Alaska Airlines launches ID verification at automated bag drop units in Seattle and Portland

Digital Transformation | On the Ground | Up in the Air // Sep 2025

Alaska Airlines’ passengers travelling from Seattle and Portland now have the option to verify their identity right at the automated bag drop units, as it aims to make the travel experience as seamless as possible.

One year ago, Alaska Airlines launched its automated bag drop technology in San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Now, in Seattle and Portland, travellers have the option to verify their identity right at the automated bag drop units.

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are passionate about ensuring the travel experience is as seamless as possible. That is why they have launched tools such as electronic bag tags and automated bag drops and why they continue to iterate on the technologies offered, working to reduce the time spent in line at the airport.

“Adding identity verification to our automated bag drops represents another important step in our plan to get our guests to security in five minutes or less,” said Charu Jain, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Innovation, Alaska Airlines. “Every minute saved at the airport is time that can be spent relaxing at home or enjoying a trip.”

The three-step process includes:

Download the Alaska Airlines App and check-in for your flight: the Alaska Airlines app enables travellers to check in for their flight from the comfort of home. Customers can also use it to pay for bags, get boarding passes, track flights, make seat changes, and so much more, right from their phone.
Tag your bags: head to the self-service bag tag station or kiosk and use your boarding pass QR code to print your tags and place them on your luggage.
Drop your bags: the automated bag drop unit scans your bag tag to retrieve your reservation. Next, scan your ID, and a facial scan will match your face with the photo on your ID. Following verification, your bag is dispatched and you’re on your way. Facial recognition is optional. If travellers would prefer to have a human verify their ID, Alaska Airlines will have agents on hand who can assist. Photos taken for ID verification are deleted after the matching process is completed.

This month also marks an exciting milestone in Alaska Airlines’ lobby transformation project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The lobby’s west wall has come down, and travellers will enjoy 10 new automated bag drops and eight new bag tag stations, which will help shorten lines and reduce congestion. Alaska’s lobby construction project is set to conclude in 2026.

Hear more from Alaska Airlines at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Long Beach, California, on 9 to 11 September 2025. Natalie Randall, Day of Travel Experience Manager, Alaska Airlines, is participating in ‘The APEX/FTE Accessibility Symposium – let’s go above and beyond what is required’. Nicole Hodges-Austin, Innovation Program Manager, Alaska Airlines, is speaking in a session titled ‘Pilot stories: What are hard lessons learned, and secrets, to a successful innovation journey?’ Meanwhile, Gus Naughton, Principal Software Engineer – Innovation, Alaska Airlines, is participating in two sessions. Naughton will deliver a joint presentation alongside Kellen Schroeter, CEO & Co-Founder, Pattern Labs, titled ‘What is the in-depth story behind Alaksa Airlines becoming the first airline to automate dispatch on the ramp with AI?’ He is also speaking in a session titled ‘How do we now revolutionise the gate and boarding experience, and other key airport pinch-points?’

View the full FTE Global 2025 schedule at a glance >> Register for FTE Global 2025 >>