TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is getting easier to access after Google Wallet becomes the first digital wallet partner for the program. Eligible travelers will be able to opt in through a consent flow in Google Wallet, then use dedicated Touchless ID lanes without
The next time the security line feels like it’s stretching past the check-in counters, Touchless ID is aiming to take some of that stress out—this time by moving the opt-in process into Google Wallet.
Google Wallet is now the first digital wallet partner for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID. The partnership is designed to streamline the opt-in process so eligible travelers can use TSA’s secure facial comparison to skip long security lines.
Touchless ID is currently available for use with more than 100 airlines at more than 60 airports across the U.S. It’s also already proven to be popular among eligible travelers; at Miami International Airport (MIA). the Touchless ID lane helped the writer and their daughters bypass the packed regular PreCheck line. TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is shown in Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The Google Wallet integration is set to roll out over the next few weeks. arriving as summer travel ramps up and airports brace for packed terminals. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal to make digital experiences more secure and convenient,” P.J. Linarducci, Google’s vice president of product management, said.
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lets eligible members skip the normal TSA PreCheck lines and avoid the hassle of finding a passport or driver’s license while juggling a coffee cup and carry-on bags. Instead of official documents, TSA takes a photo to confirm a passenger’s identity.
For TSA PreCheck members, including travelers who receive TSA PreCheck benefits through Global Entry, Touchless ID is available at no additional cost.
The opt-in flow in Google Wallet is meant to be simple. Travelers start by checking in with a participating airline and adding their boarding pass to Google Wallet. Eligible travelers with a qualifying digital ID will see a “Get Started” button. which redirects them to TSA’s consent page. Once they click through, they authorize the sharing of their digital ID and boarding pass with TSA in Google Wallet.
TSA then confirms the process by sending a success code back to Google Wallet. At that point, the boarding pass updates with the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID indicator, clearing the traveler to use the dedicated Touchless ID lane.
There’s also a practical change many frequent flyers will notice: travelers won’t have to enroll separately for Touchless ID with each airline. which is currently required. Previously, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID required manual passport uploads for every individual airline. “Now, you can securely opt in just once through Google Wallet,” Google communications manager Jas Peterson wrote in an email.
For travelers who don’t use Google Wallet, the Touchless ID program can still be manually opted into by adding a valid passport to their profile with participating airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, or United.
If you’re an Android user and already have TSA PreCheck, the message is straightforward: do it before your next trip.
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID Google Wallet digital ID John F. Kennedy International Airport Miami International Airport Global Entry airline boarding pass airport security
So you just scan your face instead of showing an ID? Sounds wild.
I swear these airports always say “quicker” and then it’s still chaos. Like where’s the line for the touchless thing, exactly? Also do they still make you take your shoes off or nah?
Wait so Google Wallet is basically your TSA ID now? That seems like a privacy nightmare. Face comparison to skip lines is cool but I bet it’ll glitch and then you’re stuck anyway, like every other “tech upgrade.”
My cousin said TSA is gonna just replace the whole checkpoint with a phone thing and then everybody loses their mind lol. But I guess if you already have PreCheck it’s free so whatever. I just don’t trust Google to be the middleman with my face, especially at JFK when it’s packed.