Mar 2, 2022, 5:22 pm
Last edit by: TWA884
From the TSA website:
CAT is an effective tool for TSA officers, providing enhanced fraudulent ID detection capabilities while confirming the identity and flight information of travelers.
When a CAT unit is in use, a TSA officer will ask travelers to provide their photo IDs. The officer will insert each photo ID into the CAT unit where the ID is scanned and analyzed.
CAT is linked electronically to the Secure Flight database, which confirms travelers’ flight details, ensuring they are ticketed for travel that day. CAT also displays the pre-screening status (such as TSA PreCheck®) the traveler is eligible for, all without a boarding pass. However, CAT does not eliminate the requirement for passengers to check-in with their airline. Passengers still need their boarding pass to show the airline representative at their gate before boarding their flight.
Credential Authentication Technology
What is CAT?
Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) is a security game changer, ensuring ID authentication, reservation verification and Secure Flight pre-screening status are known in “near” real-time at the airport security checkpoint.CAT is an effective tool for TSA officers, providing enhanced fraudulent ID detection capabilities while confirming the identity and flight information of travelers.
When a CAT unit is in use, a TSA officer will ask travelers to provide their photo IDs. The officer will insert each photo ID into the CAT unit where the ID is scanned and analyzed.
CAT is linked electronically to the Secure Flight database, which confirms travelers’ flight details, ensuring they are ticketed for travel that day. CAT also displays the pre-screening status (such as TSA PreCheck®) the traveler is eligible for, all without a boarding pass. However, CAT does not eliminate the requirement for passengers to check-in with their airline. Passengers still need their boarding pass to show the airline representative at their gate before boarding their flight.
Advantages of CAT
CAT improves the travel document checker’s ability to accurately authenticate passenger identification and pre-screening status, addressing the vulnerabilities associated with ID and boarding pass fraud.Acceptable Forms of ID
Passengers 18 years old and over must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. CAT can scan the following types of identification:- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) ID. This includes IDs for active duty and retired military, their dependents, and DOD civilians. Also, the DOD Common Access Card (CAC).
- U.S. Merchant Mariner ID
- Trusted Traveler card:
- Global Entry
- Secure Electronic Network for Traveler Rapid Inspection (SENTRI)
- Free and Secure Trade (FAST) ID
- NEXUS card
- Permanent Resident Card/Resident Alien Card (I-551)
- Border Crossing Card/nonimmigrant visa (DSP-150)
- DHS refugee travel document (I-571)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Authorization Document (I-766)
- Driver’s or enhanced driver’s license
- Identification card issued by or under authority of a state Department of Motor Vehicles or equivalent state office that is intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identifying individuals
- Passports
- United Nations laissez-passer
- Canadian driver’s license
- Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
Airport Locations
TSA has CAT units at the following airports:
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)
- Albany International Airport (ALB)
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Appleton International Airport (ATW)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
- Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- Bangor International Airport (BGR)
- Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
- Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Boise Airport (Boise Air Terminal) (Gowen Field) (BOI)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (Ryan Field) (BTR)
- Burlington International Airport (BTV)
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (was Bob Hope Airport) (BUR)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Akron–Canton Airport (CAK)
- Charleston International Airport / Charleston AFB (CHS)
- The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Yeager Airport (CRW)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- El Paso International Airport (ELP)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport (Joe Foss Field) (FSD)
- Spokane International Airport (Geiger Field) (GEG)
- Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
- Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
- Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport (Roger Milliken Field) (GSP)
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Houston William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU)
- Westchester County Airport (HPN)
- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (formerly Wichita Mid-Continent Airport) (ICT)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
- Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
- Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- McCarran International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Clinton National Airport (Adams Field) (was Little Rock National) (LIT)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Manchester–Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
- Minot International Airport (MOT)
- Dane County Regional Airport (Truax Field) (MSN)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
- Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Ontario International Airport (ONT)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- Paine Field Airport (PAE)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Pensacola International Airport (PNS)
- Tri-Cities Airport (PSC)
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- Theodore Francis Green State Airport (PVD)
- Portland International Jetport (PWM)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
- Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (Woodrum Field) (ROA)
- Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
- South Bend International Airport (was South Bend Regional) (SBN)
- Louisville International Airport (Standiford Field) (SDF)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Springfield–Branson National Airport (SGF)
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
- San Jose International Airport (SJC)
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (San Juan Airport) (SJU)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- John Wayne Airport (SNA)
- Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
- Cyril E. King Airport (STT)
- Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
- Tallahassee International Airport (TLH)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL
- Tucson International Airport (TUS)
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
New TSA Credential Authentication Technology ID Scanners - No Boarding Pass Required
Jan 20, 2020, 8:49 pm
#76
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 439
BOS was using the new scanners today as well and I also tried to use my PIV card and was asked for an alternate ID as the new scanners don’t recognizerhen . Didn’t want to take the time to see what would happen if I said I didn’t have one so I gave him my driver’s license. I suspect I would’ve been able to be cleared but it would’ve been an annoying manual process.
