For one week only, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will operate a temporary enrollment center for passengers to enroll in the PreCheck program.
PreCheck allows fliers who pass a background check and pay $85 for a five-year period to bypass standard screening through special lanes that allow them to leave their shoes, belts and light jackets on. Laptops can remain in carry-on luggage, making passing through security faster.
The demand to enroll in the program has been high since the spring when long lines at security checkpoints developed at MSP and airports across the country.
Identogo, the company operated by MorphoTrust USA and enlisted by the TSA to conduct the enrollment process, will operate the application center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Mall of America Hotel, 3800 E. American Blvd., Bloomington.
The temporary center will be able to serve up to 1,000 applicants over the five-day period. Appointments can be set up online at www. universalenroll.dhs.gov/locator and the application process at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck. I tried the website and it wasn't the most intuitive, so calling 1-855-347-8371 might be just as easy.
Travelers should bring cash, check or credit card along with a passport or a birth certificate and current driver's license to their appointments.
For the record, more than 78,000 fliers have registered to become trusted travelers. Seven airlines serving MSP are participating in PreCheck. They include Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country and United.
