I love having TSA Precheck benefits and have written about how to apply for TSA Precheck and Global Entry (Global Entry includes TSA Precheck). A few readers have asked a question in the comments that I think many families would find useful: Does TSA PreCheck extend to children traveling with you?
Does TSA PreCheck extend to children traveling with you
The answer is yes for children 12 years old or younger. If you have TSA Precheck benefits, you can bring your kids age 12 or under with you through the TSA Precheck lane. According to the TSA website:
“Children ages 12 and younger may use the TSA PreCheck® lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass. Travelers 13 and older who do not have a TSA PreCheck® boarding pass must go through standard security lanes or apply.”
However, if your child is traveling with a parent or guardian that does not have TSA Precheck, they would not have your TSA Precheck benefits.
Note: Although TSA Precheck extends to your children age 12 or under, Global Entry does not extend to children.
Can Minors Apply For TSA Precheck?
Yes. There is no age restriction to apply for TSA Precheck. For most kids age 12 or younger, there is no need to apply for TSA Precheck since they are included under their parents but they can apply.
Once your child turns 13 years old, he or she would need to get their own TSA Precheck in order to use the TSA Precheck lanes with the rest of the family.
Is TSA Precheck Worth It?
I consider having TSA Precheck worth the $85 fee (or $100 Global Entry fee) if traveling more than a couple of times per year. If traveling with one or more young children, I think TSA Precheck is an even better value since more people are covered.
Thinking of applying for TSA Precheck? You might want to read the following related posts first:
• TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry: Which Is Best For You?
• How to Get TSA PreCheck: A
Guide on How Best to Apply
• How to Get TSA Precheck or Global Entry for Free
If you have TSA PreCheck and you want to bring your kids through the security screening line with you, there are some rules you should know first.
TSA PreCheck, that speedy blessing for frequent travelers, is also a boon for families. Nobody likes standing in line, least of all kids, and no parent looks forward to wrestling with luggage, wriggling children, and all those shoes.
But don’t take it for granted that just because you or your partner have PreCheck stamped on your tickets that your children and your other traveling companions can hop on the expedited screening line with you.
If you’re a parent or guardian of a kid 12 years or younger, they may travel on your PreCheck membership, but only as long as you’re with them.
Grandparents or other authorized chaperones can usually bring kids 12 or younger to piggyback on their own PreCheck memberships because as a matter of policy, the TSA does not like to separate adults and children traveling together. If you are not the parent or legal guardian, it’s always wise to travel with a notarized consent letter stating that you have permission to travel with the minor children. The assertion can be as simple as "I acknowledge that my parents/uncle/friend etc. is traveling to X with my son/daughter. He/She/They has/have my permission." Your TSA agent will probably never ask, especially for domestic travel, but for lots of other legal reasons, it’s smart to carry a letter like this anyway. (For international travel, border agents may indeed require you to produce one ).
Other passengers, including your teens aged 13 and older, must obtain their own PreCheck membership the same way that you did—by completing the online application, scheduling an interview, supplying the required documents, and having your fingerprints scanned.
Granted, 13 and 14 are awkward years for identification: too young for the drivers’ permits and licenses most people use as primary identification. For early teens, a passport or passport card is the best bet for providing the required government photo ID.
Once your older progeny have their own PreCheck memberships, each one should enter their Known Traveler Number (KTN) on their individual airplane ticket reservations to be sure the PreCheck permission stamp appears on their tickets.
You might want to simply apply for Global Entry, which speeds re-entry into the United States from other countries; membership in that automatically comes with PreCheck. Unlike PreCheck, though, everyone who uses Global Entry at the borders must have their own membership, even if they're under 12.
You can find the latest requirements and fees for PreCheck registration at its official TSA page.
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