Anyone with TSA PreCheck knows how much of a time saver it is. Having a PreCheck membership also gives you the privilege of not having to go through quite the intense rigamarole that those on the “regular” TSA line do.
When you’re applying for TSA PreCheck, there’s always the chance that your application can be denied. Maybe you have a DUI in your history, or perhaps you have a criminal record.
But what if you already have TSA PreCheck? Does that mean you’re then allowed to pillage and plunder? Nope.
TSA PreCheck is a trusted traveler program. If you do something that shows them you’re not to be trusted, well, TSA giveth and TSA taketh away. You can most definitely be disqualified and your PreCheck status can be revoked or suspended.
How can it be revoked?
The TSA has a slew of reasons why your PreCheck can be suspended:
If you commit certain violations of federal security regulations, such as…
- assault, threat, intimidation, or interference with flight crew
- physical or sexual assault or threat of physical or sexual assault of any individual on an aircraft
- interference with security operations
- access control violations
- providing false or fraudulent documents
- making a bomb threat
- bringing a firearm, explosive, or other prohibited item to an airport or onboard an aircraft
…you are denied expedited screening for a period of time. The duration of disqualification from participation in TSA PreCheck® is related to the seriousness of the violation and/or a repeated history of regulatory violations. Membership suspension can last up to five years for a first-time offense or be permanent for egregious incidents or repeat offenses.
TSA vetting of Trusted Travelers is an ongoing process. So, if your criminal record was clean when you applied for PreCheck, but then your ex-partner got a restraining order against you or you received a DUI, that could also disqualify you from TSA PreCheck.
That’s the “official” list but anecdotally there have been other reasons why some peoples’ PreCheck has been revoked:
- Leaving a bottle of water in your carry on bag
- Not declaring food, agriculture or large sums of foreign currency when returning to the U.S.
- A close family member participated in an infraction of PreCheck’s rules and then you’re guilty by association
If your TSA Precheck is revoked, they often don’t tell you about it; it just happens. And the next time you go to the airport, suddenly you won’t have a KTN on your boarding pass.
If that’s the case, you can appeal the decision. But good luck with it actually being repealed.
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