Expedited screening now available through 30 U.S. and foreign airlines
Slowly but surely, expedited passenger security screening through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) TSA Pre✓ program keeps improving. Today, the TSA announced 11 new airlines have partnered for the TSA Pre✓ program, including Avianca, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Spirit Airlines.
Now offered at over 180 airports, TSA Pre✓ permits approved members a faster way to get through airport security, freeing passengers from having to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets. Registering at an approved TSA approved center can often be done in five to ten minutes and costs $85 for five years, or $17 per year.
To be approved for inclusion in the program, airlines must meet TSA’s stringent security requirements and upgrade their reservations systems to sync with the U.S. government’s Secure Flight prescreening system. This might explain why foreign airlines have been slow to join TSA Pre✓. But today’s announcement might be the tipping point that prompts more major foreign airlines to join the 30 large and small carriers now approved to offer TSA Pre✓.
If you haven’t already signed up for TSA Pre✓, I recommend it. No, TSA Pre✓ is not perfect. But when used with other services such as CLEAR and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry program, air travelers, especially business travelers can benefit with less time and stress standing in long security lines.
The list of participating airlines now includes:
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Aruba Airlines
- Avianca
- Boutique Airlines
- Cape Air
- Delta Air Lines
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Frontier Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Key Lime Air
- Lufthansa
- Miami Air International
- OneJet
- Seaborne Airlines
- Southern Airways Express
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- Sunwing Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin America
- Virgin Atlantic
- WestJet
- Xtra Airways
About the Author
Brian Teeter is an author and publisher of the Healthy Trekking travel guidebooks. Learn about his new book, 300 Healthy Travel Tips by visiting www.healthytrekking.com. You can meet Brian at the upcoming Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show in Booth 1730.