They’re pre-checking their worries at the door.
With the government shutdown snarling up security, travelers are beating longer-than-usual airport lines by using TSA PreCheck Touchless IDs.
The new tech combats the interminable wait times caused by the partial government shutdown, which has forced 50,000 security officers to remain on the job sans pay.
This has prompted hundreds to vacate the position or take unannounced vacations, causing staffing shortages and delays that are so bad that even programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear have proven useless, the Washington Post reported.
Thankfully, the latest cutting-edge system fast-tracks the screening process by using facial-comparison tech to verify people’s identity, per a recent TSA post on X.
Best of all, eligible travelers are allowed to use dedicated lanes to bypass security bottlenecks with the program, which was the joint effort of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, airports and airlines.
Of course, there are a few caveats to the line-cutting hack, namely that it’s only available at select airports and to customers of certain airlines.
Participating carriers include American, Alaska, Delta, Southwest, and United.
In addition, travelers must sign up for the program — which is available under the “travel documents” section of their airline loyalty program — before checking in for their flights.
To become eligible, flyers must possess an active airline profile with a participating airline, be enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program with a Known Traveler Number, and have a valid passport number uploaded to their profile.
The ID isn’t a total get-out-of-jail-free card either.
Travelers must also have a REAL ID‑compliant physical ID on hand in the event that a TSA officer requests it.
Despite the rigamarole, travelers believe that the touchless ID is worth the squeeze.
One satisfied customer boasted, “We were dropped off this morning at 5:35 am and were thru [sic] security at 5:45 am. TSA precheck touchless for the win.”
The chief executive officers of major US airlines implored Congress on Sunday to move quickly to end the shutdown.
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