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 17 years or younger, they may travel on your PreCheck membership, but only as long as you’re with them. Teens used to be excluded, but in May 2023, the TSA changed its policy.
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 18 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.
Keep in mind that kids under 18 aren't entitled to use TSA PreCheck if they're not traveling with their PreCheck-eligible parent or guardian. To travel alone and use PreCheck, kids 13 to 18 would have to apply for their own membership.
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.
