The Transportation Security Administration is cutting the cost of TSA PreCheck for younger travelers in a new limited-time promotion timed to the start of the summer travel rush.
Through May 31, first-time applicants age 30 and under can receive $20 off a new five-year TSA PreCheck membership, lowering the enrollment cost to as little as $57 depending on which enrollment provider they use. TSA is calling the promotion “$20 Take Off,” and it marks the first broad age-based discount the agency has offered for the trusted traveler program.
The discount applies only to new enrollments completed by May 31 and is available through all three TSA-authorized enrollment providers: CLEAR, IDEMIA, and Telos Corporation. Travelers must complete both the online application and in-person interview before the deadline to qualify.
The deal comes as airports brace for another record-breaking summer. TSA screened more than 904 million passengers in 2025—the highest annual total in the agency’s history—and officials have warned travelers to expect especially heavy crowds this year as airlines continue ramping up schedules ahead of major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. TSA PreCheck also gives travelers access to the agency’s new Touchless ID lanes, which use facial recognition technology to further expedite wait times.
As to why the discount is targeting people under 30 years of age, TSA PreCheck program manager Denyse Wells says the organization “realized that young travelers are underrepresented in the TSA PreCheck population.”
“TSA wanted to offer this discounted membership to younger travelers who are just taking off into their travel journeys,” says Wells. “We hear from our members all the time how much TSA PreCheck changed their air travel experience for the better and wanted to give younger travelers a more accessible way to join.”
The promotion also signals a broader shift in how TSA appears to be positioning PreCheck. When the program launched nationally in 2013, it was primarily marketed toward frequent business travelers willing to pay for faster airport security. But as airports have become more crowded and security lines less predictable, expedited screening has increasingly become a mainstream travel expense rather than a road-warrior luxury.
“Gen Z tends to place value on experiences, which largely includes travel,” Wells says. “With more of this group joining the TSA PreCheck program, we are improving the passenger experience and security efficiency with more trusted travelers through TSA checkpoints.”
Today, more than 24.6 million travelers are enrolled in TSA PreCheck, according to Wells, which represents roughly 34% of all US travelers. The program allows passengers to access dedicated security lanes and typically avoid removing light jackets, belts, travel-sized liquids, laptops, and other electronics during screening.
TSA says 99% of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes at checkpoints nationwide. But growing enrollment numbers have also led to occasional congestion in PreCheck lanes themselves, particularly at large hubs like Denver International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport during peak morning departure windows.
The enrollment for TSA PreCheck includes filling out an online application for a background check, plus in-person fingerprinting and identity verification. “Most people then get approved within three to five days, receive their Known Traveler Number, and can use that when booking their airline reservations to start getting access to their TSA PreCheck benefits,” Wells says.
Travelers interested in the promotion can begin the application process through TSA’s official website. There are now more than 1,300 enrollment locations nationwide, including airports, office buildings, retail storefronts, post offices, and some college campuses. To start, visit TSA’s website at tsa.gov/precheck.
