BILLINGS, Mont. – Two Montana airports will host temporary TSA Pre✓® enrollment centers during May, allowing local residents to apply for the popular expedited security screening program.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is predicting that summer 2019 will be the busiest summer on record, so now is an excellent time to enroll in TSA Pre✓®. During the first three months of 2019, 92% of TSA Pre✓®-eligible passengers waited less than five minutes to be screened through security checkpoints nationwide.
In Kalispell, a temporary enrollment center will be open Monday, May 6, through Friday, May 10, in the Heaven’s Peak Room at the Country Inn & Suites, adjacent to Glacier Park International Airport (GPI). The hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 4150 U.S. Highway 2 East.
In Helena, a temporary enrollment center will be open Monday, May 20, through Friday, May 24, on the second floor of Helena Regional Airport (HLN). The hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday, the center will be open 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m. The address is 2850 Mercer Loop.
“TSA Pre✓® is very popular among Montanans who travel on commercial aircraft and we are pleased that two of our airports are hosting enrollment centers in May,” said Dan Fevold, TSA Federal Security Director for Montana. “This is an ideal opportunity for residents to enroll and become eligible for TSA Pre✓® at a location that is convenient to them.”
Montana has a single, permanent TSA Pre✓® enrollment center and it is located in Billings. An in-person visit to the enrollment center is required to complete the application process. Applicants must bring a current U.S. passport or a driver's license and a certified copy of a birth certificate. Fingerprints will be collected at the enrollment office.
Travelers eligible for the popular TSA Pre✓® screening program can leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt during when going through the security checkpoint. In dedicated TSA Pre✓® lanes, travelers can leave their laptops, electronics larger than a cell phone and travel-size liquids in their carry-on luggage during the security checkpoint screening process.
TSA operates dedicated TSA Pre✓® lanes at more than 200 airports nationwide. Five airports in Montana have dedicated TSA Pre✓® lanes including Billings International Airport, Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport, GPI, HLN, Missoula International Airport.
The enrollment fee is $85, which covers a five-year period. The fee must be paid at the time of enrollment by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check.
Children 12 and under are permitted to use the TSA Pre✓® lane when traveling with an eligible parent or guardian. Sixty-five airlines participate in TSA Pre✓®, giving travelers even more options and reasons to enroll in the program.
While walk-ins are accepted, people are strongly encouraged to make an appointment for either Montana location. Start by visiting www.tsa.gov/precheck and select “Apply Now.” Follow the online prompts and select “Kalispell, MT” or “Helena, MT” as the enrollment location.
Last week, Missoula International Airport hosted a temporary TSA Pre✓® enrollment center. More than 400 travelers enrolled at that location.
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