Think you can get TSA precheck before spring break travel? It may be too late

NBC 5 Responds has been hearing from spring break travelers who are stressed out about airport security wait times and how long it could take to get through the checkpoints, even with TSA PreCheck.

The federal program gives “trusted travelers a speedier security experience in dedicated lanes,” according to the Transportation Security Administration’s website. About 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes, the agency said, and children 17 years old and under can join an enrolled adult in line for free. TSA PreCheck does cost – it will run you $85 for five years.

While you can begin the enrollment process online, it must be completed in person.

At last check Monday afternoon, TSA precheck was open at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, but that could change as the agency continues to deal with staffing challenges caused by a partial government shutdown.

The founder of the travel website Points Path tells NBC 5 Responds if there are enough TSA officers to staff TSA precheck, they’ll remain open.

But in some cases, those lanes have been closing, forcing everyone into the general boarding line.

Google search trends have shown a surge in interest for TSA precheck signup. If you’re enrolling for the very first time and you want to bypass spring break travel lines, it may be too late.

“While I do highly recommend getting TSA Pre-Check on a regular basis because it can be useful even after the shutdown is over, if you’re trying to get it to travel next week, it might be a little tight deadline-wise. Generally, you can expect about 7-to-10 days from application until you actually get the number. That includes an in-person interview. So you need to put aside enough time for all of that before you actually your known traveler number,” said Julian Kheel, Founder and CEO of Points Path.