Hurry, Here's How to Get TSA PreCheck Before the Next Government Shutdown
Brace yourselves: The government shutdown will start up again in T-5 days if lawmakers don't reach an agreement on funding for a wall along the southwest border of the US. On Feb. 15, temporary funding expires for the federal agencies affected by the shutdown. During the last shutdown, which lasted a historic 34 days, hundreds of TSA agents called out sick to protest work without pay. While most airports experienced little to no delays in security wait times, others were forced to close multiple security lanes, which resulted in wait times of more than an hour in some cases.
With less than a week left until the next potential shutdown, there are a few last-minute steps you can take to prepare for the travel nightmares that may ensue:
Apply for TSA PreCheck ASAP
Getting TSA PreCheck is a straight-forward process that will expedite your security wait. Applicants will need to fill out an online form and schedule an in-person interview at an airport, a participating Staples store or other local participating locations may be available. There is also an option to forgo a specified appointment time and simply just walk in. Once the interview is complete, the applicant will need to wait until their submission is approved to receive their known traveler number, or KTN, the special digits added to your frequent flier profile and flight reservations that should get you — most times — into the faster PreCheck lanes.
To test out the current turn-around time for approval, we sent a PreCheck-less traveler to Staples for a walk-in interview on Monday, Feb. 4. He completed his ten-minute interview at 7:30pm. The Staples employee mentioned that the process could take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but approval could happen in less than a week. By Thursday, Feb. 7, just three days later, our PreCheck guinea pig received an email at 11:30pm with his KTN.
If you are interested in finding out more about TSA PreCheck, here is our guide for everything you need to know.
Download the MyTSA App
You can see recently reported wait times via the TSA's MyTSA mobile app found in both major app stores. The handy app not only reports on wait times but offers other useful information such as delay information, weather conditions and a searchable database of items you can bring with you through security checkpoints onto the airplane.
Monitor Your Airport's Website
Nowadays, many airports report the current wait time right on their websites.
Monitor the website of your departing airport in the hours leading up to your flight. You may get stuck in a long line, but at least you'll be prepared and be able to allow yourself enough time to get through security without panic.
Bottom Line
If you don't already have TSA PreCheck, now is the time to get it — especially if you plan on traveling in the near future. While we can't guarantee the three-day turnaround that our test subject saw, it's definitely worth a shot. The $85 fee (which is waived by these credit cards) is an investment that will save you time and frustration for the next five years.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.