TSA to open enrollment center for PreCheck at LAX

Los Angeles International Airport will soon be home to a center where travelers can sign up to get access to faster security screening lines.

To qualify to use the Transportation Security Administration’s expedited security lines, known as PreCheck, travelers have to get preapproved by the federal government by submitting background information.

PreCheck passengers can keep their shoes, belts and coats on during the screening and don’t have to unpack their computers or containers of liquids.

Travelers can apply for PreCheck through one of three of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s trusted traveler programs (Global Entry, Nexus and Sentri).

The other way to apply for PreCheck is through a loyalty rewards program from one of nine airlines — JetBlue, Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, United, US Airways and Virgin America.

Starting Thursday, travelers who are not members of loyalty programs can also apply for PreCheck at an application center in LAX’s Terminal 5. Applicants must fill out a form and provide fingerprints and an $85 nonrefundable fee.

Passengers who are cleared to use the PreCheck lines may see a symbol on their tickets, telling them to use the faster lines.

But being approved for the PreCheck program is never guaranteed, even if you meet all of TSA’s conditions. That is because the TSA randomly removes a number of qualified passengers to prevent terrorists from gaming the system.

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