How to apply for TSA Precheck

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 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 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.

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.

 

Which airlines participate in TSA PreCheck?

There are 86 airlines that participate in TSA PreCheck, including:

  1. Advanced Air
  2. Aerolane Lineas Aereas Nacionales del Ecuador
  3. AeroMexico
  4. Air Canada
  5. Air Europa
  6. Air France
  7. Air India
  8. Air Serbia
  9. Alaska Airlines
  10. All Nippon Airways
  11. Allegiant Air
  12. American Airlines
  13. Aruba Airlines
  14. Asiana Airlines
  15. Austrian Airlines
  16. Avelo Airlines
  17. Avianca
  18. Azul Airlines
  19. Boutique Airlines
  20. Breeze Airways
  21. British Airways
  22. Brussels Airlines
  23. Cape Air
  24. Cathay Pacific Airways
  25. China Airlines
  26. Condor Airlines
  27. Contour Aviation
  28. Copa Airlines
  29. Delta Air Lines
  30. Eastern Airlines
  31. Edelweiss Air
  32. EL AL Israel
  33. Elite Airways
  34. Emirates
  35. Etihad Airways
  36. Eurowings Discover
  37. EVA Air
  38. Finnair
  39. Flair Airlines
  40. Flycana
  41. Frontier Airlines
  42. Global Crossing Airlines
  43. Hawaiian Airlines
  44. Icelandair
  45. InterCaribbean Airways
  46. ITA Airways
  47. Japan Airlines
  48. JetBlue Airways
  49. Key Lime Air
  50. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
  51. Korean Air
  52. LAN Peru S.A.
  53. LATAM Airlines
  54. Lufthansa
  55. Norwegian Air
  56. Omni Air International
  57. PAL Express
  58. Philippine Airlines
  59. Porter Airlines
  60. Qantas
  61. Qatar Airways
  62. Scandinavian Airlines
  63. Seaborne Airlines
  64. Silver Airways
  65. Singapore Airlines
  66. Southern Airways Express
  67. Southwest Airlines
  68. Spirit Airlines
  69. Sun Country Airlines
  70. Sunclass
  71. Sunwing Airlines
  72. Swift Air
  73. Swiss International Air Lines
  74. Swoop
  75. TAM-Linhas Aereas S.A.
  76. TAP Air Portugal
  77. Turkish Airlines
  78. Ultimate Jet Charters
  79. United Airlines
  80. Virgin Atlantic
  81. Viva Air Colombia
  82. VivaAerobus
  83. Volaris
  84. Volaris El Salvador
  85. WestJet
  86. World Atlantic

Which airports participate in TSA PreCheck?

More than 200 airports participate in TSA PreCheck, including:

  1. Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR)
  2. Abilene Regional Airport (ABI)
  3. Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
  4. Albany International Airport (ALB)
  5. Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ)
  6. Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM)
  7. Appleton International Airport (ATW)
  8. Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE)
  9. Augusta Regional Airport (AGS)
  10. Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
  11. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  12. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)
  13. Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI)
  14. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
  15. Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
  16. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
  17. Bishop International Airport (FNT)
  18. Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS)
  19. Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
  20. Boise Airport (BOI)
  21. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
  22. Bradley International Airport (BDL)
  23. Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)
  24. Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO)
  25. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
  26. Burlington International Airport (BTV)
  27. Capital Region International Airport (LAN)
  28. Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI)
  29. Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA)
  30. Charleston International Airport (CHS)
  31. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
  32. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO)
  33. Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)
  34. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
  35. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
  36. Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
  37. Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU)
  38. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  39. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  40. Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
  41. Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
  42. Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)
  43. Cyril E. King Airport (STT)
  44. Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
  45. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  46. Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
  47. Dayton International Airport (DAY)
  48. Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)
  49. Denver International Airport (DEN)
  50. Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
  51. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
  52. Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
  53. Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL)
  54. Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK)
  55. Duluth international Airport (DLH)
  56. Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
  57. East Texas Regional Airport (GGG)
  58. El Paso International Airport (ELP)
  59. Eppley Airfield (OMA)
  60. Eugene Airport (EUG)
  61. Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
  62. Falls International Airport (INL)
  63. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  64. Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM)
  65. Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA)
  66. Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
  67. General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
  68. General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)
  69. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  70. Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
  71. Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
  72. Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR)
  73. Grand Forks International Airport-Mark Andrews Field (GFK)
  74. Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)
  75. Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
  76. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
  77. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
  78. Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
  79. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  80. Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport (PIB)
  81. Hector International Airport (FAR)
  82. Hilo International Airport (ITO)
  83. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
  84. Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
  85. Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
  86. Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
  87. Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT)
  88. Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
  89. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
  90. Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS)
  91. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  92. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
  93. John Wayne Airport (SNA)
  94. Kahului Airport (OGG)
  95. Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO)
  96. Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
  97. Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK)
  98. La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)
  99. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
  100. Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT)
  101. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
  102. Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport (LAW)
  103. Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
  104. Lihue Airport (LIH)
  105. Logan International Airport (BOS)
  106. Long Beach Airport (LGB)
  107. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
  108. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  109. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
  110. Louisville International Airport (SDF)
  111. Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
  112. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
  113. MBS International Airport (MBS)
  114. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
  115. McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE)
  116. McCarran International Airport (LAS)
  117. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
  118. Memphis International Airport (MEM)
  119. Meridian Regional Airport (MEI)
  120. Miami International Airport (MIA)
  121. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV)
  122. Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF)
  123. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
  124. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
  125. Minot International Airport (MOT)
  126. Missoula International Airport (MSO)
  127. Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)
  128. Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ)
  129. Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW)
  130. Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
  131. Nashville International Airport (BNA)
  132. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  133. Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
  134. North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB)
  135. Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA)
  136. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
  137. Oakland International Airport (OAK)
  138. Ontario International Airport (ONT)
  139. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  140. Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB)
  141. Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
  142. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
  143. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
  144. Pensacola International Airport (PNS)
  145. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  146. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  147. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
  148. Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
  149. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
  150. Portland International Airport (PDX)
  151. Portland International Jetport (PWM)
  152. Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
  153. Quad City International Airport (MLI)
  154. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
  155. Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
  156. Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
  157. Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (RHI)
  158. Richmond International Airport (RIC)
  159. Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA)
  160. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
  161. Rochester International Airport (RST)
  162. Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR)
  163. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  164. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
  165. Saint George Regional Airport (SGU)
  166. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  167. San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT)
  168. San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  169. San Diego International Airport (SAN)
  170. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  171. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)
  172. Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF)
  173. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
  174. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
  175. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  176. Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
  177. Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)
  178. Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN)
  179. South Bend International Airport (SBN)
  180. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
  181. Spokane International Airport (GEG)
  182. Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF)
  183. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
  184. Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
  185. T. F. Green Airport (PVD)
  186. Tallahassee International Airport (TLH)
  187. Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  188. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
  189. Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK)
  190. The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
  191. Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF)
  192. Tri-Cities Airport (PSC)
  193. Tri-State Airport (HTS)
  194. Tucson International Airport (TUS)
  195. Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
  196. Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR)
  197. University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)
  198. Valley International Airport (HRL)
  199. Waco Regional Airport (ACT)
  200. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  201. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
  202. Wichita Fall Municipal Airport (SPS)
  203. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)
  204. Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
  205. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
  206. Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
  207. Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN)
  208. Yeager Airport (CRW)