2 More Airlines Just Joined PreCheck. Here's A List of All 100 TSA PreCheck Participating Airlines.

Offers for the Bank of America^® Premium Rewards^® Elite Credit Card, The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard^® credit card and HSBC Premier World Mastercard^® credit card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers

No doubt that one of the least enjoyable parts of air travel is airport security. However, there's a straightforward way to speed your way through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints: TSA PreCheck. For a minimal cost — or free if you use the right card — you can enroll in TSA PreCheck to speed through airport security.

PreCheck just got a bit more valuable today with the addition of two more participating airlines: Caribbean Airlines and RED Air.

That makes now a great time to review why you should enroll in PreCheck, all 100 participating airlines, and the credit cards that will reimburse the cost of your TSA PreCheck application as a cardholder benefit.

What is TSA PreCheck?

By enrolling in TSA PreCheck, travelers get to skip the normal shoes-off liquids-out slow-moving standard airport security screening. Instead, you use a dedicated security lane where you just plop your bags on the belt and walk through a normal metal detector.

Clear security in under 5 minutes

Almost all TSA PreCheck travelers clear through security in less than 5 minutes. In fact, according to TSA data, 99% of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes to clear security.

Over 200 airports with TSA PreCheck

More than 200 airports offer TSA PreCheck screening lanes, including all major airports in the U.S. The TSA website has an interactive map of all participating airports.

How to get TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck is available to U.S. citizens, nationals, and legal permanent residents. All you need to do to enroll is take 5 minutes to fill out and submit an online application. Then, you'll schedule a background check appointment at one of 380+ enrollment centers where you will be fingerprinted. Assuming you successfully complete your background check, you will be enrolled in the PreCheck program within a couple of weeks.

Once you are enrolled, you will be assigned a Known Traveler Number, which can be added to your frequent flyer accounts and/or air travel reservations so that airlines are aware of your membership. This will allow participating airlines to add a PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass. That will allow you to use the PreCheck security lines at participating airports.

How much is TSA PreCheck?

What would you pay for five years of not needing to remove your shoes, laptop, liquids, belts, and light jackets when going through TSA? The great news is that the application fee is quite reasonable: $78 — which is just under $16 per year.

Even better, you can get this application fee refunded if you charge the application fee to one of the dozens of credit cards. We will show you how further down in this post. So, don't head over to the PreCheck application page quite yet!

Is Global Entry Better Than PreCheck?

Global Entry is a program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Global Entry membership includes enrollment in TSA PreCheck. At $120, the Global Entry application fee is $42 higher than the TSA PreCheck application fee. The Global Entry membership period is also 5-years long.

If you fly internationally at least once within a 5-year period, Global Entry membership is likely the better choice. However, there are fewer Global Entry enrollment centers, so it can be harder for some travelers to enroll in Global Entry. If you're an infrequent international traveler, enrolling in PreCheck may be the more practical option.

Related: How To Renew Global Entry

TSA PreCheck Participating Airlines

The number of airlines participating in the TSA PreCheck program has grown significantly over the past few years. In May 2016, only 12 airlines participated in PreCheck. Since then, we have seen a massive expansion:

• January 2017: Aruba Airlines, Avianca, Boutique Airlines, Emirates, Key Lime Air, Miami Air International, Xtra Airways, Sunwing, Virgin Atlantic, Spirit Airlines, and Southern Airways Express
• May 2017: Copa Airlines, Dominican Wings, InterCaribbean Airways, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Swift Air, Turkish Airlines
• October 2017: All Nippon Airways (ANA), Cathay Pacific Airways, Contour Aviation, Finnair, Korean Air
• May 2018: Air Serbia, British Airways, Condor Airlines, Porter Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines (UK), Thomas Cook Airlines (Scandanavia)
• August 2018: SWISS International Airlines
• October 2018: Flycana, Icelandair, Norwegian Air, ViaAir
• February 2019: Air India, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Eastern Airlines, Elite Airways, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Volaris
• April 2019: Edelweiss Air, Qatar Airways
• August 2019: Austrian Airlines, Azul Airlines, Interjet, PAL Express, Swoop, VivaAerobus
• December 2019: Alitalia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Sunclass
• March 2021: Aerolane Lineas Aereas Nacionales del Ecuador, Air Choice One, LATAM Airlines, LAN Peru S.A., TAM-Linhas Aereas S.A., Omni Air International, Ultimate Jet Charters
• May 2021: Breeze Airways
• November 2021: El Al and Global Crossings
• December 2021: Avelo Airlines
• February 2022: Eurowings Discover and Viva Air Colombia
• June 2022: Advanced Air
• September 2022: Air Europa, Flair, ITA Airways, Volaris El Salvador
• August 2023: Cayman Airways, French Bee, Titan Airways, Zipair
• December 2023: Fiji Airways, Lynx Air, Norse Atlantic Airlines, STARLUX Airlines
• March 2024: Air Premia, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Transat, Bahamasair, BermudAir, Iberia, La Compagnie and New Pacific Airlines
• June 2024: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, Ethiopian Airlines, Saudia
• October 2024: Caribbean Air, RED Air

However, not all airlines have stuck around. Here's the list of airlines that have gone under or have exited the PreCheck program through the years:

• October 2018: Dominican Wings, OneJet
• March 2021: Miami Air International
• October 2021: Alitalia
• January 2022: Interjet, Xtra Airways
• April 2023: Air Choice One
• December 2023: Elite Airways
• February 2024: Lynx Air
• March 2024: Sunclass
• April 2024: Volaris El Salvador
• December 2024: Flycana, Norwegian Air, Swoop, Viva Air Colombia
• April 2025: iAero Airways

Credit Cards That Provide TSA Precheck Enrollment or Renewal Fee Credit

Dozens of credit cards provide a statement credit to reimburse application or renewal fees for PreCheck or Global Entry. That means you can enjoy all the advantages provided by either of these programs for nothing out-of-pocket by charging the application fee to the right card.

Here are some of our favorite credit cards with a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application credit:

Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

Bottom Line

TSA PreCheck can be worth it for even the infrequent traveler. Sure, you need to fill out an application and go through a screening, but both should only take a few minutes. And the small amount of cost and effort to enroll in TSA PreCheck can really pay off in time savings (and less frustration) at the airport.

If you travel internationally, you're likely better off enrolling in Global Entry. You'll get all of the benefits of TSA PreCheck along with being able to speed through immigration when re-entering the United States. The only downside is needing to schedule an interview at a limited number of locations.

If you're a points and miles collector, it's likely that you already have a credit card that will refund the application fee. Just pay for your application or renewal fee with one of the credit cards mentioned above to receive a credit reimbursing you for the fee. And, if you already have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you can use your card to pay for someone else's application fee. Just make sure to carefully read the terms and limitations on your card before doing so.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: USAA Eagle Navigator^® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), Aeroplan^® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve^® (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card^® from American Express (Rates & Fees)

AwardWallet Tip of The Day

Not sure which airport lounges you can access? The AwardWallet Lounge Tool shows you lounges you’re eligible to visit based on your credit cards and lounge memberships. Just open the AwardWallet mobile app and select a tracked trip to see lounge options at each airport — including access details, hours, and locations.
Show me how

Hide image