The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently expanded its TSA Pre-Check program to five more carriers – All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Contour Aviation, Finnair and Korean Air – bringing the total carriers offering expedited screenings to 42.
Pre-Check is available at 200 airports for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents when departing from a U.S. airport to a foreign country or for domestic connecting flights.
The program costs $85 for five years, or $17 a year. Program members do not need to remove their shoes, belts or jackets during screenings and do not need to remove laptops or liquids from their luggage.
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler programs also are eligible for Pre-Check.
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) joined seven other industry organizations in urging Congress to pass the TSA Modernization Act. The organizations are particularly interested in expanding the Pre-Check program.
“ASTA strongly supports efforts to expand the PreCheck program to the broadest possible proportion of the flying public while maintaining a high level of security,” Eben Peck, ASTA executive vice president of advocacy, said, “[Travel] agencies can play a critical role in expanding PreCheck coverage.”