Jan 20, 2020, 8:52 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 439
They had the new scanners out at BOS terminal C today. Tried to use my PIV card but was told the scanners don’t recognize them and was asked for an alternative ID. Didn’t feel like pressing my luck so I gave the TSO my drivers license.
Jan 21, 2020, 7:21 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I'm in CLEAR (which I've used at LAS and JFK T4/T2), except for "randoms" you never show ID (they have that registered in their system) but must show a bp.
Do the new machines recognize GE cards?
Do the new machines recognize GE cards?
Jan 25, 2020, 4:42 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
Experienced the new scanner for the first time flying out of PHX T4 last week. The scanners seemed incredibly slow, taking 10+ seconds to validate my NEXUS card and a similar amount of my for my travel companion's Canadian passport. There was a queue at the ID check but not in the actual Pre Check security lane because of this.
Jan 30, 2020, 12:29 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 117
I saw one of these at STL on Thursday Jan 23, at the Pre-Check line for Terminal 2 (also called the Southwest terminal, or the East Terminal, depending on how long you have lived in Saint Louis). It scanned my Global Entry card, and the TSA person operating it had no interest in seeing my boarding pass.
Interestingly, a traveler who had arrive ahead of me was corralled off the the side near that machine with another TSA blue shirt, who was saying "Sir, we are unable to verify you". I was late and caffeine deprived and didn't find a reason to linger and see how that resolved.
I assume that some of the valid IDs (tribal IDs in particular) may not be machine readable, and I wonder what happens if a traveler show up with an ID which is valid, but isn't readable by their machine.
I also have to think that given a passport from a low tech third world nation that the scanner could do little more than verify that it has machine readable characters printed in the appropriate spots specified by the international standard for passports, and that it would be unable to pull data from the issuing country's passport database.
Although this will presumably catch fake IDs that are cosmetically good but technically flawed, I have to think that the TSA staff will fall into the habit of saying "The machine thinks it's an ID, so we're through here...NEXT!" while paying less attention to the appearance of the ID, and to comparing the photo to the traveler...I suspect this will make it easier to use a fake ID that is appropriately machine readable, but which is not a good cosmetic twin of the real thing.
With tongue firmly in cheek, I suggest it will also be interesting to see if this machine accepts Costco memberships cards as valid ID, as so many TSA humans have done over the years.
Interestingly, a traveler who had arrive ahead of me was corralled off the the side near that machine with another TSA blue shirt, who was saying "Sir, we are unable to verify you". I was late and caffeine deprived and didn't find a reason to linger and see how that resolved.
I assume that some of the valid IDs (tribal IDs in particular) may not be machine readable, and I wonder what happens if a traveler show up with an ID which is valid, but isn't readable by their machine.
I also have to think that given a passport from a low tech third world nation that the scanner could do little more than verify that it has machine readable characters printed in the appropriate spots specified by the international standard for passports, and that it would be unable to pull data from the issuing country's passport database.
Although this will presumably catch fake IDs that are cosmetically good but technically flawed, I have to think that the TSA staff will fall into the habit of saying "The machine thinks it's an ID, so we're through here...NEXT!" while paying less attention to the appearance of the ID, and to comparing the photo to the traveler...I suspect this will make it easier to use a fake ID that is appropriately machine readable, but which is not a good cosmetic twin of the real thing.
With tongue firmly in cheek, I suggest it will also be interesting to see if this machine accepts Costco memberships cards as valid ID, as so many TSA humans have done over the years.
Jan 30, 2020, 12:34 pm
#82
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Yeah, forgot to add about my experience at PDX last week; I'd just changed my ticket to an earlier flight and went straight to PC; even though the BP on my phone had the "Pre" marking on it, apparently my personal information hadn't propagated to <database> and the doc-only checker couldn't verify my GE ID right away; took about 5 more minutes before I'd showed up in their systems.
Normally my trips to PDX are one single carryon so I just enter the PC line with my later BP and standby at the gate, but this time I'd had checked bags so changed at the counter (and was issued a new BP).
Normally my trips to PDX are one single carryon so I just enter the PC line with my later BP and standby at the gate, but this time I'd had checked bags so changed at the counter (and was issued a new BP).
