TSA's PreCheck enrolls 1 million travelers. Here's How You Can Apply

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By Mary Forgione via Los Angeles Times; March 26, 2015

Still disgruntled with long wait times at airport security checkpoints? Apparently thousands of you have done something about it.

The Transportation Security Administration reports that more than 1 million travelers have enrolled in PreCheck, which allows faster screening at the airport. The agency rolled out the program in 2011.

TSA also says 4.6 million people have enrolled in some form of a trusted traveler program that exempts them from having to remove their shoes, belt and jacket and allows them to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bag.

Travelers can receive PreCheck screening at 133 airports in the U.S., including those in Southern California, according to the TSA.

Here's how to apply: Go online and download the PreCheck application. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a valid ID, and pay an $85 nonrefundable fee.

Once you apply, you'll receive an email to make an appointment at an enrollment center to be fingerprinted.

There are PreCheck enrollment centers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and off-site offices in Southern California (see below) where travelers can complete the process.

If you're accepted into the program, you'll receive a Known Traveler Number that you use when making reservations at 11 participating airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.

Enrollment offices at LAX are in Terminals 1 and 6 (the office in Terminal 5 is closing Friday) as well as in or near Ontario, Long Beach and John Wayne/Orange County airports.

Off-site enrollment centers include:

Rancho Palos Verdes: 29050 S. Western Ave., Suite 102B

Glendale: 603 S. Brand Blvd.

Brea: 566 E. Lambert Road

Rancho Cucamonga: 7365 Carnelian St., Suite 112

(You can locate an enrollment center at the TSA website to find the nearest one you.)

PreCheck also is included in the Global Entry program, which hit the 2-million enrollment mark last week, according to a statement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It requires applicants to have a passport, pay $100 and be fingerprinted to qualify for expedited re-entry to the U.S.

Happy Travels!

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