Alaska Airlines announced the launch of optional facial ID verification at automated bag drop units at airports in Seattle and Portland, part of a broader push to streamline the travel experience.
Until now, travelers had to stop for an agent to manually check an ID before dropping a bag at the automated kiosks. The new system streamlines that step.
After scanning a bag tag, passengers will scan their ID and have their face matched to the ID photo in real time. Once verified, their luggage is accepted and sent on its way.
Facial recognition remains optional. Human agents will be stationed at the bag drop for anyone who prefers a traditional check. Alaska Airlines also notes that privacy protections are in place — photos captured for the process are deleted immediately after verification.
The airline framed it as another move “to get our guests to security in five minutes or less,” said Charu Jain, Alaska Airlines’ senior vice president of merchandising and innovation, in a statement.
The addition builds on Alaska Airlines’ earlier rollout of automated bag drops in Seattle. San Francisco, and Portland last year. At Sea-Tac, the airline is also opening 10 new automated bag drops and eight new bag tag stations, as part of its larger lobby overhaul set for completion in 2026.
Alaska Airlines has steadily modernized its check-in process over the past several years, phasing out traditional kiosks in favor of a mobile-first experience.
These changes come as U.S. airports embrace biometrics more broadly. Later this month, CLEAR will launch biometric eGates at Sea-Tac, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, and Reagan National in D.C. to automate identity checks at security.
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