San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
VIRUS PRECAUTIONS ADD TO THE BENEFITS OF TSA PRECHECK
With the holiday season upon us, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advising people to stay home amid a surge of coronavirus cases, many Americans are grappling with the question of whether to carry on with their scheduled travel plans. Although AAA predicted a 10 percent drop in travel at Thanksgiving, tens of millions of Americans still took flights and road trips to see loved ones.
For those still planning on traveling home by plane for holidays this month, now may be the best time to invest in TSA Precheck, if you haven’t already. Here’s what you need to know about joining the program during the pandemic.
Why Precheck matters more now
Once upon a time, Precheck was primarily appealing because it helped travelers get through airport security as quickly as possible. Now that perk is even more attractive, as coronavirus-wary travelers want to avoid spending time in line around strangers.
“What we have seen is that wait times in general are in the neighborhood of five minutes or less, and Precheck can go even quicker,” said Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.
In addition, the program helps travelers avoid touching more common surfaces than necessary, because Precheck lets you wear your shoes and light outerwear through metal detectors and keep more items inside your carry-on bag.
“You can keep your electronics, your 3-1-1 liquids and aerosols, and your food items in your carry-on bag,” Farbstein said. “When there’s a pandemic, that’s even more important.”
How and when to apply
According to the TSA, the online application process should only take travelers about five minutes to complete. Once your application is approved, you’ll set up a 10-minute in-person appointment at an enrollment center, where you will complete a background check and fingerprinting.
If all goes well, you will be given a Known Traveler Number that grants you access to the airport TSA Precheck line. The $85 membership lasts for five years.
Traveling for the holidays? Apply sooner rather than later. “Typically, it takes only about a week to get your Known Traveler Number,” Farbstein said.
For help with the application process, or for questions about the program, call (855) 347-8371 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, or email tsa-contactcenter@tsa.dhs.gov.
Remember: Not all Precheck screenings are contactless
Even if you get TSA Precheck, you may still be stopped at security for various reasons. TSA officers have the discretion to ask passengers to undergo additional screenings, like if something you are wearing keeps setting off the metal detector or you have something particularly suspicious in your carry-on bag.
If you are confused about what you can take in your carry-on bag in general, review TSA’S searchable “Can I Bring” database. The database is available online and on TSA’S free mobile app. A word of warning to gamers or those traveling with a gift for a gamer this holiday season: Video game consoles may need to be unwrapped for additional screenings, so you may want to check your bag.
And not everyone is eligible for the program
TSA Precheck is not available for every traveler. There are a number of disqualifying offenses that may prevent someone from obtaining membership.
Many of those offenses won’t apply to most people — like being convicted of espionage or conspiracy to commit espionage, or the one for fraudulent entry into a seaport — but you should still review the TSA website to make sure.