Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
By this point, you’ve likely at least heard about, if not tried, the expedited airport security program TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck can be one of the most valuable investments you can make as a frequent traveler, thanks to the amount of time it saves and the peace of mind it provides.
Here’s your ultimate guide to TSA PreCheck, including how the program works, how much it costs and whether it’s worth the money.
What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is a “trusted traveler” program administered by the U.S. government. It allows prescreened, low-risk travelers at the airport to use a PreCheck-designated security line rather than pass through the normal Transportation Security Administration line.
PreCheck users typically pass through security faster than they would otherwise because they do not have to remove their shoes, belts, light jackets, quart-size plastic bag of liquids or electronics from their carry-on luggage.
These travelers are generally screened via walk-through security machines versus full-body scanners.
Currently, travelers can use TSA PreCheck lanes at more than 200 U.S. airports when flying on more than 100 participating domestic and foreign airlines.
How much does TSA PreCheck cost?
The program fees vary by provider. Applying through Idemia costs $78, and applying through Telos costs $85. Online renewal costs $70 through either provider.
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To pay for application fees, be sure to use one of the roughly 40 cobranded airline, hotel and other credit cards that offer up to $120 in statement credit reimbursement for the fees associated with trusted traveler programs, including TSA PreCheck. Some popular travel rewards cards that cover PreCheck application fees include:
A full list of credit cards with this feature is available here.
Additionally, some loyalty programs allow you to use points or miles to cover the membership fees. However, the return per point is usually less than current TPG points valuations, so we would suggest using a credit card to get a statement credit instead.
Does TSA PreCheck save you time at the airport?
TSA PreCheck can save you the time you would otherwise spend waiting in line for security.
Not only can I personally attest to this, but 99% of PreCheck passengers reported waiting less than 10 minutes at airport security checkpoints nationwide as of October 2024, per TSA data.
There may be rare occasions when there is a wait at the PreCheck line, particularly during high travel seasons or at certain airports. However, on average, this should not be the case for most PreCheck users.
Personally, I pass through PreCheck security in three minutes or less at the airports I frequently fly from, including Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington D.C., St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
Is TSA PreCheck worth it?
I could sing the praises of TSA PreCheck all day long but don’t just take my word for it. I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for TSA PreCheck; TPG managing editor Clint Henderson said it saved him “hours of waiting time over the years,” including on a recent trip to Hawaii.
“I absolutely love TSA PreCheck. I traveled to Hawaii with my family members who didn’t have PreCheck. I took my nieces and nephews in the PreCheck lanes while my brother had to wait in the regular line,” he said. “We beat him through security by about 20 minutes, and it was a similar story on the way back.”
That’s because travelers aged 12 and younger may use TSA PreCheck lanes when traveling with a parent or guardian who has it.
As our staffers have experienced, the benefits of TSA PreCheck are particularly clear when traveling with people who aren’t enrolled in the program.
“A friend and I flew from Houston to Miami and didn’t really think through how busy the airport would be during spring break. I had PreCheck; my friend didn’t,” said TPG senior credit cards editor Matt Moffit. “I got to the gate with about five minutes to spare before boarding ended. My friend was 20 minutes behind me. Luckily, our flight was delayed by 40 minutes, so we both made it, but it was a good lesson in how valuable the perk is.”
If you know you’re going to pass through a particularly busy airport or are just traveling at a busy time of year, such as during the holidays, TSA PreCheck can be a lifesaver.
“Every time I go through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), especially during the holidays, I’m very happy I have TSA PreCheck. I take one look at the normal line — which is often looping back on itself many times — and am happy I don’t have to wait in it,” said TPG senior writer Katie Genter. “It’s not just Atlanta — I have similar experiences in many U.S. airports and am always annoyed when I’m flying an airline that doesn’t participate in PreCheck.”
TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau is also grateful for TSA PreCheck since she usually waits less than five minutes in line.
“Every time I fly home to Orlando for the holidays, I’m always grateful to have TSA PreCheck. Typically, I wait no more than five minutes, whereas the regular TSA line is often substantially longer,” she said. “In the days before PreCheck, I was a solo traveler stuck waiting behind all the families so I’m very relieved to be able to get to the gate faster so I can try to grab a hard-to-find seat as I wait to board.”
Beyond the time saved, passing through a PreCheck lane is just easier logistically since you don’t have to remove any of your belongings from your suitcase or your body.
“Is it wrong that I only have PreCheck because I hate taking my shoes off?” joked TPG senior vice president of content Jamie Page. “It’s like my socks know when I have to go through standard screening and start disintegrating as I walk over there. But seriously, PreCheck has saved me from waiting in long lines with cranky kids.”
Bottom line
TSA PreCheck is just one tool that truly makes navigating air travel and airports much easier, quicker and overall more efficient than it would be without it.
If you are considering purchasing TSA PreCheck, remember that membership also includes a five-year membership to Global Entry, so you can reap the benefits of both programs for an extra $42 (as of October 2024). Global Entry provides preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad at more than 75 airports.
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