You will no longer need to manually add your credentials for each airline.
Google says it will soon be easier for people enrolled in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck Touchless ID program to set things up in Google Wallet and pass through security checks with ease. As it stands, program members must manually enter their passport information for each airline. Only a limited number of airlines support PreCheck Touchless ID at 65 airports.
That’s about to change as part of an expansion of the program. Google is rolling out an update in the coming weeks that should streamline the process with the support of 100 airlines. Soon you will only have to register once via Google Wallet. Google says it is the TSA’s first digital wallet partner for the program.
You’ll need to create an ID card with your credentials, then check in for your flight and add your boarding pass to Google Wallet. If you are eligible, you will see a “Get Started” button on the boarding pass (as shown above) that takes you to a TSA registration page, through which you can agree to share your ID and flight details with the agency. Once TSA approves your registration, you will see a PreCheck Touchless ID icon on your boarding pass, which means you can go through the appropriate express line through airport security without having to remove a physical ID.
Privacy is of course a key factor here. Google has reiterated that Wallet shares your information with the TSA only after you sign up and then unlock your device via biometric, PIN, or pattern authentication. Your digital credentials are also encrypted and stored locally on your phone. For frequent travelers who fly with multiple airlines, this might be an easier way to manage things than going through each carrier’s own app.
