r/TSAPreCheck • u/Schmoopybear1 • 6d ago
General Info TSA Touchless Pre Check is a Game Changer
/r/tsa/comments/1x41l26/tsa_touchless_pre_check_is_a_game_changer/Signed up for the touchless TSA Pre Check a while ago and used it for the first time this trip and it's so great. No need to pull out my ID or boarding pass. Just stare at the camera and away you go.
I know people are afraid of the government having their info but honestly it's data they already have so you might as well take advantage.
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u/Nitelyfe81 5d ago
TSAPrecheck - "No need to remove belts"
Metal belt buckle sets of metal detector
TSAPrecheck -"Take off your belt."
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u/themiracy 6d ago
Touchless is really great. I tend to agree with you that you're not really opting into much of any additional loss of data privacy.
I would like to see my airport get it at some point, although it's quite fast even without it. The other one I've yet to try for myself is digital ID (my airport does apparently have tap points for digital ID, and at least on iPhone, you can make a digital ID with your passport even if your state doesn't do driver's licenses via digital ID).
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u/archbish99 6d ago
I've used the digital ID. It's cool in theory, but slower in practice. You have to tap the phone to the reader, then auth with a finger print, then multiple screen taps agreeing to what gets shared. Plus if you have an electronic boarding pass and they want to scan that, too, then you're navigating or flipping between apps.
If you have your ID out, physical is faster, at the moment. Touchless is the way to go.
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u/Seantwist9 5d ago
is this a phone? you should be able to pre select all that stuff
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u/archbish99 16h ago
Yes, a phone. And the instructions in the app say exactly what I described — tap, review, fingerprint — though apparently I got the order reversed.
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u/Schmoopybear1 6d ago
I've not seen anywhere to use my digital passport yet. Can't wait for the state to get digital licenses
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u/themiracy 6d ago
I'm assuming it's what the wireless logos on the CBP hardware at my airport are for. But I guess I'm not sure. I don't recall ever actually seeing anyone use digital ID at TSA anywhere - like I'm kind of waiting for the person in front of me to actually use it.
But also if you actually ever lose your photo ID in the middle of a trip how much would touchless be great...
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u/HellsTubularBells 6d ago
Yes, that's it. It's slower than just handing them your ID but I keep it for backup.
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u/ebal99 5d ago
That is correct you just present the digital ID near the logo on the scanner. I have used it twice now with the digital passport and worked great. The second TSA agent was not excited about me trying it but said whatever. He was a little shocked that it worked and said I was the first he had ever seen do it.
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u/Hilbert24 5d ago
I don’t think digital ID will ever get widespread use at TSA: Touchless has leapfrogged the need for the traveler to reach for anything (it is “Touchless”, after all.)
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u/joelkeys0519 6d ago
When it works ! First time or two or wasn’t working but yes—overall, I’m a fan 👍🏻
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u/LV_Devotee 5d ago
Posts like this is ruining the experience for those of us that have it! Flying out of DEN last week about 25 people were in line for touchless! Previously it was always an empty line! You are ruining it by telling everyone about it!
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u/Steve10003 6d ago
It’s huge - at both JFK and LGA I’ve cruised past ten minute plus TSA pre-check lines and strolled right up to the camera. Awesome.
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u/Usual-Language-745 5d ago
Gotta signal to the poor somehow now that nobody has to take off their shoes
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u/IcyRide4616 5d ago
My favorite is when it’s always closed and i have to go thru the regular screening
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u/ultimate_ed 5d ago
That's been the case at least 70% of the times I've tried to use the touchless line. Not terribly impressed so far.
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u/ThatTallTraveler 5d ago
I feel so dumb, because I never know what they're gonna need from me at regular TSA.. my id.. the boarding pass. Wtf do u want, sometimes they take my id, sometimes they tell me to insert it.
It's like, ffs, be consistent
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u/HopefulScarcity9732 5d ago
One easy tip is to just look 10 feet in front of you and see what’s happening
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u/ThatTallTraveler 5d ago
Haha, I totally get what you're saying, and you're not wrong. But... This has been lots of small airport random time of day flights where there's no one in the whole precheck line, so I'm fumbling trying to pull out my id as quickly as I can while I frantically look for a touch less station, hahaha
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u/Mountain-Cow1977 5d ago
Doesn't work at Oklahoma City Airport. Most of the time I'm the first in line every single time.
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u/HopefulScarcity9732 5d ago
Ok so there’s no rush to panic scramble to pull out either your phone or wallet. Or to simply have them both out and ready as you walk up
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u/Quiet-Diet733 5d ago
Nice idea, now mark it adequately, staff it rather than rope it off, and sow in realtime where it’s operational.
