TSA PreCheck Adds 7 New Airlines

TSA Precheck is a great way to get through airports quicker and you don’t realize how quick your time through security can be until you are traveling on an airline without TSA PreCheck access! Now, 7 new airlines have been added and this is great news. I am especially excited about the addition of Turkish Airlines to the list!

TSA PreCheck Adds 7 New Airlines

The 7 New Airlines with TSA PreCheck

A few of the new airlines will likely not be that used by many of us but there are some pretty good additions to the list (which now totals 37 airlines). Those great additions are Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

As someone who has flown with Turkish out of JFK many times, I am always frustrated that they did not have PreCheck access. Yes, I was in the priority line but that cannot beat the speed of the PreCheck line. PreCheck lines have been getting longer and longer but at least they move pretty fast!

Here is the list of 37 airlines with TSA PreCheck (airlines in bold are the new additions):

• Aeromexico
• Air Canada
• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant Air
• American Airlines
• Aruba Airlines
• Avianca
• Boutique Airlines
• Cape Air
• Copa Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Dominican Wings
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Frontier Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• InterCaribbean Airways
• JetBlue Airways
• Key Lime Air
• Lufthansa
• Miami Air International
• OneJet
• Seaborne Airlines
• Silver Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Southern Airways Express
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Sunwing Airlines
• Swift Air
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin America
• Virgin Atlantic
• WestJet
• Xtra Airways

What is TSA PreCheck?

Link: TSA PreCheck

In case you have only noticed the special TSA PreCheck signs at airports and not looked into it, TSA PreCheck is a kind of preclearance program for travelers. For $85, you can get 5 years of smoother security screening at TSA checkpoints around the USA. This can be a big help at busier times or at larger, international airports (though the TSA lines can get very long as well, but at least you do not have to take things out of your bag!).

With TSA PreCheck, you will no longer have to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets!

TSA PreCheck can be obtained by filling out the application and then appearing for an in-person interview at an enrollment center. This interview includes some questions, fingerprints, and a background check. You can check to see your closest one of the almost 400 enrollment centers here.

If you are a US Armed Forces member, you are able to participate in the program for free!

TSA PreCheck can also be obtained by being part of a trusted traveler program, like Global Entry. For an extra $15 for the 5 years, Global Entry is a much better deal, especially since it includes TSA PreCheck. Check out this page for more information about Global Entry and the application process.

You also may be able to get your TSA PreCheck $85 fee refunded by having certain credit cards like these:

• American Express Platinum cards
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards card
• Citi Prestige
• Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite card
• AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite card
• US Bank Altitude Reserve

With each of those cards, you can apply for and pay for Global Entry and be reimbursed the $100 fee – and you will have TSA PreCheck included for free!

If you are flying domestically more than a couple of times per year or flying internationally, definitely consider getting Global Entry (and with it, TSA PreCheck). You will be very grateful for it! Having TSA PreCheck has literally saved me hours in airports because I have been able to book flights that were tighter than I would have considered had I had to wait in the normal line. It gave me more time in the cities I was in and still got me to my final destination at a convenient time!

Featured image by Arina P Habich, Courtesy of Shutterstock

HT: TPG