If you're anything like Christine and me, you try to spend as little time in the airport as possible. The ideal start to any trip is maximizing your time before heading to the airport, minimizing your time at the airport, and getting on your plane without your heart rate in the 100s because you were running to your gate. In the last year alone, I flew on about 30 flights and every time I was excited to get in the shortest lines in the airport, not having to take off my shoes, jacket or belt, or removing any liquids or electronics from my bag. That extra time and inconvenience just adds up. Thanks to TSA PreCheck, when I'm not checking a bag, I usually get from car to gate in about 15 minutes even in the busiest airports! Game changer.
What Does TSA PreCheck Do?
The primary benefit is that you get to go through an exclusive TSA PreCheck security line once you've checked in for your domestic flight. These lines are in over 200 US airports and according to the TSA website, only take 5 minutes or less to go through. From my experience, even in the largest airports on the busiest days, it doesn't take more than 5 minutes while the standard line could take you 30-60 minutes if you're unlucky.
Beyond, the membership aspect that limits the volume of travelers, they also speed up the security process by eliminating the need to take off your shoes, belt, jacket, watch, or the need to take your electronics or liquids out of your bag. Last but not least, TSA PreCheck members don't have to go through the infamous full-body scanners. From a time-saving perspective, this means you don't have to wait until you are called, step inside, spread your legs, plant your feet, wait 3 seconds for the scan, step out, wait for your result, maybe get a pat down anyway, etc. All together, the full-body scanners add something like an extra 30-45 seconds per person which is one of the reasons the standard lines get so long. In the PreCheck lines, you are waved through a traditional metal detector and you keep walking unless you hear a beep from the machine. That's it!
How Much Is It?
At this point, you get why we love this service so much but you haven't even heard the best part...it's not that expensive! Your membership lasts 5 years and costs $85 to sign up. We all would agree that time is the most valuable resource we have and for what equates to $17 per year, we got so much more of it to do things we actually want to do. I've also noticed that many popular credit cards with travel perks, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, even reimburse you for the fee if you charge on their card. Check the TSA list of credit cards and loyalty programs that offer this perk, and if you have one of the credit cards on the list it's a no-brainer.
How Do I Enroll?
To get TSA PreCheck, it all start on the official website. You'll need to fill out a 5 minutes form that asks basic information about you as well as some of your travel history. This form will get you pre-approval and if you pass, you'll be invited to schedule an in-person interview at one of 380+ TSA enrollment centers. The interview is a simple 10 minute meeting where they ask you a few questions about your background and scan your fingerprints. Once this is completed you'll receive your Known Traveler Number, which is essentially your membership ID.
How Does It Work?
Once you have your TSA PreCheck Known Traveler Number, you'll need to enter it in when you book your flights. The easiest thing to do is input this number into all of your airline reward membership profiles in advance so that you don't have to type this number in every time you buy a ticket. You'll thank yourself later!
On your boarding pass (either digital or paper), there will be a small "check" symbol that appears and you'll show this to the TSA agent to enter the PreCheck airport security line. Unfortunately, if you booked your flights with PreCheck but your traveling companion doesn't have it, they will not be able to join you in the line unless they are 12 years old or younger. This means that you should encourage your family and traveling companions to also get the service so that you can take advantage of the benefits together. Pro Tip - This is a great gift for friends and family! You can pay and fill out the form on their behalf (assuming you know their information), which saves them part of the process.
So, Should I Get It?
If you're on our blog, you are likely someone who loves to travel and who does it quite often. Even if you only travel once per year, you should get TSA PreCheck. It's a low cost solution to some of the biggest frustrations of traveling.
If you love the concept, you can even double down and get Global Entry, which is an expedited travel program for those who travel internationally. The process for application is similar and you can use it whenever you come into the US from another country to speed up the US customs process. It costs $100 for 5 years and also includes TSA PreCheck.
Bon Voyage!
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