Add TSA PreCheck to American Airlines in three steps

You add TSA PreCheck to American Airlines by entering your Known Traveler Number (KTN) in your frequent flyer profile. American calls this the "find Flight information" section. The KTN is the nine-character code you received when you enrolled in TSA PreCheck — it appears on your approval letter and in your TSA PreCheck account online.

Once you add it, the number travels with your reservation. When you check in for a flight, American's system reads the KTN and passes it to TSA. At the airport, TSA uses it to match you against their PreCheck database. If you match, you go through the expedited screening lane.

The process takes about two minutes and costs nothing — you already paid for PreCheck when you enrolled. You only need to do it once per airline account, though you will need to repeat the step if you enroll in PreCheck again after yours expires.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Known Traveler Number is a nine-character code from your TSA PreCheck approval letter or your TSA PreCheck online account.
  • You enter the KTN in your American Airlines frequent flyer profile under find Flight information, not during booking.
  • The number stays linked to your account across all future bookings unless you remove it or your PreCheck expires.
  • American Airlines does not charge a fee to add the KTN — you pay for PreCheck directly to TSA when you enroll.

Where to find your Known Traveler Number

Your KTN appears in two places. The first is your TSA PreCheck approval letter, which arrived by mail when you completed enrollment. The letter shows the nine-character code near the top, usually labeled "Known Traveler Number" or "KTN".

If you cannot find the letter, log into your TSA PreCheck account at tsa.gov. Click "View" next to your enrollment record, and the KTN displays on that page. You can also call the TSA PreCheck enrollment center at 1-855-347-8371 and they will read it to you over the phone.

Write the number down or copy it exactly as it appears — it is case-sensitive in some systems, though American's system is usually forgiving. Do not confuse it with your frequent flyer number, which is different.

How to enter the KTN in your American Airlines account

Go to aa.com and sign into your AAdvantage frequent flyer account. Click on your name or profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Profile" or "Account Settings" depending on which version of the website you see.

Look for a section called "find Flight Information" or "TSA PreCheck." Click "Add" or "Edit." Paste or type your nine-character KTN into the field labeled "Known Traveler Number." Leave the other fields blank unless you have enrolled in other TSA programs like Global Entry or NEXUS — if you have, enter those numbers in their respective fields.

Click "Save" or "Update." The system will confirm the entry. You do not need to do anything else. The KTN is now attached to your AAdvantage account and will appear on every reservation you make under that account going forward.

What happens after you add your KTN

Once the KTN is in your account, it automatically transfers to your boarding pass when you check in online, at a kiosk, or at the counter. You will see a small TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass — usually a "TSA PreCheck" label or a checkmark — confirming that the number was transmitted to TSA.

At the airport, TSA screens you against their PreCheck database using that number. If you match, you proceed to the expedited lane where you can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on, leave laptops and liquids in your bag, and move through security faster. If TSA cannot match you for any reason, you go through standard screening instead.

The KTN stays linked to your account indefinitely unless you remove it or your PreCheck membership expires. When your five-year PreCheck period ends, you will receive a renewal notice from TSA. Once you renew and receive a new KTN, update your American Airlines profile with the new number.

Troubleshooting: KTN not showing on your boarding pass

If you added the KTN but it does not appear on your boarding pass, first check that you entered it correctly in your profile. Log back into aa.com, go to your find Flight Information section, and verify the nine characters match your approval letter exactly.

If the number is correct in your profile but still not on your boarding pass, try checking in again — sometimes the system needs a refresh. If you checked in online, try checking in at an airport kiosk instead. If the issue persists, contact American Airlines customer service before you go to the airport. They can manually add the KTN to your reservation.

Another common cause is a mismatch between the name on your reservation and the name on your TSA PreCheck enrollment. TSA matches these three things: your name, your date of birth, and your KTN. If your reservation says "Robert Smith" but your PreCheck enrollment says "Bob Smith," TSA may not match you. Contact American to correct the name on your reservation to match your government ID exactly.

Adding KTN to existing reservations

If you already have a reservation booked and just enrolled in TSA PreCheck, you can still add the KTN. Log into your American Airlines account, find the reservation under "Manage Reservations," and look for a "find Flight" or "TSA PreCheck" option. Click it and enter your KTN the same way you would in your profile.

You can also call American Airlines at 1-800-433-7300 and give them your confirmation number and KTN. They will add it to the reservation in seconds. Do this at least 24 hours before your flight so the system has time to process the change and update your boarding pass.

If you are checking in within 24 hours of your flight, you may not see the PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass even after adding the KTN, but TSA will still have the information. Bring your PreCheck approval letter or your TSA PreCheck card to the security checkpoint as backup proof.

TSA PreCheck and other trusted traveler programs

If you have enrolled in other TSA programs beyond PreCheck — such as Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI — you can add those numbers to your American Airlines profile as well. Each program has its own field in the find Flight Information section. Adding multiple programs does not hurt; TSA will use whichever one applies to your destination.

Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits, so if you have Global Entry, you do not need to enroll in PreCheck separately. Just add your Global Entry number to your American profile and you will receive PreCheck screening on domestic flights. NEXUS and SENTRI are for travel to Canada and Mexico respectively and do not include PreCheck, so you would add those numbers in addition to a PreCheck KTN if you have both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to add my KTN to American Airlines if I already have TSA PreCheck?

You do not have to, but you should. Without the KTN in your profile, TSA has no way to know you are PreCheck-enrolled when you arrive at security. You will go through standard screening even though you paid for expedited screening. Adding it takes two minutes and costs nothing.

Will adding my KTN to American Airlines work on other airlines too?

No. Each airline maintains its own frequent flyer account and its own find Flight database. You must add your KTN separately to every airline you fly regularly. The good news is the process is identical on every airline's website.

What if I renew my TSA PreCheck and get a new KTN?

Log back into your American Airlines profile and update the KTN field with your new nine-character number. Remove the old number first to avoid confusion. The change takes effect when ready on new reservations and within 24 hours on existing ones.

Can I add someone else's KTN to my frequent flyer account?

No. Your KTN must match the name on your reservation and your government ID. If you are booking a flight for a family member, they need their own frequent flyer account with their own KTN added to it.

What if I do not have a frequent flyer account with American Airlines?

You can still use TSA PreCheck on American flights, but you will need to add your KTN to each individual reservation instead of your profile. When you book, look for a find Flight or TSA PreCheck field during checkout and enter your KTN there. You can also add it after booking by calling American or using their website's "Manage Reservations" tool.