TSA PreCheck,Known Traveler Number (KTN)
- 10 hours ago
- 13 min read
If you have ever stood in a long airport security line watching another lane move twice as fast while passengers walked through fully dressed, laptops still in bags, shoes still on their feet — those people had TSA PreCheck. And once you understand what it costs and how easy it is to get, you will wonder why you waited so long.
TSA PreCheck is a membership program that offers dedicated airport security lanes and streamlined screening at hundreds of airports across the U.S. Upon approval, members receive a Known Traveler Number that lets airlines know you're eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits.
When you have TSA PreCheck and the indicator appears on your boarding pass, here is what changes at security:
With TSA PreCheck, leave electronics and 3-1-1 liquids in your bag and leave on your belt, light jacket, and shoes. The process feels like air travel used to feel before post-9/11 security measures
This is where most people are pleasantly surprised. TSA PreCheck is not a monthly subscription. It is a one-time fee that covers you for five full years.
The TSA partners with three companies — CLEAR, IDEMIA, and Telos — to handle enrollments. For new applications, TSA PreCheck membership costs $76.75 with IDEMIA, $79.95 with CLEAR, and $85 with Telos.
That works out to roughly $15 to $17 per year for five years of faster security at every airport you fly through. For anyone who flies even three or four times a year, the math is straightforward — TSA PreCheck pays for itself in saved time and stress within the first trip.
Renewal pricing is even lower. For renewals, IDEMIA charges $58.75 for online renewal or $66.75 in person. CLEAR charges $69.95 for online renewal or $79.95 in person. Telos charges $70 for both online and in-person renewals.
You can begin the renewal process as early as six months before your membership expires. Your current KTN remains active until your membership actually expires, so you never lose access by renewing early.
This is one of the most searched questions about TSA PreCheck — and the answer is that millions of Americans qualify for free or reimbursed TSA PreCheck and simply do not know it.
Travel credit cards are the most common way to get TSA PreCheck reimbursed. Dozens of popular travel credit cards offer a statement credit every four to five years that covers the full cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment. Cards that offer this benefit include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, Capital One Venture X, Capital One Venture, Citi Prestige, and many airline-branded cards. If you have any travel rewards credit card in your wallet, check the benefits section before paying out of pocket — there is a strong chance your card already covers it.
Active-duty military members as well as cadets and midshipmen of US military academies can access TSA PreCheck for free. Some US government employees are also eligible. People with a commercial driver's license with a qualifying HAZMAT endorsement may also be eligible at no cost.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck automatically. If you travel internationally even once every few years, Global Entry at $120 for five years is almost always the better deal — it includes TSA PreCheck domestically and gets you through customs faster when returning from international travel. The $35 premium over TSA PreCheck alone pays for itself the first time you walk past a 45-minute customs line.
The CLEAR bundle is another option worth knowing. If you enroll in CLEAR+ and TSA PreCheck together, CLEAR will refund the full $79.95 cost of TSA PreCheck upon completion of both applications — effectively making PreCheck free when you bundle it with CLEAR+. FedEx
The process is faster than most people expect. The online application takes five minutes to complete and the in-person visit takes about 10 minutes. Here is exactly how it works:
Step 1 — Choose your enrollment provider. Go to tsa.gov/precheck and select from IDEMIA, CLEAR, or Telos. IDEMIA has the most enrollment locations nationwide with over 1,300 sites. Telos has 500+ locations. CLEAR has 380+ locations. If price is your priority, IDEMIA is the least expensive for new applications at $76.75.
Step 2 — Complete the online pre-enrollment. Fill out your basic information — full legal name, date of birth, gender, address, and contact details. This takes about five minutes. Having this done before your in-person appointment makes the appointment itself faster.
Step 3 — Schedule your in-person appointment. Use the enrollment provider's location finder to find the nearest enrollment center. Many locations accept walk-ins, but scheduling an appointment in advance guarantees your spot and reduces wait time. Enrollment centers are commonly found at airports, Walgreens locations, and dedicated enrollment offices.
Step 4 — Attend your appointment. Bring your documentation — a valid US passport or a REAL ID-compliant driver's license plus proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate. At the appointment, a staff member will verify your documents, take your fingerprints electronically, take your photo, and collect payment. The entire appointment takes about 10 minutes.
Step 5 — Wait for approval. If your TSA PreCheck application is approved, you will receive your Known Traveler Number within 60 days. Most people receive their KTN in three to five days. Similarweb You will receive your KTN by email once approved.
Step 6 — Add your KTN to every airline reservation. Log into your frequent flyer accounts with every airline you use and add your KTN to your profile. Do this for your airline apps and any travel booking sites you use regularly. When the KTN is in your reservation, "TSA PreCheck" will appear on your boarding pass automatically for every eligible flight.
You need to bring two types of documentation to your enrollment appointment: proof of identity and proof of US citizenship or lawful permanent residency.
For identity, acceptable documents include an unexpired REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID, a US passport or passport card, a US military ID, or a Department of Homeland Security-issued credential such as a TWIC card.
