How You Can Get Through Airport Security In Fewer Than 5 Minutes

If you’re still recovering from last year’s hellish Thanksgiving travel, brace yourself: Industry trade organization Airlines For America predicts that air travel between Nov. 17 and Nov. 28 will increase 3 percent over last year, with an average of a whopping 2.38 million passengers flying each day.

While much of this growth will be driven by low airline fares and increased seat availability this season, congested holiday travel is not a new concept — there are always going to be more people than usual visiting friends and family during the holidays.

The dreaded security line seems to transform into a special kind of nightmare around this time of year. Showing up several hours before your plane takes off doesn’t guarantee that you will make your flight. Plus, first-time flyers seem to show up in droves, causing more bottlenecking and angrier TSA agents who are sick and tired of telling people to take off their shoes.

Luckily, 42 major airlines now allow you to use TSA Pre-Check to avoid this sort of fiasco. If you haven’t already signed up, you may want to consider it before traveling this year, as airports are likely to be just as crowded around Christmas and New Year's. Trust us, it’s easier than you think.

Here’s How It Works

Pre-enroll for TSA Pre-Check by filling out this form, which asks you for basic information like your name and contact info.

Then, schedule an appointment with your nearest enrollment center, where you'll provide fingerprints, verify your identity and submit to a background check. All of this should take about 10 minutes.

Within two to three weeks, you'll know if you've been approved and will receive your Known Traveler Number (KTN). Submit your KTN to each airline you travel with, and they'll issue you a boarding pass with TSA Pre-Check approval.

Membership costs $85 for five years.

The Perks

The most exciting benefit you'll get from signing up for Pre-Check is getting through security much more quickly than you used to. There's a special security line for those enrolled in Pre-Check, so you won't have to wait with the rest of the holiday crowds. In October, 97 percent of Pre-Check passengers waited less than five minutes to get through security (way better than three hours, if you ask us!).

You can also breeze through TSA without having to remove your shoes, take out your liquids or pull your laptop out of your bag.

Where Can You Go

Right now, 42 airlines and 200 airports participate in the Pre-Check program.

If you're someone who frequently travels internationally, you can pay $100 for Global Entry. Along with all of the Pre-Check benefits, this five-year membership expedites the Customs and Border Patrol process and allows you to skip filling out those paper customs forms.

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