This Is One of the Easiest Ways to Get TSA PreCheck—and It Only Takes 5 Minutes
Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure Over the last five-plus years, TSA PreCheck , which allows you to skip the standard security line at many airports, has saved me from missing countless flights and allowed me to sleep in a bit later on travel days. With PreCheck, you aren’t required to take off your shoes, light jacket, or belt—and you can keep your laptop and liquids in your carry-on—so you usually zip right through security. According to the TSA , “about 99 percent of passengers wait less than 10 minutes” in PreCheck lanes. Before I discovered this not-so-secret airport hack, though, I was one of those travelers who didn’t feel like dealing with the hassle of applying for the program. But that’s simply because I hadn’t done my research. There are actually many ways to get your Known Traveler Number (KTN), the nine-digit number assigned to those approved for TSA PreCheck, and one of the easiest is by popping into your local Staples. Find your nearest one by typing in your zip code online . “Most travelers assume the enrollment process is long and difficult. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck is easy and only takes about five minutes,” Marshall Warkentin, president of Staples U.S. Retail, tells Travel + Leisure . “There’s no need to visit an airport or government office.” Before you drive to the office supplies store, though, you’ll want to do the pre-enrollment online first. “This involves completing a brief application that includes basic biographic details such as name, address, and contact information. While this step is not required, it helps save time once [you] arrive in store,” Warkentin says. The best part? You can do everything on your own schedule; appointments aren’t required. Still, Warkentin notes you can schedule an appointment “at the end of the pre-enrollment process” if you…
Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
Over the last five-plus years, TSA PreCheck , which allows you to skip the standard security line at many airports, has saved me from missing countless flights and allowed me to sleep in a bit later on travel days. With PreCheck, you aren’t required to take off your shoes, light jacket, or belt—and you can keep your laptop and liquids in your carry-on—so you usually zip right through security. According to the TSA , “about 99 percent of passengers wait less than 10 minutes” in PreCheck lanes.
Before I discovered this not-so-secret airport hack, though, I was one of those travelers who didn’t feel like dealing with the hassle of applying for the program. But that’s simply because I hadn’t done my research.
There are actually many ways to get your Known Traveler Number (KTN), the nine-digit number assigned to those approved for TSA PreCheck, and one of the easiest is by popping into your local Staples. Find your nearest one by typing in your zip code online . “Most travelers assume the enrollment process is long and difficult. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck is easy and only takes about five minutes,” Marshall Warkentin, president of Staples U.S. Retail, tells Travel + Leisure . “There’s no need to visit an airport or government office.”
Before you drive to the office supplies store, though, you’ll want to do the pre-enrollment online first. “This involves completing a brief application that includes basic biographic details such as name, address, and contact information. While this step is not required, it helps save time once [you] arrive in store,” Warkentin says.
The best part? You can do everything on your own schedule; appointments aren’t required. Still, Warkentin notes you can schedule an appointment “at the end of the pre-enrollment process” if you want to make it as quick as possible. “Peak times vary by location, but wait times are typically 10 minutes or less,” he says.
Ahead of the in-person portion of the application, gather everything you’ll need: an unexpired U.S. passport or other accepted documentation (full list available here ), and a payment method to cover the $79.95 fee. “Most travelers enroll with a U.S. passport. Non-passport holders may bring a valid photo ID, such as a Real ID , along with proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate or certificate of citizenship,” Warkentin explains.
When you’ve arrived at your chosen Staples location, he says, the team will “capture citizenship documentation, a photo, and fingerprints.” Just don’t expect to walk out of the store with your official acceptance into the PreCheck program. “Processing time is the same no matter where you complete your TSA PreCheck enrollment. Most applicants receive approval notification in three to five days, though some applications can take up to 60 days,” he adds.
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Once you’ve officially been accepted, you’ll be able to take advantage of PreCheck benefits for the next five years. To renew your membership, you’ll apply online and pay the renewal fee of $69.95.