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Those of us who’ve had TSA PreCheck for a while have seen the express airport security line moving more slowly than it should. We’ve had our patience tested by newbies fumbling for passports at the counter or removing their shoes when it’s their turn to be scanned.
These days, you’re more likely to encounter first-time users in the fast-pass lane than ever.
The TSA reported in August 2024 that enrollment reached a record 20 million travelers.
In the TSA PreCheck line, pre-screened travelers speed through security without taking off their light jackets or removing electronics or liquids from their carry-on bags.
It costs about $85 to enroll for five years, but you can get the service essentially for free through credit cards such as Capital One Venture, Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Delta SkyMiles, and American Express.
AP Photo/John Raoux
Gilbert Ott, who says he flies more than 200,000 miles a year and has been blogging about flying for the past decade, told Business Insider that the PreCheck lane makes his life easier. Ott’s blog, called God Save the Points, covers everything from airline news and flight reviews to travel tips and money-saving hacks, such as how to best use credit-card points.
“I spend too much time in airports. As much as I may love them, sometimes the less time I spend in them, the happier I am,” Ott said. “So the quicker I can get through and just be on a plane, the better.”
While the line is often full of frequent flyers, those new to the program, which requires a background check, may not be as savvy about security etiquette, especially during busy travel times. Ott said this can cause the line to slow down, so he shared his best tips for TSA PreCheck travelers.
Pre-strip before you even get to the airport
Pre-stripping is removing everything you may need to take off at security, from heavy outerwear to the contents of your pockets, before you get in line.
“When I go to the airport, I take my belt off before I get there. I have it in my backpack, knowing I’ll put it on as soon as I get through PreCheck,” Ott told Business Insider. “So keep the jewels and the watch in your bag. Then, when you get to the other side of security where you’re not holding people up, you can do the glamour.”
Ott said this process will help people move through the line more quickly.
“My routine is somewhere along the lines of comfy jeans, a T-shirt or hoodie, and then a bomber jacket,” he said. “Essentials like my phone and passport go in my bomber jacket pockets while I wait in the queue so that when I step up to the scanners, my jacket is off, pockets are empty, my bags go on the trays, and off we go.”
Leave the flashy shoes in your bag
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TSA PreCheck passengers aren’t required to take off their shoes. However, in Ott’s experience, those who wear shoes with buckles or studs often trigger the scanner.
“The main thing is metal, either as part of the shoe or in the boot or heel of the shoe,” Ott said. “Ceramic and rubber are usually fine. Basically, sneakers tend to always work.”
Be ready before it’s your turn
When you first get in line, Ott recommends having your boarding pass and identification out before it’s your turn to show them. That way, you won’t spend time searching for these documents while others wait behind you.
If everyone followed Ott’s advice, he thinks we’d all get through security faster.
“If you think of the 20 seconds it takes somebody to do this very basic thing, and you’d multiply that by 50,000 people going through an airport’s screens a day, you could pretty much just walk through an airport without stopping,” Ott told Business Insider. “We can all have a better time.”
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