TSA Precheck/Global Entry

[stormer]

I am considering applying, but a friend told me you can only use it if you input your number at the time you purchase your ticket. I have two trips that I already purchased plane tickets for. She told me even if I complete the process in time, I wouldn't be able to use it because I didn't put my known traveler number in when I purchased the ticket. I have searched and can't seem to find anything that says either way. Does anyone know if it can be added to my airline reservation later?

 

[LYSE]

You can add it later either by calling them or usually online you can edit the passenger information.

Also, if you are part of their frequent flyer program you can just add it in your profile and never have to worry about adding it to flights manually as long as its liked to your FF number.

Here is a screen shot from my next flight, as you can see my FF number is already in there so down at the bottom my known traveler ID is in automatically ...and I could edit it if I wanted to.

 

[gillep]

You can definitely add it later, I have been able to add my KTN number to pre-existing reservations on United, Southwest, and Alaska, all online, and I received pre-check on each of those boarding passes at the time of travel. I actually have to do this pretty often as our corporate booking travel agent frequently forgets to add this information, as well as frequent flyer numbers. Usually linking to a frequent flyer account that has your KTN number saved works just fine, but I did have one issue with Southwest where I had a reservation linked to my account that also had my KTN number linked, but it wasn't showing as pre-check in app, so I manually linked the KTN number to the reservation via instructions found on Google and was all set.

 

[tjmw2727]

I had 2 or 3 trips already booked when I got my tsa pre. I was able to add the # to one airline via my ff account and the other I just called customer service and they added it. I know it was SWA and AA but I can't remember which one I had to call

 

[bumbershoot]

a friend told me you can only use it if you input your number at the time you purchase your ticket. .... She told me even if I complete the process in time, I wouldn't be able to use it because I didn't put my known traveler number in when I purchased the ticket.

Nope.


We had tickets already when we went through the process to get NEXUS. Once we got our interview and our numbers we put them right into our accounts and we got Precheck for those flights.

Some airlines actually require you to enter in the number as you're doing online checkin (I believe United was one that kept doing that for DH's travels with them) so it's obviously definitely not true, what she's saying.

 

[stormer]

Nope.


We had tickets already when we went through the process to get NEXUS. Once we got our interview and our numbers we put them right into our accounts and we got Precheck for those flights.

Some airlines actually require you to enter in the number as you're doing online checkin (I believe United was one that kept doing that for DH's travels with them) so it's obviously definitely not true, what she's saying.

Awesome, that is what I was hoping. Thanks!

 

[stormer]

Thanks everyone. I am going to do it.

 

[wilkeliza]

Also note the names have to match exactly. Delta was a jerk and was going to charge me 50 each ticket to add my 2nd middle name. I never had put it before because my ID only had 1. After I got Global Entry everything had to match my passport which has 2 middle names since I legally have 2. Delta finally gave it for free after I said not a single other airline charged (Jetblue and SW) to update not change a name.

 

[DebbieB]

I bought pre-check last November, it was pretty easy. I've used it for a couple trips, it worked with no problem.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also note the names have to match exactly. Delta was a jerk and was going to charge me 50 each ticket to add my 2nd middle name. I never had put it before because my ID only had 1. After I got Global Entry everything had to match my passport which has 2 middle names since I legally have 2. Delta finally gave it for free after I said not a single other airline charged (Jetblue and SW) to update not change a name.

Ds is hyphenated on nexus and passport but not on some airlines and it works just fine. Fwiw.

 

[wilkeliza]

Ds is hyphenated on nexus and passport but not on some airlines and it works just fine. Fwiw.

Is part missing or just the hyphen is a space instead of hyphen? Just wondering because they made it 100% clear if my Global entry didn't match the name on my passport it wouldn't work and the kiosk would deny me. It is fixed now so no biggie but just wondering for others.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is part missing or just the hyphen is a space instead of hyphen? Just wondering because they made it 100% clear if my Global entry didn't match the name on my passport it wouldn't work and the kiosk would deny me. It is fixed now so no biggie but just wondering for others.

At least two airlines don't allow hyphens. So you literally cannot match passport/TT name to ticket name.

Even flying internationally (pre-nexus) hasn't been an issue with the hyphen/no hyphen.

I haven't used a kiosk yet. But no one at security has blinked an eye, and his nexus # goes right into to his airline Ff account. I think on one it's JonesSmith and on the other it's Jones Smith.

There's more leeway than we think, because the airlines don't have the same into as each other.

 

[wilkeliza]

At least two airlines don't allow hyphens. So you literally cannot match passport/TT name to ticket name.

Even flying internationally (pre-nexus) hasn't been an issue with the hyphen/no hyphen.

I haven't used a kiosk yet. But no one at security has blinked an eye, and his nexus # goes right into to his airline Ff account. I think on one it's JonesSmith and on the other it's Jones Smith.

There's more leeway than we think, because the airlines don't have the same into as each other.

I understand that was just asking for clarificaiton because I think dropping an entire name (which was my issue) and a hyphen/space/no space are probably treated differently. I do agree the system probably has some leway but not including my 2nd middle name was flagging me as being an entirely different person.

 

[Shanti]

I am considering applying, but a friend told me you can only use it if you input your number at the time you purchase your ticket. I have two trips that I already purchased plane tickets for. She told me even if I complete the process in time, I wouldn't be able to use it because I didn't put my known traveler number in when I purchased the ticket. I have searched and can't seem to find anything that says either way. Does anyone know if it can be added to my airline reservation later?

I remember being told during the TSA interview that it couldn't be used for existing reservations- only new reservations. However, as other posters have stated, that might not actually be true.

 

[Jimsig]

I remember being told during the TSA interview that it couldn't be used for existing reservations- only new reservations. However, as other posters have stated, that might not actually be true.

DW and I both added our KTN's to an existing reservation last year and my mother did it this year.

 

[Jimsig]

From the TSA website:

How do I add my KTN to previous reservations?

Contact your airline by phone or online to add your KTN to any existing reservations or reservations made before you received your KTN. The airline also can confirm that your first/middle/last name are in the correct Secure Flight fields. The KTN will be submitted along with Secure Flight passenger data to TSA. Remember to enter your full name, date of birth and KTN exactly as you provided during enrollment.

When I added mine last year my name on my boarding pass stayed the same, so I was a little worried but it all worked out. What matters is that the airline sends the correct info to the TSA.