Joining TSA PreCheck means you can keep your belt and jacket on and leave your laptop and liquids in your carry-on bag when passing through many security checkpoints. That, in turn, means getting through the airport faster and with less stress.
Normally, enrolling in PreCheck costs $78, but some travelers can sidestep the expense. Here’s a look at groups who can join the Transportation Security Administration program for free.
Gold Star family members
Under the new “Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease” initiative announced in July, Gold Star families — those who have lost a loved one in military service — can enroll in TSA PreCheck at no cost.
Additionally, TSA is now offering the spouses of military and uniformed service members $25 off the cost of TSA PreCheck enrollment.
Certain credit card holders
Use the right plastic and your TSA application or renewal fee will come back as a statement credit. According to the TSA website, credit cards that offer this perk include:
- Aeroplan Card
- American Airlines Credit Union Visa Signature credit card
- Arvest Visa Signature credit card
- Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
- Capital One Spark Miles Card
- Capital One Venture Card
- Capital One Venture X Business Card
- Capital One Venture X Card
- Certain American Express Credit Cards
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
- Citi Prestige Card
- Commerce Bank World Elite Mastercard
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Diners Club Carte Blanche Corporate Card
- HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard
- HSBC Premier World Mastercard
- IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Mastercard
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- MasterCard Black Card
- MasterCard Gold Card
- Navy Federal’s Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Card
- One Key+ Card
- PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature Card
- Provident World+ Travel Visa Signature Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
- Truist Business Travel Rewards credit card
- Truist Enjoy Beyond credit card
- Truist Enjoy Travel credit card
- UBS Visa Infinite credit card
- United Club Infinite Card
- United Explorer Card
- United Quest Card
- USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
- U.S. Bank FlexPerks Gold American Express Card
Members of certain loyalty programs
These travel loyalty programs offer PreCheck enrollment as a member benefit, or allow members to redeem points or miles to cover the cost of PreCheck enrollment, according to TSA:
- ASMALLWORLD
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Orbitz Rewards Platinum Members
- United MileagePlus
Military members and staff
Military personnel and civilian staff members of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) are eligible for free TSA PreCheck. They just need to provide their DOD identification number when booking travel.
This freebie also applies to their children if they are aged 12 and under, or if they are aged 13-17 and on the same airline reservation.
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