Eleven more airlines have become TSA PreCheck partners, enabling them to issue boarding passes that direct PreCheck members through the special security lanes that allow relaxed screening.
The new partners include Virgin Atlantic, the first British-based airline to enter the program. Other new airlines are Spirit, Avianca, Emirates, Sunwings, and Aruba airlines. The remaining new members are smaller regional carriers including Boutique Air, Southern Airways Express, Key Lime Air, Miami Air International and Xtra Airway.
PreCheck members are cleared in advance by TSA and are allowed to keep their shoes on through screening, and are not required to take their laptops or 3-in-1 liquids bags out while going through. PreCheck lines are also often shorter than the regular ones.
Passengers can join PreCheck for 5 years for $85, or can receive privileges by being approved for Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry Program. TSA has also sent a number of randomly selected non-members through the lines, in part as a promotion tool; it’s announced that will end starting this month.
