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Despite most travel expenses being higher than usual, there is one thing dropping in price, TSA PreCheck.
The Transportation Security Administration announced on Friday that the service intended to expedite airport security screening for members would cost less for enrollment and in-person renewal, CNN reported.
Enrollment provider IDEMIA has lowered fees from $85 to $78, with the cost to renew membership online staying at $70.
Membership is gained through application submission and approval and is good for five years before renewal is required.
Those applying for TSA PreCheck membership must provide “biometric and biographic information that TSA uses to conduct a security threat assessment,” TSA said in a news release.
Now is the time to enroll ahead of the holiday season, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
“TSA PreCheck offers significant benefits to those who meet its enrollment standards — less physical contact, fewer items on the conveyor belt, and faster screening,” Pekoske said.
Applying involves an in-person enrollment appointment. There are 500 enrollment centers across the nation. Most travelers receive a “Known Traveler Number” (KTN) within three to five days, the agency added.
The KTN must be added to passengers’ flight reservations to receive the expedited screening. TSA PreCheck membership also allows travelers to leave on their shoes, belts, and jackets, and electronics and liquids complying with the 3-1-1 rule may stay in carry-on bags.
Designated lanes created for TSA PreCheck members generally move quicker than non-PreCheck lanes.
According to the TSA, 93% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than five minutes at airport security in September 2022.
The decision comes as the number of passengers screened at TSA checkpoints reaches pre-pandemic figures.
