TSA PreCheck, the ever-popular security pre-clearance program, will be available to travelers on eight more airlines starting today, bringing the total number of carriers enrolled in the program to over 100.
The Transportation Security Administration announced Thursday that the following airlines will join the program, allowing travelers flying on each to use the PreCheck security line where available.
- Air Premia
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Air Transat
- BahamasAir
- BermudAir
- Iberia
- La Compagnie
- New Pacific Airlines
The most significant addition to the PreCheck program is Iberia, the Spanish carrier that connects travelers all over the U.S. to its hub in Madrid (MAD). It serves eight U.S. gateways from coast to coast. Iberia offers terrific fares to Europe and is a popular carrier among American travelers. The lack of PreCheck was a sore subject for many U.S. flyers, but that has changed just in time for the busy summer travel season.
Korean-based Air Premia serves Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), Honolulu (HNL), and San Francisco (SFO) – all airports where PreCheck is available to enrolled travelers, too.
Air Tahiti Nui, based in Tahiti (PPT), has nonstop service to both Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA).
Air Transat serves Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) in California and Orlando (MCO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Miami (MIA) in Florida.
BahamasAir serves Raleigh (RDU), West Palm Beach (PBI), Orlando (MCO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Miami (MIA) from its bases in Nassau (NAS) and on the outlying islands of Freeport (FPO), Great Exuma (GGT), and San Salvador Island (ZSA). BahamasAir passengers will also get to use PreCheck in Nassau (NAS), as the airport is one of the only airports outside of the U.S. with TSA PreCheck capabilities.
BermudAir, a newcomer serving the island of Bermuda (BDA), has nonstop routes to Boston (BOS), Westchester County (HPN), Baltimore (BWI), Orlando (MCO), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
La Compagnie is a business class-only airline that services Newark (EWR) flying to Paris (ORY), Nice (NCE), and Milan (MXP).
Finally, the most curious addition is New Pacific Airlines, which recently suspended all commercial flying in the mainland of the U.S. Surely their application for PreCheck approval was submitted long before this decision, but you won't be able to use your PreCheck on a New Pacific flight any time soon.
Read Next: Everything You Need to Know to Get & Use PreCheck
Travelers booked with these airlines need only add their Known Traveler Number (KTN) to their reservations to get into PreCheck lines before a flight. Just because you're signed up doesn't mean you'll always get into the PreCheck lane at the airport, however – your airline has to participate in the program.
Fortunately, the number of PreCheck-approved airlines has grown to 102 and counting, including all the major (and many minor) domestic airlines and most big foreign carriers, including recently approved airlines like Norse Atlantic, Starlux, and Fiji Airways.
A few notable airlines that don't yet participate in PreCheck include Ireland's Aer Lingus, European budget carrier PLAY Airlines, EgyptAir, and major Chinese airlines China Eastern and China Southern.
Travelers booked with these airlines need only add their Known Traveler Number (KTN) to their reservations to get into PreCheck lines before a flight. Just because you're signed up doesn't mean you'll always get into the PreCheck lane at the airport, however – your airline has to participate in the program.
Read next: Why TSA PreCheck Isn't Showing Up on Your Boarding Pass
Your first time using PreCheck, you’ll wonder why you didn’t join the program sooner.
It means you can hop in the TSA PreCheck lanes, which means lines are generally much shorter than the standard screening lines. And once you're in it, there's no need to remove your coat, shoes, or belt, nor do you need to remove electronics or liquids from your bag. That means the line often moves much faster, too.
It's gotten even cheaper and easier to sign up for PreCheck, too. After a price decrease a few years ago, it now costs just $78 for a five-year membership – and that membership allows any teens and kids to accompany their parents or guardians in the PreCheck lanes. Better yet, a growing number of travel credit cards will cover the entire cost of either TSA PreCheck (or Global Entry).
The PreCheck enrollment process includes an online application and scheduling an in-person interview. But the federal government and its partners have also been running pop-up enrollment sites at airports like Denver (DEN), Portland (PDX), and more where you can sign up in minutes before or after your flight.
Read next: Friends or Family Don’t Have TSA PreCheck? Here’s What to Do
Bottom Line
The list of airlines participating in TSA PreCheck continues to grow with the long-awaited addition of Iberia Airlines and seven other international carriers.
Travelers with PreCheck flying on Iberia or the other airlines can now use the PreCheck lane at security before boarding their flight.
Would Iberia being approved mean it would work on LEVEL flights as well? I believe they are under the same certificate currently even though operating as a different brand.
Hi David. Good question and while we aren’t 100% sure, we would assume that it still won’t work for LEVEL flights.
Just be aware that when you join these security programs its for the purpose for the US government to profile you and know who you are and where you are going at all times.