TSA hosting Pre-Check enrollment event in Sioux Falls through Friday

KSFY

SIOUX FALLS, S.D (KSFY) – The Sioux Falls Regional Airport is home to a TSA Pre-Check Enrollment Center through Friday, Aug. 31.

“Local residents can come in to sign up for TSA Pre-Check,” said Lorie Dankers, of the Transportation Security Administration. “One of the big advantages is that you can use it not only at your local airport but at any airport across the country.”  

Dankers said the program is a game-changer for travelers, even if you fly domestically just once or twice a year.

Passengers can begin the sign up process online, but it has to be finished in person with a TSA representative. They happen to be waiting for you at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. now through Friday in the main level conference room.

“Passengers that are eligible can leave on their shoes, they don’t have to remove their belt, they can also leave on a light outer jacket or sweater,” Dankers said. “And when you’re in a dedicated TSA Pre-check lane, you can leave your laptop in your bag, as well as your liquid gels and aerosols in that reduced travel sized quantity.”

Travelers can expect to participate in a quick 5-7 minute interview and offer up some basic information about themselves — including a copy of your fingerprints. But you only only need to come with one or two things in hand:

“You will provide two pieces of information. We need, number one, a photo identification, the other is a certified copy of your birth certificate,” Danker said. “The other option is you can bring your passport.”

But you don’t need all three — it’s either the state photo ID and a certified birth certificate or your passport.

And Pre-check comes in handy around the holidays, especially if you’ve got an early flight out of Sioux Falls.

“Those flights they’re at 5, they’re at 5:20, they’re at 6, 6:10 and TSA doesn’t open up until 4:30, the airport doesn’t open up until 4,” said Lorie Buus, a travel consultant at All About Travel in Sioux Falls. “And that’s a lot of people and to walk up — I typically have to wait for four or five people –if that. Sometimes I’m the only one in the Pre-check line.”

Buus said, pre- 9/11, travel never used to be a hassle and with this program, the TSA is hoping to make things easier for passengers once again.

“With all of the heightened security, traveling is not the pleasure that it used to be. People used to dress up to fly, now they’re wearing yoga pants and just the easiest thing that can go through security to travel,” Buus said. “And TSA is trying to bring that simplicity and ease of traveling back into play.”

There are some other things to keep in mind if you enroll in Pre-check:

• Just because you have Pre-check doesn’t mean you will always get to use the line, occasionally you will get pulled out for random additional screening.
• Parents with kids under the age of 12 who are both Pre-check eligible can bring their children through the line without being enrolled.
• The cost is a non-refundable $85 to apply. You will Pre-check known traveler number in just a few days if you’re approved and can apply it immediately to any upcoming travel you’ve previously booked or any upcoming travel you book in the future.
• Those with serious criminal records will not be approved.
• You can begin an application for TSA’s Pre-check and book an appointment at the enrollment center at FSD, but it’s not necessary. They also have walk-in appointments available.

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