Noticing longer lines at the airport? You’re not alone. This summer, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) set a new single-day record number of passengers screened, topping 3 million travelers for the first time. Fortunately, there’s a way to shorten your wait time at select airports. Find out how you can make a free reservation for airport security below.
How Does It Work?
RESERVE is a program offered by biometrics company CLEAR (which also offers a separate membership program that lets travelers bypass the identity verification step of airport security). With RESERVE, any traveler can make a free reservation at the security checkpoint for select airports. There are dedicated lanes for appointment holders at airports where the service is offered, which means the lines typically move faster and the experience is more predictable. Note that if you use this service, you will go through the general security screening process — so if you’re a member of the TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program, you should use those lanes instead, as you won’t be able to take advantage of benefits such as not removing shoes.
To make an appointment, visit the RESERVE website (or the website of an available airport) and enter your flight details, the number of people in your party (up to 10), and your preferred time to go through security. Booking windows vary by location, but reservations typically open up three days before departure and a limited number of slots will be available. If your preferred time is open, all you’ll need to submit is your email address to receive a QR confirmation code — the service is completely free. Once you get to the airport, follow the instructions on your email confirmation to head to the dedicated security checkpoint. There’s a 20-minute grace period should you be running late for your appointment.
Which Airports Let You Make a TSA Security Reservation?
As of mid-2024, appointments are available at 19 airports across Canada and the United States. These include some of the busiest airports in North America, such as Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Seattle (SEA), and Toronto Pearson (YYZ). Note that the service is usually available only in specific terminals that may be served only by certain airlines, so be sure to read up on the details carefully. Travelers can also make reservations at select European airports. For the complete list of available airports, visit the RESERVE website.
Also Consider a Trusted Traveler Program
While this program can potentially save time at the airport, travelers will still need to undergo the standard identity verification and security screening process — which means taking out your laptop and liquids and removing your shoes. If you want to skip those steps and save even more time, consider signing up for a Trusted Traveler Program, such as TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck). You’ll need to submit an application for approval and pay a membership fee, but once you’re in, you can use an exclusive line without those requirements. According to the TSA, 99% of PreCheck passengers wait 10 minutes or less.
CLEAR, the company that offers the free reservation service, also has a membership-based program offered for an annual fee. CLEAR Plus, available at select airports, allows members to access dedicated kiosks that use biometric technology to verify their identity. Those travelers can skip the line for a TSA officer to inspect a physical form of identification, saving even more time. And the ultimate combo? If you have both CLEAR and TSA PreCheck, you’ll be able to breeze through the airport like a pro.
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