No More Need to Present Your Boarding Pass at These U.S. Airports

It seems like a straightforward task—just show the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer your boarding pass and a government-issued ID when you reach the front of the security line at the airport. Yet, sometimes you’ve stuffed the paper boarding pass into a pocket and can’t recall which one. Or maybe you’ve folded it into your wallet and need to fish it out. Or it’s stored on your phone, which is now locked.

Fortunately, there’s great news for those of us who constantly find ourselves in a frenzy trying to locate our boarding passes during security checks. At over 225 airports nationwide, travelers often won’t need to present their boarding passes at security anymore. At these locations, the TSA has implemented Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), a system that electronically connects to the flight database, enabling TSA officers to verify travelers’ flight details and whether they are part of a trusted traveler program like TSA PreCheck, simply by scanning their ID.

These CAT machines, which eliminate the need for a boarding pass, are distinct from the self-service TSA screening kiosks that employ facial recognition technology to scan passengers. Currently, these kiosks are found in about 85 U.S. airports, according to the latest data shared with Dinogo by the TSA.

Even if passengers don’t need to show a boarding pass during their TSA screening, they are still required to check in with their airline and secure a boarding pass, whether paper or electronic. They will also need to scan their boarding pass at the gate when boarding their flight.

To utilize the CAT scanning process, passengers aged 18 and older must present valid identification, including a driver’s license (which will require a Real ID starting May 2025), U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. Department of Defense ID, U.S. Merchant Mariner ID, Global Entry or NEXUS card, permanent resident card, or another government-issued ID.

Below is a list of many airports equipped with the new CAT technology where travelers are less likely to be asked by TSA agents for their boarding passes. However, it's not a guarantee, as some locations might lack the technology or if it malfunctions, passengers may still be required to show their boarding passes.

• Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
• Bradley International Airport in Connecticut (BDL)
• Nashville International Airport (BNA)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Charleston International Airport (CHS)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida (FLL)
• Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
• Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
• Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
• New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• LaGuardia Airport in New York (LGA)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK)
• Ontario International Airport (ONT)
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Portland International Airport in Oregon (PDX)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
• Portland International Jetport in Maine (PWM)
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
• Richmond International Airport (RIC)
• Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
• San Diego International Airport (SAN)
• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• San Jose International Airport (SJC)
• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
• John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California (SNA)

The TSA no longer provides a complete list of all airports equipped with the new CAT security systems on its website (it used to), but the agency has informed Dinogo that the new technology is now available in 228 airports nationwide.

Removing the requirement to present a boarding pass is one of the many strategies the TSA is implementing to make the airport security process quicker and more efficient.

Alongside self-service kiosks, the agency is introducing a new self-service baggage screening process for TSA PreCheck members. At airports equipped with advanced Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems, all travelers can leave liquids and laptops in their bags, which helps to expedite the often slow-moving security lines. These scanners have already been set up at Lihue Airport on Kauaʻi, Hawai‘i, with more being rolled out across the United States.

TSA mentioned that the future aim is to allow laptops and 3-1-1 liquids to remain in bags during checkpoint screening, as outlined in their “Computed Tomography” overview.

While we anticipate this innovative technology expanding to more airports, travelers can already implement several strategies to reduce security wait times. TSA PreCheck permits passengers to retain liquids and laptops in their carry-on bags and leave their shoes on, saving valuable minutes in busy lines. The service fee is $78 for enrollment and $70 for renewal (membership is valid for five years).

Clear is another service offered at numerous airports across the United States. This program allows travelers to check in at designated kiosks using facial recognition and fingerprint scans, rather than presenting ID at security checkpoints. Once the system verifies your identity with your boarding pass, an agent will guide you to the front of the security queue. Membership costs $189 annually, and registration can be completed on the Clear website.

Certain U.S. airports are now providing travelers the option to make an advance “fast pass” reservation to move to the front of the security line—at no extra cost.

This article was first published in July 2022 and updated on March 28, 2024, to reflect the latest information.