As of April 15, 2020, active TWIC cardholders, including Great Lakes Mariners who are eligible for TSA PreCheck became eligible for expedited screening at airports nationwide. This means you no longer need to pay extra to enjoy this benefit next time you visit the airport. To utilize this benefit, there are a few steps you need to take, and this article will serve to assist you in getting set up with TSA PreCheck. 

Common Questions and Answers about TSA PreCheck for TWIC:

Q: Does my TWIC® enrollment include access to TSA PreCheck? A: If you have an active (unexpired) TWIC® card and meet the eligibility requirements for the TSA PreCheck Application Program, you are eligible for expedited security screening using your TWIC® card’s CIN in the appropriate known traveler number (KTN) field of your airline reservations and airline profiles.

Q: Are all TWIC® cardholders eligible for TSA PreCheck? A: No. Only active TWIC® cardholders who meet the TSA PreCheck Application Program’s eligibility requirements may obtain TSA PreCheck. Eligibility for TSA PreCheck Application Program membership is only open to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents. Active TWIC® cardholders who obtained a TWIC® via a waiver from TSA are not eligible for TSA PreCheck.

Q: Do I need to apply for TSA PreCheck separate from my TWIC® enrollment? A: No. Active TWIC® cardholders who meet the TSA PreCheck Application Program’s eligibility requirements will be eligible for TSA PreCheck without a separate enrollment in the TSA PreCheck Application Program.

Q: How much does it cost to add TSA PreCheck eligibility to my TWIC® enrollment? A: There is no additional cost to eligible TWIC® cardholders for TSA PreCheck. Where eligible, TSA PreCheck expedited screening is included with the TWIC® enrollment.

Q: Will I receive a known traveler number (KTN)? A: No. The TWIC® CIN will serve as the KTN. Active TWIC® cardholders will not receive a separate KTN from TSA. TWIC® cardholders eligible for TSA PreCheck must include the CIN printed on their TWIC® card in the Known Traveler Number (KTN) field of each reservation made with a participating airline or in airline profiles. You should also add the TWIC® CIN as your KTN when booking reservations online via a participating airline website, by phone with an airline reservation agent, or with the travel management company making reservations. Your CIN serves as your KTN, so save your TWIC® CIN to any frequent flyer profiles, employer booking systems, or online travel websites that you use. Ensure that your name and date of birth on your flight reservation and airline profiles match your name and date of birth provided when you applied for your TWIC®.

Q: Where can I find the Credential Identification Number (CIN) on my TWIC®? A: The CIN is printed on the back lower left-hand corner of the TWIC® card. (See image below with CIN location circled.) Also, the CIN is also printed on the lower lefthand corner of the card mailing that you received with your TWIC® card. (circled in red in the reference image below.)

Q: Can I look up my TWIC® CIN online? A: No. The CIN is printed on the back lower left-hand corner of the TWIC® card.

Q: When will TWIC® cardholders become eligible for TSA PreCheck expedited screening? A: On April 15, 2020, active TWIC® cardholders who are eligible for TSA PreCheck began receiving this eligibility for expedited screening. 

Q: How will I know that I have TSA PreCheck? A: Participating airlines print a TSA PreCheck indicator directly on your boarding pass if you are eligible for TSA PreCheck on that flight based on your submitted CIN as your KTN. If you do not have a valid boarding pass with the TSA PreCheck indicator printed on your boarding pass, you may not access the TSA PreCheck lane.

Q: Can I use my TWIC® card to enter the TSA PreCheck lane at the airport? A: To enter the TSA PreCheck lane, you must present a valid boarding pass with a TSA PreCheck indicator printed on the boarding pass. If you do not have a valid boarding pass with the TSA PreCheck indicator printed on your boarding pass, you may not access the TSA PreCheck lane. Your TWIC® can continue to serve as valid checkpoint identification.

Q: Will a TSA PreCheck indicator be printed on my TWIC® card? A: No. A TSA PreCheck indicator will be printed on your boarding pass if you are eligible for TSA PreCheck on your flight.

Q: Does the name and date of birth on my airline reservation have to match the name on my TWIC® card? A: Yes. The name and date of birth submitted on your airline reservation must be an exact match to the name and date of birth printed on your TWIC® card. If you use a frequent flyer account or online travel profile, ensure that your name is properly saved.

Q: I am both a TSA PreCheck Application Program member and an active TWIC® cardholder. Should I use my KTN or TWIC® CIN for my airline reservation? A: Both your KTN and TWIC® CIN are valid to obtain TSA PreCheck eligibility. You may enter either the TSA PreCheck KTN or CIN into your airline reservation.

Q: Where can I find more information on TSA PreCheck? A: Please visit https://www.tsa.gov/precheck for more information on TSA PreCheck.

Takeaway:

TSA PreCheck can be a huge time saver any time you travel by air, and as a required piece of documentation for any Great Lakes Mariner, you already have everything you need to take advantage of this benefit. The key things to remember are:

• Do not pay for TSA PreCheck - its benefits are included as part of having TWIC. 
• Provide the CIN number on the back of your card to the airline when making a reservation over the phone, to your travel agent when booking, or online in the Known Traveler Number (KTN) field when booking your next flight. 
• If you have an online profile with an airline (also known as a frequent flyers account), look for the Known Traveler Number (KTN) field and enter your CIN to save it for all your future reservations and avoid having to look it up each time. 
• Enter this number before or during the reservation process. If you forget, you can call your airline before check in to have them add it to your boarding pass. Once you are checked in, you cannot add TSA PreCheck to your boarding pass and will be unable to utilize this benefit for that flight. 
• Look for the TSA PreCheck logo on your boarding pass (printed or electronic). If the logo is present, make sure to get in the TSA PreCheck lane at the airport (it's the shorter, faster line)!