If you’ve flown United Airlines out of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) since February 7 and are a TSA PreCheck member, you may have opted to participate in an expedited check-in process. With the addition of the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program, eligible United flyers can use their face to both pass through security and check their bags without having to show their boarding pass or a driver’s license. This new feature is aimed at streamlining the check-in process and making air travel more efficient for passengers.
I recently had the opportunity to experience the Touchless ID bag drop and security screening process at O’Hare, and I was impressed with how seamless and efficient it was. The Touchless ID bag drop shortcut allows passengers to biometrically check their bags via a facial scan before an agent prints their bag tags. This process only takes about 20 seconds on average, saving passengers valuable time during the check-in process.
Contrasting this experience to the traditional two-step check-in process, Touchless ID bag drop users should save at least five to seven minutes overall. This is a significant time savings for travelers, especially those who are in a hurry or trying to catch a connecting flight. The Touchless ID bag drop shortcut is now available at all domestic United hubs, including ORD, EWR, IAH, DEN, LAX, and SFO, making it accessible to a wide range of passengers.
In order to use the Touchless ID bag drop shortcut, customers must consent to use Touchless ID on the United app when checking in for their flight. They will then receive a boarding pass with the green TSA PreCheck Touchless ID badge and a green border, indicating their participation in the program. Upon arriving at O’Hare, passengers can head directly to the Touchless ID bag drop shortcut area, bypassing the regular check-in line.
At O’Hare, the Touchless ID bag drop shortcut area is clearly marked with signs and color-coded with the same green color as what you’ll find on your boarding pass. The process is quick and efficient, taking only a few seconds for the baggage tags to be printed. In addition, there are two Touchless ID bag drop shortcut kiosk areas in the United terminal at O’Hare, making it convenient for passengers to use this feature.
In addition to the Touchless ID bag drop shortcut, United also offers the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program, which allows TSA PreCheck members flying United or Delta Air Lines at select airports to use facial recognition to pass through security in a few seconds. This feature is designed to expedite the security screening process and eliminate the need for passengers to show their physical ID or boarding pass to verify their identity.
Since testing began last month, more than 15,000 United customers have used the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program at O’Hare, according to United. The process is quick and efficient, taking travelers between two and six seconds to verify their identity. While no ID is required, United and the TSA still advise travelers to bring a valid ID, as the TSA reserves the right to randomly check a traveler’s ID at any point.
Overall, my experience with the Touchless ID bag drop and security screening process at O’Hare was positive. The program is easy to use, efficient, and saves valuable time for passengers. With United’s commitment to technology and innovation, I am hopeful that the U.S. travel experience will continue to improve and become more streamlined for passengers in the future. United’s Touchless ID program sets a new standard for expedited check-in processes and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to enhancing the passenger experience.