Transportation Security Administration

TSA Pre is an expedited security screening program that allow the travelers under a TTP program of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) pass security inspection points in an easy, quick and efficient way.

With a TSA Pre you can fly through security and don’t need to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets.

Children ages 12 and younger may use the TSA Pre lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass.

Travelers 13 and older who do not have a TSA Pre boarding pass must go through standard security lanes or apply. Before applying, TSA recommends reviewing the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA Pre Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, to determine this the best program for your family.

Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA Pre.

Once you have been assigned a KTN, you must include this number in the ‘known traveler number’ field of each reservation you make with a participating airline. The KTN also can be added when booking reservations online via a participating airline website, by phone with an airline reservation agent or with the travel management company making reservations. Save your KTN to any frequent flyer profiles, employer booking systems or online travel websites that you use.

Participating airlines print a TSA Pre indicator directly on your boarding pass if you are eligible for TSA Pre on that flight. In addition to the indicator, TSA Pre eligibility is embedded in the barcode of the boarding pass. Once the boarding pass is scanned at the checkpoint, the TSA officer may refer you to the TSA Pre lane. If you do not have a valid boarding pass with TSA Pre embedded in the barcode, you cannot access the TSA Pre lane.