Alaska Airlines adds TSA touch-free ID at Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle airports
Alaska Airlines is launching its time-saving TSA Precheck touch-free ID program to accelerate the passenger checkpoint experience.
TSA touchless ID will soon be used for passengers of airlines departing from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Portland International Airport (PDX) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Alaska has implemented it earlier this year at the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (ATL) and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC (DCA).
At TPG, we are a big fan of the touch-free ID biometric screening process. In fact, this could be a game-changer for the aviation experience, as it saves travelers a lot of time to go to security checkpoints. Instead of digging out Cuts and Rackpacks’ IDs and boarding passes, facial recognition software confirms your identity and speeds up your security.
Alaska Air Travelers will offer TSA Precheck Touchless ID at the following airports:
- Seattle (Ocean), starting June 26
- Los Angeles (LAX), starting July 8
- Portland (PDX), starting July 10
How to use TSA Precheck Touchless ID on Alaska Air
The touch-free ID program is optional. It requires you to opt-in to allow biometric data to be used for authentication. Guests who qualify and wish to opt-in must register with their Alaska Mileage Program account. It’s easy to do this after signing up for a Mileage Plan account. Once logged in, make sure your passport number and KTN (known traveler number) are listed in the Travel Document drop-down section of your profile as shown below.
Once you do this, “Add TSA Precheck Touchless ID” will become active. You click the OPT IN box, click “Save”, and then finish.
Travelers who choose to use a free touchless ID need to renew the enrollment rate for the program annually. Again, this is an optional program. If you want to show your body ID to the TSA agent while flying and boarding through, you can still do so.
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Although the touch-free ID program is free, you do need to have TSA Precheck, with a five-year membership starting at $78. Global Entry provides Precheck access and fast travel through U.S. Customs and Border Protection passports for $120.
Some travel credit cards will reimburse members’ application fees.
The touch-free ID extension is part of Alaska Airlines’ high-tech program that simplifies customers’ airport experience and makes the overall travel process more efficient. The operator has introduced electronic bag tags and automatic bag drip as it builds what it calls a “true contactless airport journey.”
For more information on the Alaska Bag Tag System, see the scroll below.
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