United States. The U.S. airline already uses its new facial identification system that works with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) TSA PreCheck platform.
Idemia is the authorized TSA PreCheck enrollment provider. The manufacturer has processed more than 13 million registrations for the TSA PreCheck program across the United States.
Beginning in late June, at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), American Airlines AAdvantage® members who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck can choose to use their American Airlines Mobile ID at select TSA PreCheck checkpoints to verify their identity.
The expertise is now available at all TSA PreCheck locations in DFW, with plans to be rolled out at select TSA PreCheck checkpoints at Miami International Airport (MIA), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) and later this year.
"We are committed to making our customers' journeys easier, and airport midpoints provide significant opportunities for innovation," said Julie Rath, American's vice president of Customer Experience, Loyalty and Marketing. "By simplifying the process of verifying identity and other points at the airport, we are helping our customers shift stress to convenience and time saved, and pushing the travel industry further on the path to a truly seamless customer experience."
The app verifies customer information using Thales-powered mobile ID technology to compare it to each state's Department of Motor Vehicles records or the NFC chip built into the passport.
It securely stores the customer's American Airlines mobile ID on their mobile device until they choose where and when to share it.
While going through security, customers simply present a QR code on their phone and consent to share their American Airlines Mobile ID with TSA. After sharing their mobile ID, customers look at a camera at the TSA PreCheck checkpoint. The TSA's computer system then compares the customer's encrypted image to their American Airlines Mobile ID. The whole process at the airport usually takes less than five seconds.
Once verified, the TSA erases the encrypted digital ID from its checkpoint readers and customers keep their digital ID on their device until they are ready to use it elsewhere, such as an airport lounge.
Expansion of innovation
Today's launch built on previous digital IDENTIFICATION tests American introduced in 2021 for contactless baggage delivery and entry to the Admirals Club in DFW. U.S. customers participating in these tests have the option of using facial recognition technology instead of presenting a government-issued ID, boarding pass, or co-branded credit card to check their luggage or enter the lounge. Because passports or driver's licenses are accepted, this test provides broad accessibility for travelers to experience this next milestone in easy travel and offers a scalable solution for future national security touchpoints.
In the future, American explained that it will implement similar technology in additional kiosks, baggage check-in and domestic boarding gates. U.S. customers can now verify their identities through facial comparison provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at several international boarding gates today.
