TSA PreCheck
{{Short description|US trusted traveller program}}
File:TSAPrecheckBoardingPass.jpg
TSA PreCheck (branded as TSA Pre✓) is a trusted traveler program initiated in December 2013 and administered by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration that allows selected members of select frequent flyer programs, members of Global Entry, Free and Secure Trade, NEXUS, and SENTRI, members of the US military, and cadets and midshipmen of the United States service academies{{cite web |url=https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/military-travelers |title=Military Travel |author= |date=n.d. |website=TSA.gov |publisher=Transportation Security Administration |access-date=July 22, 2019 |quote=All members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those serving in the Reserves and National Guard can benefit from TSA Pre✓® expedited screening (using dedicated security checkpoints and no need to remove shoes, laptops, etc.) at select airports when flying on participating airlines. Cadets and midshipmen of the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy and Air Force Academy are also eligible to receive TSA Pre✓® screening benefits. Use your Department of Defense identification number when making flight reservations.}}{{Cite web|title=TSA PreCheck™ reaches milestone with 10 million members {{!}} Transportation Security Administration|url=https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/03/02/tsa-prechecktm-reaches-milestone-10-million-members#:~:text=TSA%20PreCheck,%20which%20opened%20its,than%20400%20enrollment%20centers%20nationwide.|access-date=2021-09-19|website=www.tsa.gov}} to receive expedited screening for domestic and select international itineraries.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/business/tsa-eases-security-for-chosen-fliers.html|title=ON THE ROAD; For the Chosen Fliers, Security Check Is a Breeze|last=Sharkey|first=Joe|date=8 November 2011|work=The New York Times|page=9|accessdate=6 April 2013}} As of October 2024, 104 airlines participate in the program,{{cite web|url=https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/participating-airlines|website=tsa.gov|title=TSA PreCheck® Participating Airlines|accessdate=October 27, 2024}} which is available at more than 200 airports.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/20/clear-tsa-precheck-cost-privacy-airport-security/|website=washingtonpost.com|publisher=Washington Post|title=Clear vs. TSA PreCheck: What’s better for price and privacy?|date=July 23, 2023 | accessdate=March 12, 2024}}
After completing a background check, being fingerprinted,{{cite news|work=NBC News|title=Stuck in line: TSA PreCheck expansion slowing down frequent travelers|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/stuck-line-tsa-precheck-expansion-slowing-down-frequent-travelers-8C11484578|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205051721/http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/stuck-line-tsa-precheck-expansion-slowing-down-frequent-travelers-8C11484578|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2014|date=February 5, 2014 }} and paying a $78 fee, travelers receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Unlike other trusted travel programs whose enrollment is managed by the US government, the enrollment of TSA PreCheck is managed by three commercial companies: Clear,{{cite web |title=CLEAR becomes TSA’s third official TSA PreCheck® enrollment provider {{!}} Transportation Security Administration |url=https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/04/30/clear-becomes-tsas-third-official-tsa-precheckr-enrollment-provider |website=www.tsa.gov |publisher=Transportation Security Administration |access-date=29 October 2024}} IDEMIA and Telos.{{Cite news | url = https://www.travelandleisure.com/tsa-precheck-enrollment-center-telos-7644772 | title = TSA Just Made Enrolling in PreCheck a Bit Easier — Here's How | website=Travel and Leisure | date= August 16, 2023 | accessdate=March 12, 2024}} TSA does not issue an ID card like Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI do.{{cite web |url=https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/faq |title=TSA Pre✓® FAQ |author= |date=n.d. |website=TSA.gov |publisher=Transportation Security Administration |access-date=July 22, 2019}} Travelers are notified if they have PreCheck by having a indicator printed on their boarding pass that may say "TSAPRECHK", "TSA PRE", or "TSA Pre✓®" depending on the airline and type of boarding pass.
The program has led to complaints of unfairness and longer wait lines.{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-21/tsa-chief-john-pistole-gets-into-a-knife-fight|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324003055/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-21/tsa-chief-john-pistole-gets-into-a-knife-fight|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2013|title=TSA Chief John Pistole Gets Into a Knife Fight|author=Jeff Plungis|date=22 March 2013|work=BusinessWeek|publisher=Bloomberg.com}} TSA says that PreCheck is not guaranteed on every flight, as passengers are subject to random exclusions. Furthermore, passengers may be disqualified or suspended from PreCheck for violations of federal transportation security regulations. TSA maintains a list of credit card issuers and loyalty programs that reimburse members' TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees.{{cite web|title=Credit Cards and Loyalty Programs featuring TSA Pre✓®|website=TSA.gov|publisher=Transportation Security Administration|url=https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/credit-cards-offer|access-date=September 2, 2019}}
The program made a major change in May 2023. Citing high travel demand, TSA announced that children aged between 13 and 17 would be able to accompany a parent or guardian through the PreCheck security lines as long as they are all under the same reservation, and the parent or guardian has PreCheck linked on their reservation. Children 12 and under were already allowed to do the same.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians |url=https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20TSA-Will-Now-Allow-Teens-to-Access-PreCheck-with-Parents-or-Guardians |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.travelmarketreport.com |language=en}}