Why It's Always Best To Double Check Your Boarding Pass When You Have TSA PreCheck
If you fly often, TSA PreCheck can be a major time saver. As long as the airport you're heading to has TSA PreCheck lanes open, signing up for the program gives you access to expedited screening so you can arrive at your gate in minutes. With that said, you should always double check your boarding pass before strolling up to the fast lane.
Though PreCheck is intended to simplify the security screening process, things don't always go according to plan, and sometimes, you might not even have the TSA PreCheck indicator printed on your boarding pass. Without this indicator, you won't be allowed in the PreCheck lane, even if you have an active membership. In some instances, this could be the fault of your airline rather than TSA. If you booked a flight with an airline you rarely use or that you don't have a registered account with (such as an airline loyalty program account), you may find that your Known Traveler Number (KTN) never made it into the system, barring you from using PreCheck. This has happened to travelers before, who often learn a valuable lesson from the experience: Never go to airport security without checking your boarding pass first.
What to do if your KTN isn't on your flight booking
In order to use TSA PreCheck, your KTN must be included in your flight booking. Before you travel, check your reservation details to confirm that your KTN was entered properly. If it doesn't appear in your booking, contact the airline to make the correction. It's also a good idea to check in online, if your flight allows, so you can receive a digital boarding pass before arriving at the airport.
If TSA PreCheck doesn't show up on your boarding pass, visit the airline counter to see if your traveler information was entered correctly. If not, the agent may be able to add your KTN and issue a new boarding pass on the spot. In some cases, you may also discover that your airline doesn't participate in PreCheck screenings, which means you and all other passengers on board will be required to use the regular security lane.
If the airline has squared away everything on its end and you still don't have PreCheck on your boarding pass, there's likely another explanation. For example, your membership may have expired, or you might've been randomly selected for additional screening. Confirm the validity of your membership online, and if you continue to experience issues at the airport, contact TSA customer service for assistance.