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      TSA PreCheck – Cost, Renewal, Locations, Application, Benefits, Airports, & Airlines in 2024

      Phil Dengler
      TSA PreCheck Cost Airlines Airports

      Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

      There is good news if you find it a hassle navigating traditional security lines at the airport. TSA PreCheck allows you to go through a usually shorter line while not having to remove your shoes, belt, liquids bag, laptop, and light jacket. While the service can save you a ton of time and reduce travel-related anxiety, there is an $78 fee to apply (recently reduced from $85).

      Here is what you need to know so you can decide if TSA PreCheck is right for you.

      What is TSA PreCheck?

      TSA PreCheck was established in October of 2011 by the Transportation Security Administration for low-risk travelers. With 15 million members and growing, the program is perfect for both personal and business travelers who wish to get through security as quickly and stress-free as possible. It is one of the five United States Trusted Traveler Programs, which also includes the following.

      In May of 2023, the TSA said 89 percent of PreCheck passengers made it through security in less than five minutes, which is considerably faster than traditional lines. With PreCheck, you do not have to remove your shoes, laptop, 3-1-1 liquids bag, belts, and light jacket. You will also go through a metal detector as opposed to a body scanner.

      How Much Does TSA PreCheck Cost? 

      TSA PreCheck Screening Process

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      It will cost you $78 to apply. Unfortunately, you will not receive a refund if you are denied. If approved, your membership will be valid for five years, after which you can renew for another five years for $70 if you do it online. Payment is accepted during your interview at the enrollment center, and you can pay by credit card, money order, company checks, and certified/cashier’s checks.

      Further Reading: TSA PreCheck Renewal Guide.

      Best Credit Cards Offering Reimbursement for the Application Fee

      The good news is a variety of different travel-focused credit cards offer 100 percent reimbursement for the $78 TSA PreCheck application fee and $70 online renewal fee. The bad news is most of the cards providing this benefit have an annual fee. While the PreCheck reimbursement may pay the annual fee by itself for the first year, we recommend choosing the card that is right for your own travel needs and budget. Here are a few of our favorite cards offering reimbursement.

      While some of those card’s annual fees may seem high, many of them offer travel statement credits upwards of $300 or more. See our full article on the best credit cards for TSA PreCheck reimbursement.

      Further Reading:

      Give Your PreCheck Credit Card Reimbursement to a Friend

      TSA PreCheck Credit Cards for Reimbursement

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      If you already have PreCheck and a friend or family member wants to sign up, you can give them your credit card reimbursement. All you need is one of the credit cards listed above and have them use it as their payment method. There is no rule stating only the credit card holder can receive the reimbursement, so you are free to transfer it as you please.

      Do I Have to Become a Member to Receive PreCheck?

      To introduce more people to the advantages of PreCheck, the TSA randomly offered the service to many nonmembers when the program first started in 2011. While there is still a chance you can get PreCheck as a nonmember (I got it in March of 2019 before I became a member), the TSA cut back on this practice in 2017, according to CNBC.

      The Vacationer Tip

      We highly recommend applying for TSA PreCheck if you want to almost guarantee access to the expedited line. Use a travel-focused credit card to get full reimbursement for the $78 TSA PreCheck application fee. If you would like to see other offers, Click to See All of Our Recommended Travel Credit Cards.

      As a Member, Will I Always Have Access to the PreCheck Line?

      Unfortunately, no, but you will probably have PreCheck on your boarding pass for the majority of your flights. For reasons only known to the TSA, sometimes you will have to go through the traditional security line despite being a member of PreCheck. You may also have to go through additional security screening measures.

      Further Reading: How to Get Through TSA Airport Security Faster

      Applying for TSA PreCheck

      Applying for PreCheck is quick and easy (it should take 5-10 minutes), but only U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and select U.S. Nationals are eligible for approval after a background check.

      TSA PreCheck Application

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      Go to the TSA website and click Apply Now. The first page of the application asks basic questions such as your full legal name, gender, date of birth, preferred language, email address, phone number, and preferred method of contact. You must use your full name as it will appear on your airline reservations. 