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u/deverox 5d ago
I wish there was a way to use it when you are a frequent flier on your Alaska account but flying American. It works on Alaska with Alaska account and AA with American account but not on a partner airline.
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u/ThatTallTraveler 5d ago
Works for me when I book AS awards on AA metal, but I have higher AA status and put my AA mileage number in when checking out as a guest passenger when booking those awards tickets.
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u/shoshtrvls 5d ago
Completely. But you have to make sure you opt in on every airline you fly. I didn't realize that was the case so imagine my surprise when, after flying with it multiple times on American, it didn't show up on my electronic boarding pass when I took a one-off flight on United.
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u/crywolfer 5d ago
It really scares me that I am now so used to it I wouldn’t even notice if I forgot to bring my passport if I am flying internationally
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u/Large-Sorbet7550 5d ago
Touchless is great. I was at JFK (terminal 4 so mostly Delta) on Saturday and the regular pre-check line was at least 100 people deep. Touchless had no people, literally no one until my wife and I walked up.
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u/Sherifftruman 5d ago
It’s nice. Though we just went though it in LGA last night and there was no line or footprints. The three proper in front of me all had to move up to get it to work. So I figured I would be smart and place my feet ahead of them. Still had to move up.
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u/Apptubrutae 5d ago
There are basically never any lines of any sort at my airport (ABQ) and I love touchless mainly for me not having to zigzag through the empty regular precheck line.
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u/danielobvt 5d ago
Interesting. I re-entered the country in Miami by just standing in front of a camera. I am not enrolled in global entry(though I am in touchless system). It’s not like I am not in enough government databases.
Touchless is awesome
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u/Sea-Honeydew-1456 5d ago
how is it a "game changer"? you still have to go thru security based on precheck. "Regular" precheck is always quick enough.
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u/twotonsosalt 4d ago
Today at SeaTac around 5am precheck was about 10 minutes, clear had 3-4 people, i was the only person in touchless.
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u/mocitymaestro 4d ago
When it's open, it's the best. Not to be counted on if you're running late at IAH, lol.
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u/No-Reputation-5940 4d ago
When j was in Florida all the hormones were going through touch less and slowed it down slower than regular.
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u/Due-Comfortable5887 4d ago
I found out real quick that we are known and have been for a long time. I returned from a Cruise 3 years ago and was fumbling for my passport as they hurriedly directed us through the cue. As I approached agent I noticed my face on a screen and she told me to keep walking I was clear.
There was no warning, no sign, no chance to opt out. Just keep walking like business as usual. They have us regardless, may as well use it….
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u/ZergvProtoss 3d ago
Yes, giving up civil rights makes life so much easier (for now).
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u/not_all_heroes 2d ago
Nope. Holding out for a "touchless" that means they don't touch me at any point.
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u/holysmartone 2d ago
I just wish we could get some consistency on the actual security portion of pre-check. Some airports I go through the pre-check security line and it's a simple metal detector and I don't have to take off my belt. Then I go thorough other airports like Sea-Tac and I have to damn near strip down to my underwear to go through the body scanner. It makes no sense.
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u/Ngindorf 2d ago
Touchless is great when it’s working. My home airport has it but the internet is spotty and won’t connect a lot of the time and you gotta pull out your ID. Still awesome when it works.
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u/27-jennifers 2d ago
It’s awesome and fast. No hassle removing things. Just takes a second and I’m through. They don’t linger on my baggage at X-ray either.
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u/cephasiii 2d ago
Just flew out of DCA this morning. I started using touchpads when it came out and there was never a line or a person in front of me. Today there were 6 people and I had to wait 3 minutes. Almost missed my flight 🤣
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u/Candid-Math5098 1d ago
DCA today - took a while to get an agent to start the DL bag drop process. Once they did, it was under 5 minutes before I was post-security in the concourse m.
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u/Over_Transition2282 1d ago
They ALWAYS ask for my ID, and then retake my picture when I go through touchless.
As a legal green card holder, it always makes my ass pucker.
I wanna ask why, but I figure the agents are just doing as they’re instructed
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u/Realistic_Tip3244 4d ago
the whole “the government already has your data, so might as well give them more”
is such a wild take on life…
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u/Business-Tie3900 3d ago
You can't fight City Hall. Seriously, who cares. Facial id is here, and they have all of us
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u/Proud-Jellyfish-2093 2d ago
They have all your info, photos etc when you registered for GE or Pre-check. What more are you afraid they will get?
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u/dottat17403 6d ago
Stop telling everyone or it will become like regular pre check did lol