7 Tips to Skip the Security Line: Getting TSA Pre & Global Entry to Actually Work

As a luxury travel advisor, I often get questions about how to use TSA Pre and Global Entry once you have them. (This article doesn't discuss the differences between those systems or Clear, but if you are client, contact me and I will walk you through the pros and cons of all three programs.)

Global Entry gives you TSA Pre and both allow you to get into a different security line when departing at United States airports that (usually) moves more quickly.

Sometimes the TSA Pre line is not much shorter (and can even be longer!) than the regular line. But it usually moves faster and you don’t have to take off your belt or light jacket. Often your phone, laptop, tablet, gels, and small liquids can remain in your carry-on as well. So having Global Entry and/or TSA Pre is a lot easier and is usually faster.

However, once you have TSA Pre and/or Global Entry, there are tricks to getting them to work to allow you to get into the faster TSA Pre line and actually skip the slower security line.  (Global Entry also expedites your entry back into the country, but that process doesn't require any tricks.)

Your boarding pass must actually say "TSA Pre" on it in order to get into the faster line. But, sometimes it doesn't. As a luxury travel agent, I make sure my clients know what to do to get a boarding pass that says "TSA Pre" when I handle their airfare.

Follow These Steps to Get TSA Pre to Work

Here is what you need to do:

1. Create a frequent flier profile with the airline and enter your Known Traveler Number into your profile. This must be saved in the airline's system. Your Known Traveler Number is your Global Entry or TSA Pre number. Entering the number into the record for a particular purchase for airfare does not always suffice. (This has happened to me. I entered my Global Entry number when I bought a ticket, but "TSA Pre" did not appear on the boarding pass for my outbound flight. I entered it on my personal profile for that carrier before I checked into my flight home, and when I checked in "TSA Pre" appeared on the boarding pass.)

   
   

2. Add your Known Traveler Number to your frequent flier profile (as described above) before you check-in. Doing so after you have checked-in and trying to get another boarding pass won't always work. If you have already checked-in and then enter your Known Traveler Number into your frequent flier profile after that, you can get a new boarding pass at the counter at the airport with TSA Pre printed on it. If you are checking luggage, it's worth it to do this. Otherwise, there will likely be no time savings (waiting in line at the counter will usually take just as long as the regular security line, if not longer).

   
   

3.  Add your Known Traveler Number to the field provided for that information when booking airfare and before you check-in. It can also be added after you book airfare.

   
   

4. Although it may sound obvious, make sure the number you enter is correct. For TSA Pre members, it's 9 digits long and can be a combination of numbers and letters. It typically begins with TT or TE. For Global Entry members, the Known Traveler Number is the first 9 numbers (not the letters or last three numbers) found in the upper-left corner on the back of your Global Entry card. You can also find it by logging on to the Trusted Traveler Programs website.

   
   

5. The name on your ticket must match exactly the name on your Global Entry or TSA Pre account. In other words, if the name on your Known Traveler account is Mary Jane Blige, you will not get "TSA Pre" on your boarding pass if the name on your ticket is Mary Blige or Mary J. Blige.

   
   

6. If you have done all of the above, and "TSA Pre" does not appear on your boarding pass, you can contact TSA via Twitter and they will usually be able to fix it for you. I've tried this and they were actually quite helpful.

   
   

7. For even faster screening, use TSA Pre's new Touchless ID. In addition, you can now get through security even faster at 65 airports across the United States if you use the TSA’s new PreCheck Touchless ID program. This uses facial identification technology to verify travelers’ identities at security checkpoints.

This program is available to anyone who is already enrolled in TSA PreCheck and is flying with a participating airline—Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, and United Airlines but you must opt in.

How To Opt In to Touchless ID

To opt in, you will need to go to your frequent flier account with a participating airline and adjust your personal settings. Each airline has slightly different instructions on how to do so.

Once you have opted in, access to Touchless ID will appear on your boarding pass, the same as it does when you have TSA PreCheck.

Then, rather than handing a TSA officer your physical ID, such as a passport or Real ID, you simply stand in front of a kiosk that captures your image from the neck up. This is faster than having an officer check your physical ID.

Finally, be aware that you won't always be able to get in the faster line. If you get a boarding pass with SSSS printed on it, this stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection, which is an airport security measure that selects random travelers for additional inspection and requires you to go through the regular line. 

Does that help? What has your experience been with TSA Pre and Global Entry? I would love to hear.

—Daria Dimitroff, Updated June 2026

Contact me to customize your next trip. My specialities are bespoke luxury vacations, group trips, and exclusive cruise experiences.

You can reach me at daria@journeysofalifetime.biz or 415-939-5773 or schedule a call here.