An important update effective May 1, 2025: individuals who present a non-REAL ID driver's license or state ID for in-person enrollment or renewal will be unable to proceed with their appointment. FedEx If your driver's license does not have a gold star or REAL ID marking in the upper right corner, bring your US passport instead.
These three programs are often confused with each other. Here is the plain-English breakdown of what each one does and when each is worth it.
TSA PreCheck is purely a domestic security benefit. It speeds up your security screening at US airports and does nothing for international travel or customs. Cost is $76.75 to $85 for five years. Best for travelers who fly domestically several times a year and rarely or never travel internationally.
Global Entry gives you everything TSA PreCheck gives you domestically, plus dedicated customs lanes and automated kiosks when you return from an international trip. It skips the customs line entirely on international arrivals. Cost is $120 for five years. Because it includes TSA PreCheck, Global Entry is almost always the better value for anyone who travels internationally even once every couple of years. The extra $35 to $45 over TSA PreCheck alone is nearly always worth it.
CLEAR is a separate biometric identity verification service available at airports and sports stadiums.
It uses your fingerprints or eye scan to verify your identity at the security checkpoint, allowing you to skip the ID verification line. CLEAR does not replace TSA PreCheck — it works alongside it. With both CLEAR and PreCheck, you use the CLEAR kiosk to verify your identity instantly and then proceed directly to the TSA PreCheck lane. The combination is the absolute fastest way through airport security. CLEAR costs $189 per year, though the CLEAR and PreCheck bundle brings the combined first-year cost down significantly.
TSA PreCheck is available at over 200 US airports and through more than 90 participating airlines. That covers every major US carrier including American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, and dozens of regional and international carriers operating domestic US routes.
Not every ticket automatically shows the TSA PreCheck indicator even if you are a member. This can happen if you did not add your KTN to your reservation before booking, if you are flying a non-participating airline, if you are on a codeshare flight operated by a non-participating carrier, or if TSA has randomly selected your boarding pass for standard screening as part of its unpredictable security measures. If TSA PreCheck does not show up on your boarding pass, check that your KTN is correctly entered in your reservation before assuming there is a problem.
Airports Participate in TSA PreCheck LOOkUP
You can begin the renewal process up to six months before your membership expires. Your current membership and KTN remain fully active throughout the renewal process until the expiration date — you never lose access by renewing early.
The renewal process is simpler than the initial enrollment. Most renewals can be completed entirely online in a few minutes with no in-person appointment required, though in-person renewal remains an option. Your fingerprints and background check from your initial enrollment are on file, which is why renewal is faster and less expensive than the original application.
To renew, go to your original enrollment provider's website or tsa.gov/precheck, select renewal, verify your personal information, pay the renewal fee, and submit. Your renewed membership begins from your current expiration date — not from the date you renew — so you never lose the time remaining on your current membership.
A Known Traveler Number is issued to all individuals approved to receive TSA PreCheck expedited screening. The KTN must be added in the KTN field when booking airline travel reservations to have the TSA PreCheck indicator appear on your boarding pass.
Think of your KTN as the key that unlocks your TSA PreCheck benefits every time you fly. Without it entered correctly in your reservation, the system has no way of knowing you are a PreCheck member — and your boarding pass will show no indicator, sending you to the standard security line regardless of your membership status.
Your KTN is not stored on your boarding pass automatically. It is not linked to your email address. It does not activate itself just because you enrolled. Every single reservation — whether you book it directly with the airline, through a travel app, or through a corporate travel system — needs your KTN entered into the correct field at booking time. Once it is in there correctly, the PreCheck indicator appears on your boarding pass automatically.
There are several ways to locate your KTN depending on how and where you enrolled.
If you enrolled through IDEMIA: Go to tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov and use the KTN Lookup tool. Enter your first name, last name, and date of birth. Your KTN and its expiration date will be displayed immediately. You can also find it on the approval email IDEMIA sent when your application was approved.
If you enrolled through CLEAR: Log into your CLEAR account at clearme.com. Your KTN is listed in your account dashboard under your membership details. You can also contact CLEAR customer support to retrieve it.
If you enrolled through Telos: Log into your Telos enrollment account or contact Telos customer support. Your KTN begins with TE followed by your enrollment number.
If you have Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI: Log on to the Trusted Traveler Program website at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov to obtain your PASS ID, which is your KTN. FedEx You can also find it printed on the upper left corner of the back of your physical trusted traveler card.
If you forgot which provider you used: Use the KTN Lookup Tool at tsa.gov/precheck if you cannot find your KTN or do not remember your enrollment provider. FedEx Enter your name and date of birth and the tool will locate your record.
If your KTN comes from your employment — for DHS federal employees, TWIC cardholders, or CDL holders with an active HAZMAT endorsement — the format is different. If you are a TWIC cardholder and meet TSA PreCheck eligibility requirements, use your TWIC Credential Identification Number as your KTN. If you have a Commercial Driver's License with an active HME security threat assessment, use the two-letter state abbreviation from the issuing state followed by your CDL number — for example, NY123456 for a New York-issued CDL. FedEx
Follow these five steps once and you will virtually never have a missing PreCheck indicator again.