      The second page asks for your city and country of birth, as well as your country of citizenship.

      TSA PreCheck Citizenship

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      As you go through the application, you will also be asked for your address, height, weight, hair color, and eye color, and other important information. 

      Scheduling and Attending Your Interview

      After completing the application, you will then have the opportunity to schedule an interview at more than 500 enrollment centers. While walk-ins are welcome, the TSA recommends scheduling an appointment because enrollment centers may be busy.

      TSA PreCheck Enrollment Centers

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      At the interview, be sure to bring a form of payment as well as required documents to prove your identity and citizenship. If you have a U.S. Passport Book/Card or an Enhanced Driver’s License, you should be able to just bring one of those. If you only have a state-issued Driver’s License or State ID Card, you are going to have to bring another form of ID such as a birth certificate or expired U.S. Passport. To be safe, we recommend using the required docs link above to be sure you have everything required.

      TSA PreCheck Required Documents

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      The interview is short and mainly done to verify your documents and information. Your fingerprints and a photograph will also be taken. If approved, you will receive written notification a few weeks after your interview. You can also check the status of your application online if you want to find out sooner.

      Using PreCheck With Your Known Traveler Number (KTN)

      After approval, you will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). This number links your PreCheck membership to your airline reservation. When booking a flight, simply enter your KTN in the required field. For flights booked prior to PreCheck approval, you can update your current reservation with your KTN online or by calling the airline. 

      TSA PreCheck Known Traveler Number (KTN)

      Photo: American Airlines. The screenshot above shows where you would enter your KTN to receive PreCheck when booking a flight with American Airlines.

      For convenience sake, we recommend updating your frequent flyer profile with your KTN in the required field. Doing this will automatically insert it into any new bookings that you make in the future. For existing flights, you still have to update any current bookings with your KTN.

      TSA PreCheck Frequent Flyer Profile

      Photo: American Airlines. The screenshot shows where to enter your KTN in your frequent flyer profile. This will vary by airline, but it will be a similar process.

      The Vacationer Tip

      Make sure you enter your Known Traveler Number in the correct field. It is usually close to the Redress Number field, which confuses some people. You may want to apply for a redress number if SSSS is frequently on your boarding pass.

      Confirm TSA PreCheck is on Your Boarding Pass

      As a member of TSA PreCheck, you will not receive an ID card. Instead, your KTN grants you access to the expedited lines. As detailed above, you should enter your KTN in your airline reservation. If successful, your boarding pass will show TSA PreCheck on it granting you full access. You will not have access to the line unless your boarding pass has the indicator on it.

      TSA PreCheck Boarding Pass

      Photo: Phil Dengler

      If your boarding pass does not have the TSA PreCheck indicator, you should call your airline. You may have forgotten to enter your KTN on the particular flight reservation, or you may have entered it incorrectly. It is also important that your name and birthdate on the airline reservation match exactly how it was written on your PreCheck application.

      As previously mentioned, in some cases you will not be eligible for the expedited lines on a particular flight despite being a member of the program and entering everything correctly. This is normal and entirely up to the TSA.

      The Vacationer Tip

      Your boarding pass must have the TSA PreCheck indicator on it or you will not be able to access the lines. If it does not show the indicator, contact your airline or the TSA.

      Using PreCheck With a Third-Party Booking Service

      If you booked your flight with a third-party booking service, such as Expedia or a travel agent, you can still use PreCheck. On occasion, your KTN may not transfer to the airline or there may not be a place to enter it.

      You should call the airline or check online to see if your KTN was properly submitted to them. If it was not, they will easily be able to update your reservation with your KTN and verify the rest of your information.

      Is PreCheck Available at Every U.S. Airport and Airline?

      Not yet. Currently, it is available at more than 200 airports and 73 different airlines. Expect this list to expand in the future, but here are the current locations.

      Airports

      Below, you can find a list of the busiest airports in the United States participating in PreCheck.

