If you’ve ever been delayed at the regular airport security line, you’ve probably wondered how to get TSA PreCheck, the government program that pre-approves passengers for a more expedited version of the screening process.
The application process is a relatively simple one. And although membership does come with a fee attached, it can be an investment worth making, as TSA PreCheck lasts for several years. It can make a big difference in speeding through a crowded airport and gives travelers peace of mind that they won’t have to unpack their carry-on before putting their bags through the x-ray scanner. As airports are seeing a record-breaking number of fliers, now’s the perfect time to plan ahead to avoid stress before your next trip.
Below, we answer every question on how to get TSA PreCheck, from what the program offers and which airlines participate, to what to expect from the application process and tips on getting a free membership.
What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is a government-sponsored program that began in October 2011 and grants approved passengers expedited security screening before boarding a plane. At last count, there are 32 million members enrolled. More than 80 airlines work in cooperation with TSA PreCheck, and the service can be found in more than 200 airports across the U.S.
Unlike the regular security line, PreCheck passengers don't need to remove their shoes, laptops, travel-sized liquids, belts, and light jackets, which means less time in line—and more in the lounge. Still not convinced TSA PreCheck is worth it? Here's a fun fact: In April 2023, 94 percent of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than five minutes in a security line.
How to get TSA PreCheck
Submit an online application here, and then schedule an appointment at any of more than 400 enrollment centers across the country. The enrollment centers allow for walk-in interviews, but customers with appointments are given priority. The agency says that it is currently receiving a high volume of applications for TSA PreCheck enrollment. But unlike other Trusted Traveler programs such as Global Entry, TSA PreCheck appointments largely aren’t suffering from an ongoing backlog due to the pandemic.
How long does a TSA PreCheck appointment take?
At your in-person appointment, you'll have to give your fingerprints and undergo a brief background check. Appointments usually take around 10 minutes.
How long does it take to get TSA PreCheck?
Most new applicants will typically receive their TSA PreCheck number (officially called a Known Traveler Number) within three to five days after their in-person appointment, according to the agency. However, some applications may take longer—up to 60 days or more. This is partially due to the agency receiving a higher-than-normal amount of enrollment applications. Other issues that can cause a longer processing time include difficulty capturing fingerprints during the in-person appointment or if missing enrollment data on the application. The TSA encourages prospective members to check their application status online.
How much does TSA PreCheck cost?
TSA PreCheck now costs $78 for a five-year membership. The government recently lowered the price, down from $85 for five years. The fee can be paid via credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check. Payment usually happens at the in-person appointment. The cost of renewing a TSA PreCheck membership after five years is even cheaper: just $70 for the next five years. You can renew up to six months prior to your membership expiring.
How do I get TSA PreCheck for free?
While the government itself offers no discounts or reimbursements for the fees, several loyalty programs offer to pay for the membership for their most elite tier of fliers. There are also several travel rewards credit cards that will cover the cost of the fee in the form of a statement credit, including some of the most popular cards for travelers. Among the nine credit cards that currently waive the TSA PreCheck fee every five years are: the Platinum Card from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Capital One Venture X, the United Explorer Card, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, and the SunTrust Travel Rewards Credit Card.
How do I find my TSA PreCheck number?
Also called a Known Traveler Number (or KTN), your TSA PreCheck number is your unique identifier linked to your account and used to give you access to the separate lane at airport security. To find your KTN, you can look it up on the TSA website by filling out a form. Simply input the same information you used during registration, follow the prompts, and you’ll be led to a page displaying your number.
Once you find your KTN, keep it in a safe place like a password manager, so you have it handy for airline bookings. And it’s important to note: You need to add the number to your passenger information each time you book a flight. (If you have a loyalty account with an airline, it’s possible to add the number to your profile so it auto-populates for each booking.) The TSA says not seeing a KTN on a boarding pass is one of the most common complaints the agency receives from passengers each month.
If you forgot to add your KTN to your flight reservation or it’s simply not showing on your boarding pass, you can go to your airline’s check-in counter at the airport and request they add it to your reservation before going through the security checkpoint.
How will I know if I can use a TSA PreCheck lane on my upcoming flight?
Participating airlines print a TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass—such as TSAPRECHK, TSA PRE, or TSA Pre✓—and bury it in the barcode, too. Before entering the TSA PreCheck line at the security checkpoint, an airport staffer will verify that this is printed on your boarding pass and that you’re authorized to enter the faster lane. After that, follow the normal protocol of showing the TSA officer at the kiosk your ID and scanning your boarding pass.
Note: Travelers are checked for TSA PreCheck every time they fly, but the PreCheck indicator isn't limited to participating airports. This means you may still get a boarding pass printed with TSA PreCheck, even if you're at an airport that isn't outfitted with a PreCheck lane.
Will I be able to take my family through TSA PreCheck lanes?
Not necessarily. However, children ages 17 and under traveling with an eligible PreCheck-approved parent or guardian can participate in the expedited screening for free. (Previously this only applied to children ages 12 and under, but the agency recently expanded the policy to include 13 to 17 year olds, too.)
The TSA notes that travelers 18 and older who do not have a TSA PreCheck boarding pass must go through standard security lanes, or apply for TSA PreCheck themselves. There is no age restriction to apply for TSA PreCheck.
