Travelers interested in breezing through security lines and cutting down wait times at the airport, should enroll for the TSA PreCheck® program. There are several locations in the Charlotte area where they can sign up. In March 2021, TSA announced more than 10 million travelers have enrolled in the popular PreCheck® program since its inception.
This summer, TSA expects to screen upward of 2 million passengers a day, and could continue to trend higher as more individuals are vaccinated and become more comfortable with travelling again. One way travelers can beat long airport security lines is by enrolling in the popular TSA PreCheck® program. Travelers with the TSA PreCheck® designation printed on their boarding passes can quickly get through airport screening without removing shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, and light jackets.
Enrollment is easier than ever thanks to IdentoGO’s three locations in the Charlotte area, with appointments available this summer. It takes just a few minutes and $85 to enroll, but approved PreCheck® travelers can enjoy the benefits of a stress-free travel experience for five years before having to renew. More than 99 percent of PreCheck® passengers wait five minutes or less in security screening.
Travelers can make an appointment and begin the application process by going to www.IdentoGO.com/PreCheck and selecting the location most convenient for them. During the enrollment appointment, which takes just a few minutes, trained agents verify approved identity documents (a birth certificate or passport and another government issued ID) and obtain biographic information before live-scanning applicants’ fingerprints and securely transmitting the application package to TSA for review.
TSA completes the application vetting process and issues a Known Traveler Number (KTN) via mail once the application is approved.
TSA PreCheck®, which is now available at more than 200 airports with 80 participating airlines nationwide. For the participating airports and airlines go to: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/map
You can search for an enrollment location convenient to you at: https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/locator?serviceCode=11115V&programs=precheck
The current Charlotte area locations:
4205 Stuart Andrew Blvd, Ste D
Charlotte, NC 28217
Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.
8322 Pineville Matthews Rd, inside Staples
Charlotte, NC 28226
Mon – Fri: 10:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
10850 Providence Road, inside Staples
Charlotte, NC 28277
Mon – Fri: 10:00am – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Passengers that haven’t traveled since the beginning of the pandemic may notice lots of changes at TSA security checkpoints as we continue to find ways to keep passengers and our workforce safe and healthy. Security employees will be conducting routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and security screening equipment at the checkpoints.
TSA is now allowing travelers to bring one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. Passengers can expect that these containers larger than the standard allowance of 3.4 ounces of liquids permitted through a checkpoint will need to be screened separately, which will add some time to their checkpoint experience. Travelers also are permitted to bring individually packaged alcohol or anti-bacterial wipes in carry-on or checked luggage.
To reduce touchpoints, it is recommended that travelers place items from their pockets such as wallets, keys, lip balm, tissues and cell phones into their carry-on bags to be screened instead of putting items from their pockets directly into bins. This minimizes the placing of personal items in a bin that you might hold to your face such as lip balm, tissues and cell phones. It also reduces the chance that travelers will leave something behind in a bin.
Travelers also need to know what can and cannot go in their carry-on bag from firearms to oversize liquids. It is important to know what items should not be packed in a carry-on bag because if a carry-on bag triggers an alarm, it will require a TSA officer to open the bag to resolve the alarm. This means that a TSA officer will have to open your baggage and go inside to identify what item may have caused the alarm. Remember, it’s vital to reduce touchpoints during a pandemic, so be sure not to pack any prohibited items. Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask us on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA.
TSA does NOT comply with medical exempt items, whether you pay for PreChek or NOT. Pay, package your meds in required glass containers, identify them as medical, and you will still be flagged behind others, while they ‘test’ every item, ensuring you miss your flight. From CLT to China, ONLY CLT refuses to allow the medical exemption or honor any PreChek priority.