      Top Airports Offering PreCheck
      Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport (AUS)Baltimore- Washington Int’l Airport (BWI)Boston- Logan Int’l Airport (BOS)
      Charlotte-Douglas Int’l Airport (CLT)Chicago Midway Int’l Airport (MDW)Chicago O’Hare Int’l Airport (ORD)
      Dallas Love Field (DAL)Dallas/Ft. Worth Int’l Airport (DFW)Denver Int’l Airport (DEN)
      Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)Ft. Lauderdale- Hollywood Int’l Airport (FLL)Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l Airport (ATL)
      Honolulu Int’l Airport (HNL)Houston – G. Bush Intcntl Airport (IAH)Las Vegas – McCarran Int’l Airport (LAS)
      Los Angeles Int’l Airport (LAX)Miami Int’l Airport (MIA)Minneapolis- St. Paul Int’l Airport (MSP)
      Nashville Int’l Airport (BNA)New York – John F. Kennedy Int’l Airport (JFK)New York – LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
      Newark Liberty Int’l Airport (EWR)Orlando Int’l Airport (MCO)Philadelphia Int’l Airport (PHL)
      Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport (PHX)Portland Int’l Airport (PDX)Salt Lake City Int’l Airport (SLC)
      San Diego Int’l Airport (SAN)San Francisco Int’l Airport (SFO)Seattle-Tacoma Int’l Airport-SeaTac (SEA)
      Tampa Int’l Airport (TPA)Washington National Airport (DCA)Washington-Dulles Int’l Airport (IAD)

      See the full list of more than 200 airports participating in PreCheck.

      Airlines

      Airlines Offering PreCheck
      AeromexicoAir CanadaAir France
      Air IndiaAir SerbiaAlaska Airlines
      AlitaliaAll Nippon AirwaysAllegiant Air
      American AirlinesAruba AirlinesAsiana Airlines
      Austrian AirlinesAviancaAzul Airlines
      Boutique AirlinesBritish AirwaysBrussels Airlines
      Cape AirCathay Pacific AirwaysChina Airlines
      Condor AirlinesContour AviationCopa Airlines
      Delta Air LinesEastern AirlinesEdelweiss Air
      Elite AirwaysEmiratesEtihad Airways
      EVA AirFinnairFlycana
      Frontier AirlinesHawaiian AirlinesIcelandair
      Inter Caribbean AirwaysInterjetJapan Airlines
      JetBlue AirwaysKey Lime AirKLM Royal Dutch Airlines
      Korean AirLufthansaMiami Air Int’l
      Norwegian AirPAL ExpressPhilippine Airlines
      Porter AirlinesQantasQatar Airways
      Scandinavian AirlinesSeaborne AirlinesSilver Airways
      Singapore AirlinesSouthern Airways Exp.Southwest Airlines
      Spirit AirlinesSun Country AirlinesSunclass
      Sunwing AirlinesSwift AirSwiss Int’l Air Lines
      SwoopTAP Air PortugalTurkish Airlines
      United AirlinesVirgin AtlanticVivaAerobus
      VolarisWestJetWorld Atlantic
      Xtra Airways

      Is PreCheck Available 24/7?

      PreCheck lanes are not currently available 24/7. Depending on the day and airport, certain terminals may close their lines earlier than others. The good news is you can still receive expedited screening by showing the indicator on your boarding pass in a traditional lane if the PreCheck one is closed. You can check current schedules at the TSA website.

      TSA PreCheck Airport Schedule

      Photo: Transportation Security Administration

      Will The Rest of My Party Have Access to PreCheck Lines?

      Officially, only those in your party who are members of the PreCheck program will receive it. Anecdotally, we have seen every person in a party receive PreCheck if they are all on the same reservation as the booking member. Children 12 and under who are traveling with you are always allowed to use PreCheck lines if it appears on your boarding pass. Children 13 and older must go through the traditional security lines if their boarding pass does not have the indicator.

      Is TSA PreCheck Available During International Flights?

      Since PreCheck is run by the United States-based Transportation Security Administration, it is only available on domestic flights and flights taking off from the United States. That means you will be eligible for PreCheck lines when traveling internationally from the United States but not when returning home from a foreign country.