What's the difference between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?
It can be tricky to decide on Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck. Global Entry is a separate program that allows travelers to bypass the lines at customs and immigration by checking in at a kiosk, either with an entry KTN number and a fingerprint scan or a facial scan. It also includes TSA PreCheck eligibility in participating airports. Global Entry is best for travelers who fly internationally more than four times a year, according to TSA. Global Entry costs $100 for five years. (The fee is nonrefundable, even if your application is denied.)
Approval for Global Entry also has a lengthier processing time—it typically takes up to 90 days to hear back on an application, but recently even longer due to ongoing backlogs as travel continues to rebound from the pandemic.
What's the difference between TSA PreCheck and Clear?
There are a few major differences between TSA PreCheck vs. Clear. Another airport shortcut, Clear, lets travelers jump to the head of security lines. It’s a private company that allows travelers to skip the physical ID check and use a much quicker biometric scan of their eye and fingerprint instead. Travelers with both TSA PreCheck and Clear get to automatically skip to the front of the PreCheck line (those with a Clear membership but no PreCheck will go to the front of the regular security line.
Clear is significantly more expensive than TSA PreCheck, costing $189 per year (although there are a few ways to get discounts or a free membership.)
Which airlines participate in TSA PreCheck?
There are 86 airlines that participate in TSA PreCheck, including:
- Advanced Air
- Aerolane Lineas Aereas Nacionales del Ecuador
- AeroMexico
- Air Canada
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Air India
- Air Serbia
- Alaska Airlines
- All Nippon Airways
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Aruba Airlines
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Avelo Airlines
- Avianca
- Azul Airlines
- Boutique Airlines
- Breeze Airways
- British Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Cape Air
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- China Airlines
- Condor Airlines
- Contour Aviation
- Copa Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Eastern Airlines
- Edelweiss Air
- EL AL Israel
- Elite Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Eurowings Discover
- EVA Air
- Finnair
- Flair Airlines
- Flycana
- Frontier Airlines
- Global Crossing Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Icelandair
- InterCaribbean Airways
- ITA Airways
- Japan Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Key Lime Air
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Korean Air
- LAN Peru S.A.
- LATAM Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Norwegian Air
- Omni Air International
- PAL Express
- Philippine Airlines
- Porter Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Seaborne Airlines
- Silver Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Southern Airways Express
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- Sunclass
- Sunwing Airlines
- Swift Air
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Swoop
- TAM-Linhas Aereas S.A.
- TAP Air Portugal
- Turkish Airlines
- Ultimate Jet Charters
- United Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Viva Air Colombia
- VivaAerobus
- Volaris
- Volaris El Salvador
- WestJet
- World Atlantic
Which airports participate in TSA PreCheck?
More than 200 airports participate in TSA PreCheck, including:
- Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR)
- Abilene Regional Airport (ABI)
- Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
- Albany International Airport (ALB)
- Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ)
- Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM)
- Appleton International Airport (ATW)
- Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE)
- Augusta Regional Airport (AGS)
- Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)
- Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI)
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Bishop International Airport (FNT)
- Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS)
- Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
- Boise Airport (BOI)
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
- Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)
- Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO)
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
- Burlington International Airport (BTV)
- Capital Region International Airport (LAN)
- Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI)
- Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA)
- Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO)
- Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
- Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
- Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)
- Cyril E. King Airport (STT)
- Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
- Dayton International Airport (DAY)
- Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
- Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL)
- Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK)
- Duluth international Airport (DLH)
- Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
- East Texas Regional Airport (GGG)
- El Paso International Airport (ELP)
- Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Eugene Airport (EUG)
- Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
- Falls International Airport (INL)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM)
- Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA)
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
- General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
- General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
- Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
- Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR)
- Grand Forks International Airport-Mark Andrews Field (GFK)
- Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)
- Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
- Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport (PIB)
- Hector International Airport (FAR)
- Hilo International Airport (ITO)
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
- Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT)
- Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- John Wayne Airport (SNA)
- Kahului Airport (OGG)
- Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK)
- La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT)
- Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
- Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport (LAW)
- Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
- Lihue Airport (LIH)
- Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Louisville International Airport (SDF)
- Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
- MBS International Airport (MBS)
- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
- McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE)
- McCarran International Airport (LAS)
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Meridian Regional Airport (MEI)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV)
- Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF)
- Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Minot International Airport (MOT)
- Missoula International Airport (MSO)
- Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)
- Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ)
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW)
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
- North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB)
- Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA)
- Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
- Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Ontario International Airport (ONT)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- Pensacola International Airport (PNS)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Portland International Jetport (PWM)
- Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
- Quad City International Airport (MLI)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
- Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
- Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (RHI)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA)
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
- Rochester International Airport (RST)
- Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- Saint George Regional Airport (SGU)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)
- Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF)
- Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
- Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)
- Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN)
- South Bend International Airport (SBN)
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
- Spokane International Airport (GEG)
- Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF)
- St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
- Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
- T. F. Green Airport (PVD)
- Tallahassee International Airport (TLH)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK)
- The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
- Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF)
- Tri-Cities Airport (PSC)
- Tri-State Airport (HTS)
- Tucson International Airport (TUS)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
- Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR)
- University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)
- Valley International Airport (HRL)
- Waco Regional Airport (ACT)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
- Wichita Fall Municipal Airport (SPS)
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)
- Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
- Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN)
- Yeager Airport (CRW)
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.