Whether you travel for work or leisure, you’re probably familiar with the stress that comes with flying.
Even if you’re a seasoned traveler with TSA PreCheck, there’s still one part of the check-in process that might end up costing you your flight if you don’t do it ahead of time: Adding your KTN ― or known traveler number ― to your reservation.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, a KTN (also called a PASSID depending on what service you use) is a 9–10 digit number that shows you’ve been approved to receive TSA PreCheck or another form of expedited screening like Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI. If you’ve paid for and rely on one of those services, you need your KTN.
Your KTN is a combination of numbers and letters and will start with different letters depending on how you’ve enrolled in the program. The combination is unique to you – consider it a type of identification number similar to a phone number.
“If your boarding pass doesn’t have the clearance, you won’t be permitted through the PreCheck line,” Madison Kinsler, a flight attendant at Southwest Airlines, told HuffPost.
Instead, you’ll have to wait in the general screening line, which can be significantly longer depending on the airport.
“I’ve seen regular TSA lines be as long as one to two or even three hours long during peak travel times and limited staffing,” Valerie Fraser, a flight attendant and photographer, told HuffPost. According to data from the TSA, “TSA PreCheck lanes move faster. About 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes.”
If you get up to the TSA agent and don’t have a KTN on your boarding pass, then they will turn you away and tell you to stand in the general screening line or to add it on and come back (and anyone who has cut it close to boarding knows just how much every minute counts).
“Adding all your important and accurate information to your reservation ahead of time will alleviate you potentially having to wait in long customer service lines at the airport,” Kinsler said.
Images By Tang Ming Tung via Getty Images
If you have TSA PreCheck but don’t add your KTN to your reservation, prepare to wait in line.
How To Add Your KTN To A Reservation
There are three ways you can add your KTN to your reservation — through your airline’s app, at the self-service kiosk at the airport or at the customer service desk at the airport.
If you’ve forgotten your KTN, you can look up the number through your specific program. The TSA website contains a list of locations where you can locate your ID.
It is recommended you add your KTN to your ticket prior to arriving at the airport just to make sure it’s all in order. Additionally, if you’re traveling with multiple people, make sure everyone has added their KTN so you don’t have to split up at the airport.
For online check-in, you’ll be prompted to add your KTN when you’re on the airline’s website or mobile app. You might have already entered it when you initially booked your ticket, so you’ll want to double-check that.
You can also go to the self-service kiosk and add it yourself. “When you are printing your bag tags and boarding passes, there will typically be a box to add your KTN,” Kinsler said. “Once this is added, you’ll be able to print your updated boarding pass to include that PreCheck clearance.”
Keep in mind that if it’s too close to the time of your flight, you might not be able to enter the number yourself and will need to speak to an agent.
The last resort is waiting for a customer service representative at the airport. “They will be able to add your KTN to your reservation and print those updated boarding passes for you,” Kinsler said.
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