      The Vacationer Tip

      Consider Global Entry for expedited entry through customs when returning to the United States as well as PreCheck for domestic flights.

      Global Entry Includes TSA PreCheck But Costs More

      If you plan on traveling internationally in the next five years, it may make sense to sign up for Global Entry instead of PreCheck. The application fee is $100, and your membership will be valid for five years upon approval. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck as well as expedited entry through customs when returning to the United States via kiosks or the new Global Entry mobile app. Even if you do not have any current plans to travel internationally in the near future, it may still make sense to pay the extra $15 just in case.

      I became a member of Global Entry in the summer of 2019, and I am loving the benefits. While the interview is tougher to schedule (there are fewer enrollment centers) than the PreCheck appointment, it is possible to get it sooner if you follow a few tips. To access PreCheck with your Global Entry account, enter your PASSID in the Known Traveler Field when booking airline reservations.

      The credit cards list above also reimburses the $100 application fee for Global Entry, so you can essentially get it for free using one of those cards.

      Further Reading: TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry

      NEXUS and SENTRI Also Include PreCheck for Certain Members

      Trusted Traveler Programs NEXUS and SENTRI also include TSA PreCheck for certain members. NEXUS members who are U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and Canadian citizens have access to PreCheck. SENTRI members who are U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents may use PreCheck.

      Stack TSA PreCheck With CLEAR For An Even Faster Experience

      Before entering the traditional or PreCheck security screening area, you have to wait in another line to verify your boarding pass and identification with a TSA agent. Even if you have PreCheck, you may have to wait in a long line to reach the agent. 

      CLEAR is a system that allows you to confirm your identity at the airport using your eyes or fingerprints. This is done at a kiosk, and it is only available for members. After confirming your identity, you will then go straight to the security bins in the traditional or PreCheck line.

      It costs $189 per year, so it is not exactly cheap. It is available at over 65 airports, stadiums, and other locations that may have long wait times, so it may be worth it for you.

      FAQ

      How long does a TSA PreCheck membership last?

      Five years, after which you can renew for another five.

      How much does TSA PreCheck cost to renew?

      TSA PreCheck now costs only $70 to renew online. That is a decrease of $15 from the previous renewal price of $85.

      Can I get TSA PreCheck for free?

      Yes, but you have to have one of the many credit cards offering reimbursement. Otherwise it is $78 for five years.

      Can I upgrade my TSA PreCheck membership to a Global Entry membership?

      You cannot. PreCheck and Global Entry are run by different organizations, so you will have to apply separately to both. Global Entry does include PreCheck, however.

      How much time will it take me to get through security with PreCheck?

      Times can vary considerably depending on the airport and time of day. In most cases, you should be through security in five minutes or less.

      Do children need to sign up for PreCheck?

      Children 12 and under traveling with you can use the PreCheck lines if you are eligible. Children 13 and older must become members to use the service.

      Do I have to book my flight directly to be eligible?

      It depends on the airline. Frontier Airlines, for example, states PreCheck is only available through them if you book directly on their website. We recommend calling your airline to confirm their policy if you are not booking directly with them. 

      Besides becoming a PreCheck member, are there any other ways to use the PreCheck lanes?

      Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI all include TSA PreCheck. If you are a member of any of those programs, enter your PASSID in the Known Traveler Number field on your next domestic flight booking.

      The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts + Cheat Sheet

      TSA PreCheck Summary

      Photo: Department of Homeland Security

      Becoming a member of TSA PreCheck is a smart decision for anyone who dislikes going through traditional security screening lines. Getting your credit card to reimburse you for the $78 application fee is even smarter, but be aware of high annual fees.

      Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

      Featured Image via Transportation Security Administration

      Phil Dengler The Vacationer Bio

      By Phil Dengler

      In addition to being a co-founder of The Vacationer, Phil Dengler is also the head of editorial and marketing. Previously, he ran a popular holiday deals website where he was a trusted source for all things Black Friday. With The Vacationer, Phil combines his knowledge of deals with his love of travel to help you plan the perfect vacation.