TSA delays are growing during the shutdown.
The nation’s 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners have gone without paychecks since February 14 because of the department’s federal funding gap, and many airports have reported long lines at security checkpoints as some screeners have begun calling in sick or even outright quitting.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the parent organization of TSA, also briefly suspended TSA PreCheck, the expedited screening program, just after the DHS shutdown, before quickly walking it back. Even with the program still operational, travelers are reporting long lines for both TSA PreCheck and regular screening lanes, and a number of frustrated travelers have missed their flights while waiting to be screened.
There are some options for travelers seeking to reduce their wait times at airports. And while some cost money, one is absolutely free, so long as you already have TSA PreCheck: Touchless ID.
How TSA PreCheck Touchless ID Works
On the surface, the scheme is pretty simple. If you have TSA PreCheck and a valid passport, you simply upload the passport to your airline frequent flier profile, so when you fly that airline through a participating airport, you get a TSA PreCheck Touchless ID indicator on your boarding pass. That means you can go to a dedicated lane at some 65 airports across the country and submit to a facial recognition scan instead of handing over your ID.
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TSA advises that passengers who have Touchless ID will still need to carry a valid ID on them for backup, as there are still situations where an officer might request a physical ID.
Limitations on Touchless ID
The big limitation on Touchless ID is the number of participating airlines. Currently, only Alaska, American, Delta, United, and Southwest participate. You also have to be crediting miles from one of those airline programs for it to work. For example, if you’re flying American Airlines, which is a participating airline, but you’re crediting your flight to your Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards account, it won’t work.
Granted, some 80% of U.S. domestic air traffic is onboard one of those five airlines, but if you’re traveling on a foreign airline, you’re out of luck. Passengers of ultra-low cost carriers like Frontier, Allegiant, Spirit, and Sun Country, and even more full-service airlines like JetBlue and Hawaiian, will also have to wait it out in the regular line.
The number of airports is also a limitation. Sixty-five airports are a lot of airports, but that still leaves plenty out. Even if you have your passport uploaded to all your profiles and are flying with a participating airline, you’re still out of luck if you’re departing from several major cities, including Burbank, Nashville, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Reno, Spokane, Tucson, Louisville, Columbus, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Omaha, or El Paso. Most smaller, regional airports are also off the list.
What Are the Alternatives?
The privately owned and operated line-jumping service CLEAR+ is still up and running, unaffected by the shutdown. There’s an annual fee to pay for the privilege, but some credit cards are offering a statement credit that will cover the cost. Many airlines also partner with CLEAR+ to discount the membership for their top-tier fliers. The caveat with CLEAR+ is that it is similarly not available at all airports, and CLEAR+ lanes may have different hours than the regular screening lanes.
It’s also worth noting that many airports have multiple security checkpoints that lead to a completely linked secure area, and many of them post real-time wait data on their websites. If one checkpoint is backed up, it might be worth checking the site to see if there are any alternative checkpoints with shorter wait times. It can be a hassle if you need to check bags at a specific ticket counter, but sometimes the shorter wait in line can be worth the extra shlep.