Jan 30, 2020, 1:10 pm
#83
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
US DL's which account for the overwhelming majority of ID docs presented are very quick. Non-DL's which are recognized are a bit slower and can take as long as 10-15 seconds. Other acceptable ID which isn't machine readable require manual intervention and will do so for the conceiveable future.
It's a great system for most travelers.
It's a great system for most travelers.
Jan 30, 2020, 1:41 pm
#84
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,034
I think I experienced those machines at BOS last August and it went swimmingly. Was surprised too when I wasn't asked for my boarding pass.
Feb 1, 2020, 7:15 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
SFO (outsourced TSA) has these in at least T3. Most people were being told that there was no need for the BP. It didn't seem to actually save any time though.
After showing a UK passport, BP was asked for - and they did the old fashioned verification - machine was not used at all.
After showing a UK passport, BP was asked for - and they did the old fashioned verification - machine was not used at all.
Feb 4, 2020, 2:25 pm
#87
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New York
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott LTPP, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,079
Just encountered one of these for the first time at TPA A-gates, went to offer up my boarding pass and the TSO said you don't need that today. The TSO put my NEXUS card in the reader, took about 7-8 seconds before the machine produced a chime (seemingly a satisfied/OK/good tone).
Faster than a paper boarding pass where the TSO has to circle a few items with the pen? Maybe.
Faster than a digital boarding pass/ID check? Seemingly not. Although I'm not sure it matters - after the ID check the longer part of the line seemed to be carry-on bag scanning as far as a bottleneck.
Faster than a paper boarding pass where the TSO has to circle a few items with the pen? Maybe.
Faster than a digital boarding pass/ID check? Seemingly not. Although I'm not sure it matters - after the ID check the longer part of the line seemed to be carry-on bag scanning as far as a bottleneck.
Feb 11, 2020, 5:54 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: YHZ
Programs: AC SE100K, AC 1MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold,Hertz something or other, Sandals Sapphire, etc
Posts: 1,163
Had issues twice in the past 2 weeks in BOS with the machine/scanner. My wife and I gave our Nexus cards to TSA agent, he inserted, said he found our flights, but that we were not TSA Pre. I showed him our Air Canada boarding pass with TSA Pre printed on them. He said that didn't matter his system said we were not pre-clear. He blamed Air Canada.
We went to the regular line where the TSA agent scanned our boarding pass and wrote "expedited" on the Boarding Pass. I asked her if that meant we were TSA Pre and she said yes, and pointed to the TSA Pre printed on the pass.
My wife went through a week later, thru same security, and had the same issue.
We went to the regular line where the TSA agent scanned our boarding pass and wrote "expedited" on the Boarding Pass. I asked her if that meant we were TSA Pre and she said yes, and pointed to the TSA Pre printed on the pass.
My wife went through a week later, thru same security, and had the same issue.
Mar 2, 2020, 10:59 am
#89
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,653
In The Sacramento Bee:
TSA announces new security measures at Sacramento International Airport checkpoints
TSA announces new security measures at Sacramento International Airport checkpoints
Passengers at Sacramento International Airport are no longer required to show their boarding pass at the federal Transportation Security Administration federal checkpoint, federal officials announced on Thursday. Instead, checkpoint agents are employing new technology that can scan a flier’s driver license or other identification and electronically verify if that person is on a list of ticketed passengers for flights out of the Sacramento airport on that day.
The new identification verification system, called Credential Authentication Technology, is being introduced this month at airports nationally. The technology connects to the TSA’s Secure Flight database, which identifies people who are on the federal government’s “no fly” list.
***
Federal officials also warned fliers that when they buy their plane tickets, they should make sure the name on their boarding pass is identical to the name on their driver license or other ID. Otherwise, federal agents are likely to send passengers back to the airline counter to change their ticketing name so that it matches their ID.
***
The new identification verification system, called Credential Authentication Technology, is being introduced this month at airports nationally. The technology connects to the TSA’s Secure Flight database, which identifies people who are on the federal government’s “no fly” list.
***
Federal officials also warned fliers that when they buy their plane tickets, they should make sure the name on their boarding pass is identical to the name on their driver license or other ID. Otherwise, federal agents are likely to send passengers back to the airline counter to change their ticketing name so that it matches their ID.
***
Mar 2, 2020, 2:00 pm
#90
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: OSH
Programs: SWRR, HH, SM, TSA Pre
Posts: 758
There is no way my Tribal ID would be machine readable. It looks like a 5th grader did it in a bad photoshop knock off. I've had it for 10 years and it never expires. Maybe I will try it at MKE in two weeks and see what the ID checker says.