TSA PreCheck- The Biggest Time Saver at Airports
Outside of flight delays, going through security at an airport can be one of the most frustrating things about travel. However, thanks to TSA PreCheck it can make these two things much more manageable and save you tons of time.
What is TSA PreCheck
This is probably the one part of airport security most people know about. If you don’t already have it, you are probably envious of people zipping through the line while you have to sit there and take your shoes off, and your laptop and liquids out of your bag.
TSA PreCheck is a Trusted Traveler program administered by the Transportation Safety Administration which lets select members go through expedited screening at domestic US airports. PreCheck has been around since December of 2013 and has since expanded to more than 300 airports with 90+ airlines participating. As of 2023 there are more than 15 million members of TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck Line at Charleston International Airport
Once you are a member, you have to add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to you airline reservation and make sure that “TSA PreCheck” is printed on your ticket in order to use the designated line. If not, the Transportation Security Officer will promptly turn you away and embarrass you as you walk back past everyone to get to the standard screening line.
Just as the name implies, TSA pre-screens you so they can determine if you are a threat or not. If you’re reading this, hopefully you are not. The best part about PreCheck is you do not have to take your shoes off, remove your jacket and belt, or take your laptop and liquids out of your bag. Additionally, you can just walk through the metal detector and don’t have to stand with your arms over your head in the full body scanner. Occasionally, however, you may still be subject to additional screening. Either way, this process is much less painful and much quicker, especially at a large airport where TSA lines can wrap around for what seems like a mile.
I’ve been a member since April of 2015 and it will be one thing that I hopefully never go without. I go through airport security around 6-8 times a month so if it saves me 20 minutes each time that would conservatively have saved me over 28 hours of waiting in line! I routinely get through security at my small home airport in well under 3 minutes while the standard line can take around 15 minutes or longer. Even at larger airport like Atlanta, I’m through security in 5 minutes or less where the standard line can be upwards of 30-45 minutes!
How to Get TSA PreCheck
This part is actually fairly easy and the amount of time the process takes will easily make up for the time it will save you at the airport. All you need to do is go to TSA.gov/PreCheck From there you fill out your application at one of two partners and pay the application fee. Telos is $85 and only has 26 locations, while Idemia is only $78 and has over 600 locations. The online application is pretty straightforward and feels a little like a job application where you have to enter in all of the places you’ve lived in the past 10 years as well as your employment history. Overall, it should be a pretty painless process. Once you are approved, you’ll need to go in to one of their locations to finalize your application. After you get approved, you’ll be given a Known Traveler Number, or KTN which you can enter into your airline’s frequent flyer program to be automatically applied to all tickets in the future.
Do children need to apply for PreCheck?
It depends on how old they are. Children under 12 may accompany any parent or guardian through the PreCheck line, while children 13-17 may join enrolled adults in the PreCheck line if they are traveling on the same reservation and PreCheck is on their boarding pass. I’m not really sure when someone under 12 wouldn’t be traveling with their parent or guardian under the same reservation, but I guess it happens enough for them to spell it out. If they are traveling alone, they would need to apply on their own.
One thing to note, which I am dealing with right now everytime I fly with my wife is that your name on your PreCheck membership must match the name on your reservation. She still has her maiden name associated with her KTN which doesn’t match her new married name… That means no PreCheck for her which means I have to slog through the standard TSA line. It really makes you appreciate how valuable it is to have PreCheck.
How Long Does TSA PreCheck Last
TSA PreCheck is valid for 5 years. After those 5 years, you can extend your membership for another 5 years for $70 online. Just remember to renew before your membership expires or you’ll have to go through the new application process all over again.
Getting TSA PreCheck for Free
While the $78 fee isn’t that expensive, especially considering it last for 5 years ($15.60 per year) there are a number of ways to get that fee covered if you use the right credit card. There are dozens of cards out there that cover the TSA Precheck fee or the Global Entry fee. These cards either offer the credit once every 4 or 5 years. Just make sure to renew your membership before it expires.
Premium Cards
Delta SkyMiles Reserve
United Club Infinite
Business Cards
American Express Business Platinum
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business
Cards with Under $100 Annual Fees
Capital One Venture Rewards
United Explorer
IHG One Rewards Premier
Bank of America Premium Rewards
Global Entry
If you are interested in TSA PreCheck, you might as well get Global Entry which comes with PreCheck. Global Entry is a similar Trusted Traveler program which allows for expedited customs at 58 US airports and 17 international airports through a pre-clearance system. The downside, however, is there are far fewer enrollment sites to actually get Global Entry. At my last count there were 101 enrollment centers in the US and a handful in other countries. Most of these sites are in large airports or at weird land border crossings to Canada or Mexico. However, you can also complete your interview on arrival where you complete your application before and just walk into the Customs and Border Protection office at the airport to complete your enrollment after landing from an international flight. If you live in a smaller city, or can’t get an appointment at an enrollment center, this is a great option. At only $100, or $22 more than PreCheck, this is by far the way to go.
Global Entry Kiosks
Wrapping Up
TSA Precheck is a huge time saver at airports. From shorter lines to not having to take your shoes off or your liquids out of your bag, this program is a must for anyone who flies. Even if you only fly a handful of times each year, the time saving greatly outweighs the cost and the short amount of time it takes to apply.
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