TSA PreCheck® guest policies: What to know
Quick insights
- In general you cannot bring guests through TSA PreCheck security screenings, but there are a few exceptions.
- Children 12 and under may accompany a guardian with TSA PreCheck status.
- Active-duty military members may use TSA PreCheck lanes without a membership.
If you have TSA PreCheck and travel with guests, you may want to know whether this changes how you travel through security. TSA has detailed policies for traveling with TSA PreCheck guests, including family members who don't have their own account. These guidelines and rules may vary according to each airport, airline or location, so it can be helpful to understand how guest policy regulations might apply to you.
If I have TSA PreCheck, can I bring a guest?
You cannot usually bring a guest if you have TSA PreCheck, but there are exceptions. Children 12 and under may accompany a guardian through the TSA PreCheck lane. Additionally, active military personnel can use TSA PreCheck lanes without a membership. Spouses and travel partners with disabilities technically need their own TSA PreCheck membership.
Traveling with a pet? You’re in luck, as you can typically bring your furry friends through the TSA PreCheck lane with you.
Below, we cover some additional details on each scenario:
Using TSA PreCheck with your children
Traveling with a child as your TSA PreCheck guest? The rules about using your TSA PreCheck for your child usually depend on your child's age. According to TSA standard regulations, children ages 12 and under can pass through the TSA PreCheck lane if traveling with members who have a TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass.
If your child is between 13 and 17 years old, they may need their own TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass. If they don't have this indicator, your teenager might have to go through a separate security screening.
Using the TSA PreCheck lane with an active-duty military guest
Active-duty military personnel can use TSA PreCheck by using their DoD Known Traveler Number (KTN). This expedited screening benefit requires them to input their 10-digit DoD ID number from the back of their military-issued common access card into the KTN space when making flight reservations. Active-duty military personnel are not required to be in uniform to qualify for this benefit when traveling.
Using TSA PreCheck with your spouse
Your spouse won’t be able to come through the TSA PreCheck lane with you unless they have their own membership. If you have TSA PreCheck and your spouse doesn’t, the answer might just be in your wallet. Some travel credit cards will reimburse you for TSA PreCheck application fees.
For example, some Chase credit cardmembers can get a statement credit every four years as reimbursement for their application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
Using the TSA PreCheck lane with a disability
Officially, TSA PreCheck guests with a disability are required to have TSA PreCheck membership. However, travelers with disabilities may be given the option of using the TSA PreCheck lane along with account holders. It may be worth asking if you can use this lane when approaching security; be ready to share your proof of disability if necessary.
As an alternative, TSA also provides the service TSA CaresOpens overlay, which provides passenger support specialists and access for travelers with disabilities. You can call or sign up online a few days prior to your trip to set up this assistance by contacting TSA Cares through the TSA website.
Using the TSA PreCheck lane with a pet
Can you take a pet through the expedited lane as your TSA PreCheck guest? The short answer is yes. But clearance for your pet requires following the airport, airline and TSA's guidelines.
Some things to keep in mind when flying with a pet may include:
- A proper size carrier is normally required, with a maximum height and width. Additional carry-on allowance can vary according to airline.
- In-person check-in for your pets may be necessary.
- Removal of your pet from their carrier for security screening is often required.
- Pet relief areas are usually designated inside each airport.
- Airline fees may be required.
You may want to check online at the airline, airport and TSA websites ahead of time to make certain you have the necessary documentation and equipment (such as a standard pet carrier) before heading to the airport.
Planning for these details can help make a difference for you and your pet. Such preparations also may help ease your passage through the TSA PreCheck lane with your beloved pet in tow.
In summary
In general, the only approved guests through TSA PreCheck are children ages 12 or younger. Active-duty military personnel can use TSA PreCheck lanes for free without the assistance of a TSA PreCheck member. While it may be tempting to see if airport personnel will let your spouse or another guest into the TSA PreCheck lane with you, this is not guaranteed and may add time to your travel plans.
