Flyers who don’t want to deal with the hassle of long security lines now have even more options for using the Transportation Security Administration’s expedited screening program at airports across the U.S. and U.S. territories.
The TSA added these eight airlines to its TSA PreCheck program Thursday:
- Air Premia
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Air Transat
- Bahamasair
- BermudAir
- Iberia
- La Compagnie
- New Pacific Airlines
It means there are now 99 airlines enrolled.
TSA PreCheck allows passengers flying with these carriers to forgo the arduous process of taking off shoes and removing laptops and liquids from their baggage at airport security. This can dramatically speed up your security experience.
The addition of budget carriers like South Korea’s Air Premia and Canada’s Air Transat marks an expansion of low-cost international carriers included in TSA PreCheck. Two all-business-class carriers — BermudAir and La Compagnie — are also coming into the fold, adding a perk that’s come to be expected by travelers flying in premium cabins.
With Air Tahiti Nui being one of the primary carriers flying between the U.S. and French Polynesia, travelers to Bora Bora, Tahiti and other popular destinations in the area can now breeze through security before feeling the ocean breeze in their hair.
With this recent expansion, TSA PreCheck is now available at more than 200 U.S. airports.
The expedited screening program has become increasingly popular with flyers, with more than 17.6 million enrolled passengers. In May 2023, the TSA also expanded the program to allow teenagers 13 to 17 years old to accompany a parent or guardian who is already enrolled in TSA PreCheck.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Despite TSA PreCheck’s increasing popularity — coupled with the chaos of delays and cancellations during busy travel periods — the agency has kept wait times low for the expedited screening program. About 99% of travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck spend 10 minutes or less in security screening checkpoints.
Costing $78, a five-year TSA PreCheck membership is open to travelers who are U.S. citizens. TSA PreCheck can be renewed six months before the membership expires, with five-year renewals costing $70. Members of other Trusted Traveler Programs like Global Entry and SENTRI are also eligible for TSA PreCheck.
There are several ways to get TSA PreCheck without paying out of pocket for the program. Certain credit cards offer statement credits that will cover the TSA PreCheck application fee, which reimburse travelers once they’re enrolled in the program and when they renew their memberships.
Among the popular cards that feature this benefit are:
TSA PreCheck issues flyers with a Known Traveler Number indicating their program eligibility. Flyers can then apply that number to flight bookings with participating carriers at select airports and skip the long security lines. Now, more flyers than ever before can benefit from this time-saving program.
Related reading:
