TSA PreCheck
A US Transportation Security Administration program that enables pre-vetted travellers to use dedicated expedited security screening lanes at participating US airports.
TSA PreCheck is a trusted-traveler program administered by the US Transportation Security Administration that grants enrolled, background-checked travellers access to expedited security screening lanes at over 200 US airports. PreCheck passengers can leave shoes, belts, and light jackets on, keep laptops and compliant liquids in bags, and pass through standard metal detectors rather than full-body scanners — resulting in substantially faster screening times compared to standard lanes.
Why it matters
For employees who regularly fly domestic US routes or international routes departing from US airports, TSA PreCheck delivers consistent, meaningful time savings at the security checkpoint — typically 5 to 15 minutes per screening versus standard lanes, with substantially less variability. The reduced stress of a predictable, low-friction security process also contributes to traveler wellbeing. For organizations with high US domestic travel volumes, group enrollment in PreCheck — or reimbursing individual enrollment fees — is one of the highest-value, lowest-cost traveler welfare investments available.
How it works in practice
Travellers apply online, pay the enrollment fee, submit to a background check, and attend an in-person enrollment appointment where fingerprints are collected. Approved members receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that is added to flight reservations. When PreCheck is activated on a booking, 'TSA PreCheck' appears on the boarding pass, directing the traveler to the dedicated lane. PreCheck status is valid for five years and must be renewed before expiry to maintain uninterrupted access.
The takeaway
Make TSA PreCheck enrollment — and the KTN entry workflow in the corporate booking tool — a standard part of onboarding for any employee who travels within or from the US more than a few times per year. The enrollment cost is modest; the time and wellbeing return over five years of regular travel is substantial. Guarantee the KTN is stored in the traveler's booking profile so that PreCheck activates automatically on every eligible reservation without requiring manual entry.