Add your TSA PreCheck number to Southwest during booking or in your account settings

You can enter your TSA PreCheck number in two places: when you book a flight, or in your Southwest account profile before you book. Southwest does not automatically pull your TSA PreCheck information from the TSA database, so you have to provide it yourself. Once you add it, the number stays in your account and appears on your boarding pass at the airport, which tells TSA screeners you are enrolled.

The process takes less than five minutes and requires only your known traveler number (KTN) — the nine-character code TSA gave you when you completed your PreCheck background check. If you do not have this number yet, you can find it in your TSA PreCheck approval email, on your TSA PreCheck card, or by logging into your account at tsa.gov.

Key Takeaways

  • Your TSA PreCheck number must be entered manually into Southwest — it does not transfer automatically from the TSA database.
  • You can add your number during flight booking or ahead of time in your Southwest profile under "Rapid Rewards" settings.
  • Your TSA PreCheck number appears on your boarding pass once it is linked, which signals to airport security that you are enrolled.
  • The same number works across all airlines, so you only need to enter it once per airline account.

Add TSA PreCheck to your Southwest profile before booking

Log into your Southwest account at southwest.com and go to your Rapid Rewards profile. Click on "Rapid Rewards" in the top menu, then select "My Account" or "Account Settings." Look for a section labeled "Known Traveler Number" or "TSA PreCheck" — the exact wording varies slightly depending on whether you are on desktop or mobile.

Enter your nine-character TSA PreCheck number in the field provided. Save your changes. Once saved, this number will appear on every Southwest boarding pass you generate going forward, whether you book online, by phone, or at the airport. You do not need to re-enter it for each flight.

Add TSA PreCheck during the booking process

If you have not added your number to your profile yet, you can enter it while booking a flight. After you select your flight and enter passenger information, you will see a section for "Known Traveler Number" or "TSA PreCheck." Type your nine-character number there and continue with checkout.

This method works, but adding it to your profile first is simpler if you fly Southwest more than once. That way you avoid typing it in every time you book.

What happens after you add your TSA PreCheck number

Once your number is linked, it will print on your boarding pass under your name. At the airport, TSA screeners will see this notation and direct you to the TSA PreCheck security line, which is usually shorter and has fewer restrictions — you can keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on, and leave your laptop and liquids in your bag.

The number stays in your Southwest account indefinitely. If your TSA PreCheck expires or you renew it, you will need to update the number in your Southwest profile with the new one. TSA sends renewal notices by mail about 90 days before your enrollment expires.

Troubleshooting: Your TSA PreCheck number is not showing on your boarding pass

If you added your number but it does not appear on your boarding pass, check that you entered it correctly — it should be exactly nine characters with no spaces or dashes. Log back into your Southwest account and verify the number matches what is on your TSA PreCheck card or approval email.

If the number is correct but still not appearing, try generating a new boarding pass. Sometimes the system needs a few hours to sync after you first add the number. If it still does not show after 24 hours, contact Southwest customer service by phone or chat — they can manually verify that your number is in the system.

Your TSA PreCheck number works across all airlines

The same nine-character number works on every airline — United, American, Delta, Alaska, and others. You do not need a separate PreCheck number for each carrier. However, you do need to enter it separately into each airline's website or app, because airlines do not share this information with each other.

If you fly multiple airlines regularly, add your TSA PreCheck number to each airline account. Most airlines have the same field in their profile settings, usually labeled "Known Traveler Number" or "TSA PreCheck."

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I do not have my TSA PreCheck number?

Check your TSA PreCheck approval email or the card TSA mailed you — the number is printed on both. You can also log into your account at tsa.gov and view your enrollment details. If you have lost all of these, call the TSA at 1-855-347-8371 and they can provide your number over the phone.

Can I add someone else's TSA PreCheck number to my Southwest account?

No. Each passenger needs their own Southwest account or needs to be listed as a passenger on your booking with their own TSA PreCheck number entered. You cannot use one person's PreCheck number for another traveler.

Do I need to add my TSA PreCheck number if I already have Clear or Global Entry?

If you have Global Entry, your known traveler number is included and you should add it to Southwest the same way. Clear is a separate service that does not include a known traveler number for airline boarding passes, so you would still need to add your TSA PreCheck number if you have both.

What if my TSA PreCheck expires while I have a flight booked?

Your boarding pass will still show your old number, but TSA will not recognize it as valid at the airport. Update your Southwest profile with your new TSA PreCheck number before your flight. If you do not have a new number yet, you can still fly — you will just go through standard security instead of the PreCheck line.