Second, log into every airline account you have and add your KTN to your frequent flyer profile. Do not skip airlines you fly occasionally — do all of them.
Third, add your KTN to any travel booking platforms or corporate travel systems you use. If your company books travel through a third-party system, contact your travel coordinator to confirm your KTN is on file.
Fifth, note your expiration date and set a calendar reminder six months before it so you renew with plenty of time to spare.
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of TSA PreCheck. Most parents do not realize their children do not need their own KTN to use the PreCheck lane — and many others do not know the rules around when children can and cannot accompany them.
If your teenager travels alone frequently, it may be worth enrolling them in their own TSA PreCheck membership so they always have the PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass regardless of who they are traveling with.
What is a Known Traveler Number? A KTN is a unique number issued by the TSA indicating you have completed a Security Threat Assessment and are eligible for TSA PreCheck expedited screening. Your KTN is valid for 5 years and should be used when booking airline reservations. FedEx
Where do I find my KTN? If you enrolled through IDEMIA, use the KTN Lookup Tool at tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov. If you have Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, log into your Trusted Traveler Program account at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov or check the back of your trusted traveler card. If you are a member of the TSA PreCheck Application Program and cannot locate your number, look it up at tsa.gov/precheck. FedEx
How long is a KTN valid? Your KTN is valid for five years from the date your application was approved. You can begin the renewal process up to six months before expiration without losing any remaining time on your current membership.
Is my KTN the same as my Global Entry number? Yes. If you are an eligible Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI member, enter your membership number — your PASS ID — in the Known Traveler Number field when booking reservations. FedEx Your PASS ID serves as your KTN for TSA PreCheck purposes.
Is TSA PreCheck worth it? For anyone who flies two or more times a year on domestic routes, TSA PreCheck is almost universally worth it. At roughly $15 to $17 per year, the cost is negligible relative to the time saved. The 99% of members who wait less than 10 minutes in security versus the 30 to 60 minutes or more in standard lines represents a significant quality-of-life improvement for regular travelers. If you fly frequently or travel with children, PreCheck pays for itself on the first trip.
How long does TSA PreCheck last? TSA PreCheck membership lasts five years from the date of approval. After five years, you renew for another five-year term at a lower cost than your original enrollment fee.
Can I use TSA PreCheck for international flights? TSA PreCheck applies to the security screening process at US airports — which is the same process whether you are flying domestically or internationally. So yes, you use the PreCheck lane when departing the US on an international flight. However, PreCheck does not help with customs upon returning to the US. For that, you need Global Entry.
What disqualifies you from TSA PreCheck? Applicants may be ineligible due to incomplete or false application information, certain violations of federal security regulations, or disqualifying criminal offenses. Specific disqualifying offenses include felony convictions, certain misdemeanor convictions including domestic violence and drug offenses, and outstanding warrants. Being on the No Fly List or Selectee List also disqualifies an applicant.
Do I need TSA PreCheck if I have Global Entry? No. Global Entry automatically includes TSA PreCheck benefits. If you already have Global Entry, your KTN from that program works for TSA PreCheck lanes at domestic security checkpoints — you do not need to enroll separately.
How do I know if TSA PreCheck is on my boarding pass? Look for the words "TSA PreCheck" or the letters "TSAPrecheck" printed on your boarding pass, typically near the barcode or in the passenger information section. If it appears, proceed to the dedicated PreCheck lane. If it does not appear, you use the standard security line for that flight regardless of your membership status.
Can I add TSA PreCheck to a ticket I already booked? Yes — as long as you add your KTN to your reservation before check-in. Log into your reservation on the airline's website, find the passenger information or frequent flyer section, and add your Known Traveler Number. For most airlines, as long as you do this before check-in opens, the PreCheck indicator will appear on your boarding pass.
Is TSA PreCheck available at every airport? TSA PreCheck is available at over 200 US airports, which covers all major hubs and most mid-size airports. However, it is not available at every small regional airport in the country. If you frequently fly out of a small regional airport, check the TSA airport search tool at tsa.gov/precheck to confirm your home airport participates before enrolling.
What happens if TSA PreCheck does not show on my boarding pass? First check that your KTN is correctly entered in your reservation — it is the most common reason PreCheck does not appear. Second, confirm that your airline participates in the program. Third, understand that TSA uses random unpredictable security measures and may occasionally route PreCheck members through standard screening. If PreCheck is missing and your KTN is correct, use the standard security line for that flight and contact your enrollment provider if the issue persists.
Can I get TSA PreCheck if I am not a US citizen? The TSA PreCheck Application Program is only open to US citizens, US nationals, and lawful permanent residents. MDG Solutions Non-US citizens who are not lawful permanent residents are not eligible for the standard TSA PreCheck program. However, international travelers may be eligible for other trusted traveler programs depending on their nationality and travel patterns.
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