TSA PreCheck is a U.S. government Trusted Traveler Program that allows pre-approved, low-risk passengers to use expedited security screening lanes at participating airports, keeping shoes, belts, and light jackets on and laptops in bags.
TSA PreCheck is a Department of Homeland Security program administered by the Transportation Security Administration that grants pre-screened travelers access to dedicated security lanes with reduced screening requirements at over 200 U.S. airports.
TSA PreCheck membership costs $78 for five years (or $70 online), with renewal available up to six months before expiration. Members receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) added to airline reservations [1].
PreCheck lanes allow travelers to keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on, leave laptops and liquids in bags, and avoid full-body scanners in most cases, reducing average wait times to under 5 minutes [1].
Navan stores travelers' Known Traveler Numbers in their profiles, automatically applying PreCheck eligibility to every flight booking without manual entry.
The program is available at 200+ airports and with 90+ participating airlines. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, a background check, and fingerprinting [1].
Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI memberships all include TSA PreCheck benefits, making them a better value for travelers who also cross international borders frequently.
What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is an expedited security screening program operated by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Members who pass a background check and in-person interview receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that, when added to airline reservations, routes them through dedicated PreCheck lanes at airport security checkpoints.
The program exists to separate low-risk travelers from the general screening population, allowing TSA to focus more intensive screening resources on unknown travelers while reducing wait times for everyone. For business travelers who fly frequently, PreCheck eliminates the unpredictability of security lines and protects tight connection windows.
PreCheck is part of the broader Trusted Traveler Program family administered by the Department of Homeland Security, which also includes Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI.
How Does TSA PreCheck Work?
The process from application to airport use follows five steps [1]:
1. Apply online. Submit an application at tsa.gov/precheck with personal information, employment history, and travel details. Pay the $78 fee ($70 for online applications as of 2025).
2. Schedule an in-person appointment. Visit a TSA enrollment center for fingerprinting and identity verification. Over 500 enrollment centers operate across the U.S., including at many airports.
3. Receive your KTN. After background check approval (typically 3-5 days, sometimes up to 2 weeks), you receive your Known Traveler Number.
4. Add KTN to reservations. Enter the KTN in your airline profile or booking. When booked through a managed travel platform, the number applies automatically to every flight.
5. Use PreCheck lanes. At the airport, look for the TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass. Proceed to the dedicated screening lane where you keep shoes and belt on, leave laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in your bag, and pass through a standard metal detector rather than a full-body scanner.
For business travelers who fly internationally even a few times per year, Global Entry is typically the better value at just $22 more than PreCheck alone, since it includes PreCheck benefits plus expedited customs processing on international returns.
Why TSA PreCheck Matters for Corporate Travel Programs
Time savings compound. TSA reports that 97% of PreCheck passengers wait less than 5 minutes in security [1]. For an employee making 40 domestic trips per year, that's roughly 10 hours saved annually compared to standard screening averages of 15-25 minutes.
Connection protection. Business travelers often book tight connections to minimize time away from work. PreCheck reduces the risk that a long security line causes a missed connection, which would mean rebooking costs and lost productivity.
Policy integration. Many corporate travel policies now reimburse TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees for employees who travel more than a threshold number of times per year (commonly 6+ trips). The $78 cost pays for itself in reduced delay risk on the first or second trip.
Managed enrollment. Organizations can arrange group enrollment sessions at enrollment centers, reducing the administrative burden of having each employee schedule individually.
Best Practices for Corporate TSA PreCheck Programs
Reimburse enrollment for frequent travelers. Set a trip-frequency threshold (6+ annual round trips is common) and auto-reimburse the application fee. The ROI is immediate in reduced missed-flight risk and traveler satisfaction.
Store KTNs centrally. When Known Traveler Numbers are stored in each employee's travel profile, every booking automatically receives PreCheck eligibility without manual entry or missed applications.
Track renewal dates. PreCheck expires every 5 years. Organizations with large travel programs should track renewal dates centrally to prevent lapses that leave frequent travelers without expedited screening unexpectedly.
Consider Global Entry for international travelers. For employees who travel internationally even 2-3 times per year, the incremental $22 for Global Entry (which includes PreCheck) is a better investment than PreCheck alone.
Global Entry: A CBP program providing expedited customs and immigration processing for international travelers, which includes TSA PreCheck benefits.
Trusted Traveler Program: The DHS umbrella covering all expedited screening programs including PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI.
Corporate Travel Policy: The organizational document that may specify reimbursement for trusted traveler program enrollment fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership ($70 when applying online). Renewal is available up to six months before expiration at the same rate. Many corporate travel programs reimburse this fee for employees who travel 6 or more times annually, as the time savings justify the cost on the first few trips.
After submitting an online application and completing the in-person appointment (fingerprinting and ID verification), most applicants receive their Known Traveler Number within 3-5 days. Some applications may take up to 2 weeks if additional background review is required.
PreCheck passengers keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on. Laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids (toiletries under 3.4 oz) stay in bags. Most PreCheck lanes use standard metal detectors rather than full-body scanners. Random additional screening can still occur.
TSA PreCheck operates at over 200 U.S. airports and is accepted by 90+ participating airlines. Availability is nearly universal for major domestic airports and most regional ones. International departures from U.S. airports also qualify. However, the program does not apply to non-U.S. airports.
For employees traveling 6+ times annually, reimbursing TSA PreCheck ($78/5 years, or ~$15.60/year) is one of the highest-ROI travel benefits. Navan tracks KTNs in traveler profiles so the benefit applies automatically to every booking without manual steps.
Global Entry costs $100 for 5 years and includes all TSA PreCheck benefits plus expedited customs and immigration on international returns. For travelers who cross U.S. borders even 2-3 times annually, Global Entry's extra $22 provides substantial additional value.
Accrual accounting is a method of recording financial transactions when they occur, regardless of when the cash transactions happen, ensuring that revenue and expenses are matched in the period they arise.
