Good evening! Day 3 of the #write31day blogging challenge is about the new TSA PreCheck. You may have heard about this, but I’m here to say that it is one of the best things you can do if you travel a lot, or even a little.
What it does is “allows low-risk travelers to experience expedited, more efficient security screening at participating U.S. airport checkpoints,” according to the TSA website. This means that if you are cleared and have the TSA PreCheck printed on your boarding pass, then you get to go into a special security line. There is usually no line, and you do not have to remove your belt, shoes, light outerwear/jacket, or liquids or laptop from your carry-on. Basically you get to walk right up to the security, put your bag on the conveyor belt, walk through the metal detector, and you’re on your way to your gate. Simple as that! I think the longest the PreCheck line has been for me so far was two people in front of me! I’ve tried this in the Omaha, Chicago O’Hare, and Washington Reagan airports so far and it was really fast at all locations!
All you have to do is go to the TSA PreCheck website and fill out the pre-enrollment form. It will have you pick an enrollment center nearest you to go and get screened. You will need a valid photo ID (such as a passport, driver’s license, etc.) and a proof of citizenship (such as passport, birth certificate, etc.). At the enrollment center you will need to provide fingerprints, the identity document, the citizen document, and payment. I believe it’s around $80 if I remember correctly.
If you are approved you will be issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN) which is good for five years and will be mailed to you a few weeks after the screening. You will then use this number when you are purchasing airline tickets so that you will have the TSA PreCheck on your boarding tickets.
This saves you a lot of time at the airport. Last Sunday when I was trying to get home from Chicago, I saw the line for the security and was thankful that I got to walk through the TSA PreCheck line. I bet there was a few hundred people in the regular security line and only a couple in the TSA PreCheck line. I was at my gate in no time!
Do you have the TSA PreCheck already? If so, isn’t it amazing? Stay tuned for more travel secrets!
The Known Traveler Program is the best way to travel. My husband travels often and loves it.
I agree!
This is great info, thanks! When I booked my tickets to Germany a few months ago, I noticed that there were sections for this exact info, and I briefly wondered what it was. Now I know! 🙂 I always end up choosing my initial travel shoes with care because they have to be 1) comfy, 2) warm (cold planes!) and 3) easy to remove. Not having to take off my shoes, etc? Seems worth the fee to me! 🙂
Yes, it’s so nice not to have to unload your laptop, liquids, etc from your bag and also to keep on your shoes! I hate in the winter when I have to take off my boots-not the easiest to do real quickly! But the best is not having to deal with the long lines! 🙂
This is a great tip! I have never of it before will definitely check it out.
It’s pretty new, only been around for a year or so I’d guess! If you travel a lot, it’s definitely worth it!