WASHINGTON — Air travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck will soon have an easier way to move through airport security after the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a new partnership with Google Wallet that allows eligible passengers to use Touchless ID without enrolling separately through individual airlines.

The new feature makes Google Wallet the first digital wallet to integrate directly with the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program. The system uses secure facial comparison technology to verify a traveler’s identity, allowing eligible passengers to pass through dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes without presenting a physical driver’s license, passport, or boarding pass at participating airport security checkpoints.

Previously, travelers who wanted to use Touchless ID had to register individually through participating airlines by uploading passport information. With the new Google Wallet integration, eligible travelers can enroll once through the app and use the service with more than 100 participating airlines at supported airports across the country.

The TSA says the Touchless ID program is currently available at 65 airports nationwide and is expected to become even more convenient as the Google Wallet rollout expands over the coming weeks.

How It Works

Eligible travelers can use the new feature by:

  • Adding a digital ID created from a valid U.S. passport to Google Wallet.
  • Checking in for their flight and saving their boarding pass to Google Wallet.
  • Opting into the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program through the Google Wallet app.
  • Authorizing Google Wallet to securely share their digital ID and boarding pass with the TSA.
  • Proceeding through designated Touchless ID screening lanes where available.

Officials emphasize that participation is completely voluntary and requires travelers to provide consent before any information is shared. Google says digital IDs remain encrypted and stored on the user’s device, while the TSA says facial images captured during identity verification are deleted within 24 hours after a scheduled flight departs.

How It Compares to CLEAR

The new TSA Touchless ID program may sound similar to CLEAR, but the two services serve different purposes.

CLEAR is a private, subscription-based biometric identity verification service that uses facial recognition along with fingerprint or iris scans to confirm a traveler’s identity. CLEAR members typically bypass the traditional ID check and are escorted directly to the physical security screening area. Membership generally costs about $199 per year, although discounts are frequently available through participating airlines, travel rewards programs, and select credit cards.

By comparison, the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program is operated directly by the federal government and is available at no additional cost for eligible TSA PreCheck members. Rather than purchasing a separate subscription, travelers simply add a compatible digital ID to Google Wallet and opt into the Touchless ID experience.

For travelers who already have TSA PreCheck, the new feature offers a free way to streamline the identity verification process at participating airports. However, CLEAR remains available at many airports and can still reduce wait times by expediting the document verification step, particularly during busy travel periods. In fact, many frequent travelers choose to use both services together—using CLEAR for biometric identity verification before proceeding through the expedited TSA PreCheck security screening lane.

A Continued Push Toward Faster Travel

The Google Wallet partnership is part of the TSA’s broader effort to modernize airport security by leveraging secure digital credentials and biometric technology to reduce wait times while maintaining security standards.

Even with the new technology, travelers are still encouraged to carry a physical government-issued ID, as it may be needed if Touchless ID is unavailable or additional identity verification becomes necessary.

As millions of Americans prepare for peak summer travel, the new integration is expected to provide TSA PreCheck members with another conve