If you need another reason to travel with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to the United States, here it is — SIA is among seven new airlines to join the US expedited screening programme called the TSA PreCheck, making it the first Asian carrier to do so.
What this means for passengers is a speedier screening process for approved, “low risk” travellers. You’ll get access to expedited security lanes at over 180 airports in the US, and you won’t have to wait in line for long, nor will you have to undergo security checks like removing your shoes, jackets and belts, or taking out your laptops and liquids.
US citizens and permanent residents can enrol in the programme, while Singaporeans can apply for the Global Entry Programme, which also takes in citizens from countries like Germany, South Korea and the UK. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, a five-year membership costs USD100 (SGD139).
Once you’ve successfully applied, you’ll get a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that the airline will receive during your booking or check-in, and the TSA PreCheck logo will be stamped on your boarding pass.
SIA stated that its entry into this PreCheck programme will allow passengers travelling to and from the US to have the option of self-printed or mobile boarding passes. This change will happen in the upcoming months, and travellers without check-in bags will be able to check in online and head straight to the airport gate.
Thirty-seven carriers are now part of the programme, with Turkish Airlines, InterCaribbean Airways, and Copa Airlines as part of the newly-added ones.
Reader Interactions