Updated
Updated · Engadget · Jun 24
Google Wallet Streamlines TSA PreCheck ID Setup for 100 Airlines
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Jun 24

Google Wallet Streamlines TSA PreCheck ID Setup for 100 Airlines

3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Jun 24

Summary

  • Google will roll out a Wallet update in the next few weeks that lets TSA PreCheck Touchless ID users opt in once instead of entering passport details separately for each airline.
  • The change expands a program that currently works with only a limited number of airlines across 65 airports, aiming to make touchless screening easier for frequent fliers using multiple carriers.
  • Eligible travelers will create an ID pass, add a boarding pass to Wallet, tap a "get started" button and approve sharing ID and flight details with TSA; approved passes then show a PreCheck Touchless ID icon.
  • Google said Wallet is TSA's first digital wallet partner for the program and stressed that data is shared only after opt-in and device unlock, while digital IDs stay encrypted and stored locally on the phone.

Insights

Is saving a few minutes at airport security worth creating a vast, interconnected digital identity system?
As Google and Apple race to control digital wallets, who will ultimately own your personal identity?
With your face as your boarding pass, what happens when a system glitch or data breach leaves you stranded?