Will TSA PreCheck Lines Continue To Grow?
Yes and no. As outlined below, TSA is certainly making it easier and easier to get a Known Traveler Number assigned to frequent intermittent flyers. While the TSA PreCheck airport count continues to grow (100 by this year’s end; list here), lane and personnel support demand for the growing number of PreCheckers surely must follow. Personally, I have yet to experience a significant line whatsoever at a PreCheck lane, but have heard of rare instances where there has been a significant backup. What have you experienced? All my (24) times has been no line or 2-3 persons ahead of me, which essentially equates to no real wait as they have been persons well versed in the “keep it on and in” perks and process.
Again, be sure to review my post here on why you should spend the extra $15 and get Global Entry instead of PreCheck!
Live Enrollment Rolls Out
Starting today (12/4/2013), travelers may enroll in-person, as opposed to previously only online, for the TSA PreCheck  expedited screening benefits as a “trusted traveler”. The only current enrollment center taking in-person applications is Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (located before passing through TSA screening). NEXT: TSA plans to open additional enrollment centers in the New York City area, Washington, D.C. metro area and Los Angeles area by the end of the year. By spring of 2014, TSA plans to open more than 300 enrollment centers.
Travelers may visit an application center to provide biographic information (name, date of birth, address, etc.), fingerprints and valid required identity and citizenship/immigration documentation. Of course, the online option remains for applicants to provide basic information and make an appointment before visiting an enrollment center.
After enrolling in-person, and paying the $85 enrollment fee, an applicant can check his/her status online within five days, or wait for the snail mail delivery (two-three weeks) of TSA’s decision and, if accepted, receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN), valid for 5 years. (Not accepted? Too bad, the application fee is nonrefundable.)
Review of the requirements:
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and cannot have been convicted of certain crimes.
- Apply online or in-person (at IND only currently) to provide biographic information (name, date of birth, address, etc.).
- While applying in-person or at your online scheduled interview, fingerprints and valid required identity and citizenship/immigration documentation are required. List of such documentation is here.
- Pay a nonrefundable application fee of $85.
To participate in TSA PreCheck once approved, enter the KTN in the ‘Known Traveler Field’ when booking travel reservations or enter the KTN in airline frequent flyer profiles, where it will be stored for future reservations. IMPORTANT: Be certain your FULL name entered with the airline profile matches your TSA profile name (or Global Entry ID Card, if that is how you acquired PreCheck).
BONUS TIP: Children 12 and under can travel with you through the TSA PreCheck lane.
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How long does the KTN take to filter through Airlines ticketing systems? I updated my accounts, and 5 days later, still having to schlep through the long lines because my KTN doesnt show up on my boarding passes.
My guess would be that once your KTN and correct full name are properly entered with an airline, the airline “pings” the TSA PreCheck system upon issuing (or preparing to issue) a BP. I think this would work if, for example, you booked a flight, then entered the KTN, then the BP issued, you’d still have a chance.
I have a tweet into TSA and the TSA Press Sec with the question. Will follow-up if I find out as it’s a great question, thanks!
FYI – I’ve successfully called the airlines and had my existing reservations updated after enrolling in globalentry.