TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is expanding from 15 to 65 airports in Spring 2026.
No parent has ever enjoyed dragging their children through TSA at the airport. It’s one reason TSA PreCheck is already one of the best investments flying families can make: for the low cost of $85 per adult, a TSA PreCheck membership gives families a five-year pass allowing them to cut the line and and enjoy a faster, easier path through security.
But the benefits of PreCheck membership are getting even better in 2026. As TSA expands its PreCheck Touchless ID screening from 15 to 65 airports, PreCheck members can take advantage of this new, expedited screening process at no extra cost—as long as you sign up in advance.
How TSA PreCheck Touchless ID works
TSA Precheck Touchless ID replaces document-based screening with facial identity verification—allowing you to move through dedicated screening lanes with only a click of a photo.
Touchless ID is an optional screening service, and it’s only available to travelers who:
Are a current TSA PreCheck member
Have an active airline profile with a participating airline, and
Have uploaded valid passport information to their airline profile
You also have to be traveling on one of the six airlines participating in the program (American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines). And you have to be traveling through one of the 65 airports where Touchless ID is being rolled out—so always check ahead of time to see if it’s available for your family.
Signing up for PreCheck Touchless ID
You can’t opt for Touchless ID when you’re already at the airport, so make sure your airline profile is updated before you receive your mobile boarding pass.
Here’s what you need to do:
Login to your airline profile for the airline you will be traveling.
Enter your Known Traveler Number (KTN) into your profile. All adults need to have their own KTN and add it to their individual profile.
Enter a valid passport number and the issuing country. You’ll need these even if you aren’t traveling outside of the country.
Select “OPT IN” on your profile.
Make sure your mobile boarding pass displays the Touchless ID indicator:
Finally: make sure you bring physical ID as a backup. If facial verification doesn’t work, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant form of ID for the traditional document screening process.
Other tips for a better TSA experience
✅ If you aren’t currently a TSA Precheck member, a bunch of credit cards and loyalty programs offer partial or full rebates on your application fee.
✅ No passport? Starting February 1, 2026, you still need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card to pass through TSA checkpoints. If you can’t present REAL ID-compliant identification, you’ll need to pay a $45 fee to use the TSA ConfirmID service.
✅ Travelers must still follow the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule when packing carry-on luggage.
Learn more about PreCheck Touchless ID on the TSA website.
Travel news you can use
🚂 Traveling Europe by rail is about to get easier: Five new train routes are slated to launch in 2026.
🥇 Ticket registration for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles opens on January 14.
Until next time,
Bring the Kids
