TSA and Google Wallet bring touchless airport security to more travellers

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has partnered with Google Wallet to make its TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program easier to use. It now allows eligible travellers to enrol directly through the digital wallet rather than through individual airline apps.

The integration makes Google Wallet the first digital wallet to support TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, expanding access to a facial recognition-based identity verification system designed to speed passengers through airport security. The feature is available at 65 airports across the United States and works with more than 100 airlines participating in TSA PreCheck. 

Google Wallet simplifies TSA PreCheck Touchless ID enrollment

Previously, travellers wanting to use Touchless ID generally had to opt in separately through participating airline apps after uploading passport information. The new Google Wallet integration creates a single enrollment pathway regardless of which participating airline they are flying.

To use the feature, eligible travellers:

• Check in with a participating airline.
• Add their boarding pass to Google Wallet.
• Tap the “Get started” prompt if they have an eligible digital ID stored in Wallet.
• Consent to share their digital ID and boarding pass information with TSA.
• Receive confirmation, after which their boarding pass displays a TSA PreCheck Touchless ID indicator. 

“Our collaboration with Google helps our trusted TSA PreCheck travellers enjoy the fastest route through airport security. Delivering seamless experiences like this is one more way TSA is working to deliver the Golden Age of Travel,” said Shelu Patel, TSA Modernisation Acting Chief Innovation Officer.

P.J. Linarducci, vice president of product management, Consumer Payments, at Google, added: “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal to make digital experiences more secure and convenient, and we look forward to seeing it roll out broadly just as the busy summer travel season gets underway.”

Apple has also integrated TSA digital ID features into its iOS 26 Wallet.

How Touchless ID works

Instead of presenting a physical driver’s license or passport at the TSA checkpoint, eligible travellers use facial recognition technology to confirm their identity.

At dedicated TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes, passengers briefly face a camera. TSA compares the live image with identity information already associated with the traveller before allowing them to proceed through screening.

The agency says the process reduces document checks while maintaining security. Participation is voluntary, and travellers may still be asked to present physical identification if required. 

Available at 65 airports

The Google Wallet partnership significantly broadens the program’s reach.

Touchless ID is now available at 65 airports nationwide. Because enrollment now occurs through Google Wallet rather than individual airline apps, eligible TSA PreCheck members can use the service on more than 100 participating airlines with dedicated Touchless ID lanes. 

Travellers can still enrol directly through participating airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, by adding a valid passport to their airline profile. 

Part of TSA’s digital identity strategy

The announcement represents another step in TSA’s modernisation efforts, relying on biometric identity verification and digital credentials to reduce congestion at airport checkpoints.

Biometric adoption in travel has faced some challenges in the US, with some lawmakers expressing privacy concerns. The US Senate Commerce Committee introduced the Traveller Privacy Protection Act of 2025, which would regulate how travellers’ biometric credentials are applied and stored. Last year, the TSA also underwent an audit of its use of biometric technology at airports conducted by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.   

But digital ID initiatives are advancing in air travel worldwide, as more travellers prioritise the speed and convenience of biometric identity confirmation. SITA has found that travellers welcome the technology and that 86% of passengers trust airlines, airports, and border agencies to handle their data responsibly.

The integration of Touchless ID into Google Wallet makes clearing airport security seamless, and reduces the need to repeatedly enrol with individual airlines. Travellers maintain control over whether to participate. 

While digital identity applications are advancing, passengers should still carry a physical government-issued ID when they travel. TSA officers may request it during screening even when using Touchless ID.

Featured Image: TSA