TSA PreCheck offering mobile enrollment at select airports this summer
Travelers passing through select airports may be able to enroll in TSA PreCheck in person soon thanks to mobile pop-up enrollment events where passengers can sign up for the government's expedited security program in a few minutes.
Starting today through June 6, travelers at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) can use the new mobile service, which is available through a partnership with enrollment provider IDEMIA. The sign-up process should take about five minutes from start to finish.
"This is our latest innovation for conducting TSA PreCheck enrollment," Lisa Sullivan, senior vice president of travel and transport for IDEMIA North America, said in a statement. "IDEMIA is the pioneer in identity verification and validation technologies, and this latest enrollment option will further streamline signing more people up to receive the benefits of the TSA PreCheck program."
Passengers at GPT should keep an eye out for enrollment teams stationed near the ticketing area, as well as by the TSA security line both before and after they go through.
In June, the TSA will begin registering additional travelers through mobile events at Nashville International Airport (BNA), and mobile enrollment will also be available at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), likely in early June, per a regional TSA spokesperson for AUS.
The agency first rolled out the program at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) in March and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) earlier in May.
Related: 7 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
More than 550 travelers signed up during the JAN and SDF mobile enrollment events, according to a spokesperson for the TSA Gulf region, which includes Mississippi.
"The first test of this mobile service at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport proved very popular with travelers," said Kim Jackson, the TSA's federal security director for Mississippi.
"This is an exciting development for TSA, the TSA PreCheck application program and the traveling public," Jackson added. "We've listened to travelers' feedback and worked ... to make enrolling more accessible."
Related: 12 key things to know about TSA PreCheck
Travelers who enroll at any of the above airports via this simplified process should receive their Known Traveler Number, which is needed to access the TSA PreCheck line at participating airports, within three to five days after paying the $85 application fee. Their membership will be valid for five years.
TSA PreCheck users must enter their KTN when they book a flight in order to have their membership noted on their boarding pass. This allows them to pass through a quicker, TSA PreCheck-specific line.
On average, it took 94% of TSA PreCheck users five minutes or less to pass through security in April, per agency data.
"Travelers are confident knowing their verified identity will streamline their transit through the airport: They can keep their shoes, belts and light jackets on and leave their compliant liquids and laptops in their bag," Jackson said.
Before you apply, know that many credit cards offer a statement credit that can be used to cover the cost of the TSA PreCheck application fee once every four or five years, depending on the card.