April 04--The Transportation Security Administration opened a temporary enrollment center Monday in O'Hare International Airport in the hopes of attracting more travelers to apply for its PreCheck expedited screening program.
Passengers, by appointment or as walk-ins, can sign up for PreCheck, a program that allows TSA-approved "trusted travelers" to skip the standard security line. PreCheck passengers are not required to remove their shoes, belts, laptops and liquids when passing through security and can pass through a metal detector instead of the standard full-body scanner.
At the center, which is near baggage claim in Terminal 2 and open weekdays until May 13, PreCheck applicants fill out paperwork, provide fingerprints and undergo ID verification. Travelers must also submit to a criminal background check.
The center is part of the TSA's recent effort to encourage more travelers to apply for PreCheck, as higher passenger numbers have boosted wait times in standard security lines. A traveler passing through a PreCheck security line would usually need to wait about five minutes, said TSA spokesman Michael McCarthy. For a standard security line, the TSA tells passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight. PreCheck allows TSA to move passengers through security about twice as quickly as a regular line, and improves security by having more passengers vetted by the agency, McCarthy said.
Five things air travelers should know about PreCheck:
Applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
The application costs $85.
Travelers are notified of PreCheck approval within two to three weeks and receive a Known Traveler Number that is valid for five years.
PreCheck passengers may bring travelers 12 or younger with them in the expedited security line.
Airlines participating in PreCheck are Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, OneJet, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin America and WestJet.
O'Hare's temporary enrollment center is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other Chicago-area enrollment centers include 2958 W. Belmont Ave., Three First National Plaza, 70 W. Madison St. and 9801 W. Higgins Road in Rosemont.
jkuang@chicagotribune.com
