TSA: Travelers less likely to get expedited airport screening without PreCheck membership

JANUARY 15, 2014 ATLANTA TSA agents man the checkpoint for pre-cleared passengers Wednesday. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officially opened an application site at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Wednesday, January 15, 2014, for TSA Pre (TM), an expedited screening program that allows travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and keep 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on bag. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will now be able to go through a pre-enrollment process online at www.TSA.gov, make an appointment and complete their enrollment at the application center at gate A19 to verify their identity and provide documentation to confirm their citizenship/immigration status as well as to provide fingerprints. TSA is currently in the process of expanding to more than 300 application centers across the country. The application center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the first centers to open in the southeast. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

JANUARY 15, 2014 ATLANTA TSA agents man the checkpoint for pre-cleared passengers Wednesday. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officially opened an application site at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Wednesday, January 15, 2014, for TSA Pre (TM), an expedited screening program that allows travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and keep 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on bag. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will now be able to go through a pre-enrollment process online at www.TSA.gov, make an appointment and complete their enrollment at the application center at gate A19 to verify their identity and provide documentation to confirm their citizenship/immigration status as well as to provide fingerprints. TSA is currently in the process of expanding to more than 300 application centers across the country. The application center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the first centers to open in the southeast. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

The Transportation Security Administration has ended a practice of randomly directing some  passengers at airport checkpoints to expedited screening lanes, reducing travelers' chances of winning the speedy-security lotto.

TSA offers expedited screening lanes through its PreCheck "trusted traveler" program, which allow travelers a chance to keep their shoes, jackets and belts on, and to keep their laptops and permitted liquids in their bags.

It costs $85 to apply for the program. Those interested in joining TSA PreCheck can start the process online and schedule an appointment to submit fingerprints, documentation and payment at an airport application center.

But some travelers had been randomly selected for expedited screening, even if they were not in the PreCheck program.

That practice, called "Managed Inclusion II," has come to an end.

Yet there's still a chance that some non-PreCheck members may get some form of expedited screening in certain instances, particularly during peak travel times when TSA is trying to manage long lines.

TSA said it will "continue to offer expedited screening to certain travelers who have been pre-screened by TSA canines."

JANUARY 15, 2014 ATLANTA TSA agents man the checkpoint for pre-cleared passengers Wednesday. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officially opened an application site at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Wednesday, January 15, 2014, for TSA Pre (TM), an expedited screening program that allows travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and keep 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on bag. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will now be able to go through a pre-enrollment process online at www.TSA.gov, make an appointment and complete their enrollment at the application center at gate A19 to verify their identity and provide documentation to confirm their citizenship/immigration status as well as to provide fingerprints. TSA is currently in the process of expanding to more than 300 application centers across the country. The application center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the first centers to open in the southeast. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

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Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

"Overall, the agency is now moving toward offering TSA PreCheck expedited screening only to trusted and pre-vetted travelers enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program," according to TSA.

Those who originally opted into PreCheck through a frequent flier program and others without a “Known Traveler Number” who want to continue to use expedited screening lanes can enroll in TSA’s PreCheck or one of Customs and Border Protection’s trusted traveler programs called Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS ($50 to $122.25).

Certain credit cards, including some American Express cards, reimburse the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.