.
And no, it is not the same as the systems already used in some airports because here you don’t even need to show a physical ID! Everything is done in the background, in a matter of seconds. The software compares the live image with the biometric templates already in the TSA database.
Who can use it
For the moment, this system is only for those who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck and have what is called a Known Traveler Number. But watch out: it is not activated directly with the TSA, but with the airlines that participate. That means availability depends on each airline you are going to fly with.
Change for passengers
With this system, travelers will spend less time in lines, in addition to being a much more comfortable system both for the TSA and for the travelers themselves.
However, it has also raised doubts, because although the speed is undeniable, the introduction of facial recognition systems also generates debates about privacy, and the question is… what is the government going to do with these stored photos? And if they suffer a hacker attack and the biometric results of the whole country are spread around the world? And above all… how can we make sure the government does not “traffic” with that information or use it for other purposes?
The 15 airports where it is already available
The innovation is already active in strategic airports such as Los Angeles, New York (JFK and LaGuardia), Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Seattle, among others. However, not all airlines offer it. For example, in San Francisco it is only available for United Airlines passengers. Here is the list for you to check:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport
- Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- LaGuardia Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
- Portland International Airport in Oregon
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Yes, we cannot deny it is an advance and that automating the process is the best option for passengers, but there are still doubts to be resolved! What do you think about?