The fee to either enroll or renew membership in person for five years in the TSA Pre✓ Trusted Traveler Program has been reduced by a multinational technology company called IDEMIA — which is headquartered in Courbevoie in France and is the current enrollment provider for the program — from $85.00 to $78.00, according to this official press release from the Transportation Security Administration.
TSA Pre✓ Enrollment Fee Reduced
The cost to renew online for the TSA Pre✓ remains at $70.00.
IDEMIA provides security services related to identity — as well as sells facial recognition and other biometric identification products and software to private companies and governments.
TSA Pre✓ is a Trusted Traveler Program which offers expedited security screening at the airport and connects low-risk travelers with security tailored to their TSA Pre✓ status and a better air travel experience. To apply for TSA Pre✓, individuals provide biometric and biographic information that the Transportation Security Administration uses to conduct a security threat assessment.
Greater than 500 enrollment centers are available nationwide. Following an enrollment appointment in person, most applicants will receive their Known Traveler Number in approximately three to five days. Passengers must add their Known Traveler Number to their flight reservations to enjoy the expedited security screening, which allows travelers to leave on shoes, jackets, and belts. TSA Pre✓ screening lanes move more quickly than standard screening lanes and passengers who have TSA Pre✓ may keep their electronics and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in their carry-on bags.
According to the aforementioned press release, 93 percent of TSA Pre✓ passengers waited fewer than five minutes at airport security checkpoints nationwide in September 2022.
Final Boarding Call
For many frequent travelers, the reduction of the fee means nothing, as many credit cards offer reimbursement of the TSA Pre✓ enrollment fee up to $100.00…
…but for someone who must pay the fee outright, the reduction of the enrollment fee represents a savings of seven dollars over five years of membership.
No official reason was given as to why the enrollment fee was reduced at the time this article was written.
Photograph ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
