Guest Post: 5 Travel Savings Tips

GBTA Foundation research has shown that business travelers who sign up for TSA PreCheck, to avoid the hassles and delays of the security screening process, are significantly more satisfied with air travel than their peers who have yet to enroll in the program. In fact, two thirds (66 percent) of travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck are satisfied with getting through airport security, compared with just 47 percent of business travelers not enrolled in the program.

*The following is a guest blog post from Simone Davis, TSA Precheck Executive. Simone shares several time-saving tips for your next business trip.*

5 Travel Savings Tips
By Simone Davis, TSA PreCheck Executive

1. Ask TSA: In real time. AskTSA is a traveler engagement program that allows you to tweet your questions or send them via Facebook Messenger. You can ask about prohibited and permitted items, lost and found, screening policies and ID requirements.Maybe you’re having issues with your TSA Pre✓® known traveler number. Or maybe you forgot your laptop at the checkpoint. You can even tweet a picture of an item you just aren’t sure is permitted.

   You can reach the team weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET and on weekends/holidays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Knowing whether something is permitted through the security checkpoint will save you time and stress.

2. Time is money. Enroll in a Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Program, like TSA Pre✓®, to avoid the lines. These programs help improve security and reduce wait times through dedicated lanes and kiosks.

   TSA Pre✓® allows eligible travelers to keep on their shoes, belts and light outerwear jacket and can leave their laptops and liquid 3-1-1 bags inside their carry-on bags when going through the checkpoint. TSA Pre✓® is available at more than 180 U.S. airports and on 30 participating airlines.

   It’s only $85 and is good for 5 years. It takes just five minutes to apply online and schedule an in-person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting.

   Check out this interactive tool to see which Trusted Traveler Program best fits your travel profile.

3. Check your credit card company or loyalty program for TSA Pre✓® offers. There are several credit card companies and loyalty programs that cover the TSA Pre✓® application fee as a member benefit, provide a statement credit towards the application fee, or allow members to use rewards points to pay for the TSA Pre✓® application fee. Check the list of credit card and loyalty programs. Who doesn’t love a discount?

4. Know when the TSA Pre✓® lane is open. If you are already a TSA Pre✓® member, this new web feature lists the hours of operations for the TSA Pre✓® expedited screening lanes at the 26 largest airports. This web feature is an added convenience that allows members to better plan for their travel by knowing when and where the TSA Pre✓® lanes are open. You can enter their airport, day of week and time of day of travel, and the tool will return the availability of a dedicated TSA Pre✓® lane(s).
5. If you travel with your carry-on… because you’re on travel for a couple of days or want to avoid checked baggage fees, remember the 3-1-1 liquids rule. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces or less and all bottles must fit in a single quart size plastic bag and placed in a bin for carry-on baggage screening. Liquids more than 3.4 ounces means you’ll have to place it in checked baggage, ship it or opt to toss it, which costs money.

Simone Davis is the Executive Lead for TSA Pre✓®. She is responsible for integrating all TSA Pre✓® activities within TSA. She provides strategic direction for the program and directly oversees the promotion and marketing activities. As the Executive Lead for the DHS Screening Portfolio Ms Davis drives the integration of TSA initiatives into the greater DHS enterprise and provides guidance and decision-making support to the DHS Joint Requirements Council to achieve common screening and vetting objectives. Prior to that, she held the position of Director of TSA’s Vetting Analysis Division. She was responsible for the vetting of all domestic and selected international passengers, as well as, transportation workers in order to mitigate known or suspected threats to the transportation sector. Ms. Davis’ was also assigned as the Deputy Director for TSA’s Intelligence and Analysis Division, where she directed the production and delivery of intelligence analysis, assessments, briefings, trend reports, and other intelligence products to industry stakeholders, field operations, and other partners within the Intelligence Community. She also held several other positions during her time of thirteen years of distinguished service to TSA.