The Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) has just expanded its TSA PreCheck program to
include four new global airlines: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, Ethiopian
Airlines and Saudia. With this addition, nearly 100 airlines now participate in
the expedited screening program, offering more travelers a faster and more
efficient airport security experience.
TSA PreCheck
provides a streamlined screening process for low-risk passengers at over 200
airports across the United States and at one international preclearance
location, the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas.
Travelers enrolled
in TSA PreCheck can enjoy a range of special conveniences, including keeping on their
shoes, belts and light jackets, and not having to remove laptops, 3-1-1
liquids, or food items from their carry-on bags. Impressively, about 99 percent
of TSA PreCheck passengers around the nation wait less than 10 minutes in
dedicated lanes at airport checkpoints.
The program is
accessible to eligible travelers departing from a participating U.S. airport or
connecting on domestic flights after returning to the U.S. from an
international trip. U.S. citizens, nationals and lawful permanent residents can
apply for TSA PreCheck through any
of its approved enrollment providers, including CLEAR, IDEMIA and Telos. Users
can select any of these providers based on the best pricing, their location and
any additional benefit they may offer. Enrollment costs do vary depending on
the provider selected.
Applying for TSA
PreCheck is a straightforward process. Prospective enrollees can visit tsa.gov/precheck, select an enrollment
provider, and complete an online application in about five minutes. The final
step involves a 10-minute in-person appointment for fingerprinting, document
and photo capture and payment.
Most applicants
receive their Known Traveler Number (KTN) within three to five days, which,
when added to their airline reservation, grants access to dedicated TSA
PreCheck lanes.
Additionally,
teenagers aged 13-17 can now accompany their TSA PreCheck-enrolled parents or
guardians through the expedited screening process, provided they are on the
same reservation and have the TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass.
Children 12 and under can join an enrolled parent or guardian in the TSA
PreCheck lanes without any restrictions.
For enrolled travelers, it
is essential to ensure that the TSA PreCheck indicator, such as TSA PRECHK,
is displayed on their boarding pass before approaching a TSA checkpoint to
confirm eligibility for the expedited screening.
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