2 Major Budget Airlines Join TSA PreCheck
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TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
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If you've ever excitedly booked a cheap transatlantic flight on a budget airline only to realize you'll pay in airport time spent waiting in a long, non-PreCheck security line, rejoice: The chances of that happening just got slimmer. Two popular foreign budget airlines now participate in TSA PreCheck: Norwegian Air and Icelandair. This means PreCheck travelers booked on either airline can use the PreCheck lane,
where available
, when departing from the U.S.
Related: TSA PreCheck Lanes Could Soon (Finally) Be for PreCheck Members Only
Notably, these are both international carriers, meaning the PreCheck benefits are only one-way. This decision has no bearing on return flights from Europe, since travelers will go through security in Europe and then through customs back in the States. In addition to these two international budget airlines, regional U.S. carrier ViaAir will also join PreCheck in November.
This does, however, mean Global Entry travelers will enjoy expedited services both ways. Global Entry includes all PreCheck benefits, and adds on streamlined customs services when re-entering the U.S.
If you're not familiar, TSA PreCheck grants expedited security screening at hundreds of U.S. airports when you fly domestically with dozens of airlines. Members can pass through an airport security lane without taking off shoes, removing any electronics or liquids from bags, or taking off accessories like belts or jackets. The TSA says that, on average, PreCheck travelers wait less than five minutes to pass through security.
Global Entry includes all of those benefits and, for only $15 more, adds expedited re-entry to the United States via kiosks at passport control—no paperwork or processing lines.