Slowly (very slowly) but surely, TSA has been partnering with select states that offer digital ID to their residents. Case(s) in point:
- Since March of 2022, Arizona residents have been able to travel through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)’s TSA checkpoint just by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Not long after that, TSA at DEN allowed Coloradoans’ digital ID (unless they had a new ID that glitched the system out, but they eventually fixed the problem).
- Just a couple of months ago, Mobile ID became available to Android users, who could store their ID in their digital wallets, just like their Apple/iOS brethren.
- In California, San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 3, F1 security checkpoint and San Jose Mineta International Airport’s Terminal 2 have begun accepting mobile ID, as have select airports in Georgia, Iowa, Maryland and Utah (along with the aforementioned Phoenix and Denver).
And now, the TSA is also accepting mobile driver licenses and identification cards from travelers screened through certain lanes in Terminals 3 and 7 of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It’s the 26th airport in the country to gain such technology.
According to a TSA press release, “travelers who have downloaded the CA DMV Wallet app to their smartphone can use that for identity verification during the screening process in lieu of handing over a physical photo ID to the TSA security officer at the entry to the checkpoint.”
PC: TSA
“We are pleased to be accepting the California mDL at LAX’s Terminals 3 and 7. Those travelers who are early adapters of new technologies or are intrigued with this capability will find the mDL to be a convenient option when going through the security process,” said TSA Federal Security Director for LAX Jason Pantages. “We will continue to embrace technology and expand opportunities to streamline and improve the passenger experience at LAX. We are pleased to partner with the California DMV in this effort.”
Of course, there are a few caveats:
- The new technology at LAX is only for travelers who have mobile ID loaded onto their cell phones
- Passengers” travels must be originating from LAX
- The new technology is currently only available at Terminals 3 (Delta Air Lines) and 7 (United Airlines)
Oh! And heads up that TSA is using its new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) technology at these checkpoints, which also means passengers will not have to show their boarding pass (here’s why).
“The rollout of the mobile driver license (mDL) for identification verification by the Transportation Security Administration at LAX supports Los Angeles World Airports’ efforts to use technology and innovation to elevate the airport experience for our guests,” said Ian Law, Chief Digital Transformation Officer of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “We are grateful to our partners at TSA for constantly seeking ways to create new efficiencies and enhance the security screening process for the traveling public, and encourage eligible travelers who will be accessing Terminals 3 and 7 to consider using mDL the next time they fly through LAX.”
Any traveler from the 7 states that offer state-issued mobile ID can use the CAT-2 unit’s reader instead of providing a physical photo ID to the TSA officer for identity verification. However, as always, TSA warns travelers to still carry their physical driver license or photo ID, just in case.
Feature Image: TSA
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1 comment
The ID scanning thing — whether digital or traditional photo ID is presented — for me often means the TSA sees that I’ve been booked on multiple flights for the day. That includes even some flight bookings which I cancelled.
The government really should get out of the passenger ID checking business and stop demanding this for all passengers and let it be up to the airlines or let the airlines pay directly for it. Checking passenger identification is unnecessary for the screeners to screen passengers and passenger belongings to prevent restricted weapons, explosives and incendiaries from getting onto the flights. And if they focused on restricted items instead of passenger identification, the screeners could instead focus more on interdicting what they too often are missing — prohibited weapons, explosives and incendiaries — at the screening checkpoints.