Adding TSA PreCheck to Southwest through the app

To add your TSA PreCheck number to Southwest Airlines, open the Southwest app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select "Manage Reservations," then tap your name or profile icon at the top. Choose "Known Traveler Number" and enter your TSA PreCheck number in the field provided. Save the changes, and your number will be stored in your Southwest profile for all future bookings.

Once your TSA PreCheck number is linked, it will automatically populate on your boarding pass when you check in for flights. You do not need to re-enter it for each trip—Southwest remembers it across all reservations under that account. This saves time at the airport and ensures the TSA can match your boarding pass to your PreCheck status at security.

Key Takeaways

  • Your TSA PreCheck number goes in the "Known Traveler Number" field in your Southwest profile, not during individual flight bookings.
  • The Southwest app stores your number permanently once entered, so it appears on every boarding pass automatically.
  • You can also add your number through the Southwest website by logging in, going to your account settings, and entering it in the same Known Traveler Number field.
  • If you have already booked a flight without adding your number, you can still edit your reservation and add it before check-in.

Where to find the Known Traveler Number field

The Known Traveler Number field lives in your Southwest account settings, not on the booking screen. This is the most common place people look first and do not find it. You reach it by opening the app, tapping the menu, and selecting your profile or account settings—the exact wording depends on which version of the app you have, but it is always in the top menu.

Once you are in your profile, look for a section labeled "Preferences," "Travel Information," or "Known Traveler Number." If you cannot find it when ready, scroll down—Southwest sometimes nests this field below other personal information like your phone number and email. The field itself is a straightforward text box that accepts nine or ten digits, depending on your PreCheck number format.

Adding your number to an existing reservation

If you have already booked a Southwest flight and forgot to add your TSA PreCheck number beforehand, you can still add it. Open the app, go to "Manage Reservations," find your upcoming flight, and look for an option to edit your passenger information or trip details. Tap into your name or passenger record and you should see the Known Traveler Number field there as well.

You can make this change up until check-in opens (which is 24 hours before your flight for most Southwest bookings). After you add the number and save, your new boarding pass will reflect your PreCheck status. If you have already checked in and printed or downloaded your boarding pass before adding the number, you may need to check in again through the app to generate an updated pass with your PreCheck information.

What happens after you add your number

Once your TSA PreCheck number is linked to your Southwest account, the airline sends that information to the TSA before your flight. Your boarding pass will display a "TSA PreCheck" indicator or a checkmark symbol, depending on the format. This tells TSA officers at security that you have already been vetted and are cleared for expedited screening.

You will still need to present your actual TSA PreCheck card or ID at the security checkpoint—the boarding pass notation alone is not enough. The PreCheck status straightforward allows you to go through a faster lane where you can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on, and leave laptops and liquids in your bag. The boarding pass notation confirms to TSA that your background check is current.

Using the Southwest website instead of the app

If you prefer to add your number on a computer, log into your Southwest account at southwest.com, click on your name or profile icon in the top right, and select "Account Settings" or "Manage Profile." Look for the Known Traveler Number field in the same location as it appears in the app. The process is identical—enter your nine or ten-digit number and save.

Changes made on the website sync to the app automatically, so you do not need to enter it twice. If you add your number on the website, it will be available in the app within a few minutes. The reverse is also true: if you add it in the app, it updates on the website.

Troubleshooting if your number does not appear on your boarding pass

If you added your TSA PreCheck number but it is not showing on your boarding pass, the most common cause is that you entered it in the wrong field or the app did not save your changes. Open your profile again, verify the number is still there, and check that you tapped "Save" or "Done" after entering it. Some versions of the app require you to confirm the change a second time.

Another reason your PreCheck status might not appear is that you checked in before the number was fully synced to Southwest's system. Try checking in again through the app—delete the old boarding pass and generate a new one. If the number is correctly stored in your profile and you still do not see the PreCheck indicator after re-checking in, contact Southwest customer service and provide your confirmation number and TSA PreCheck number. They can verify that the information is linked correctly on their end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to add my TSA PreCheck number every time I book a flight?

No. Once you add it to your Southwest profile, it stays there permanently and appears on every boarding pass automatically. You only enter it once, in your account settings, not during the booking process.

What if I have multiple TSA PreCheck numbers or recently renewed mine?

Update your profile with your new number. Go to your Known Traveler Number field and replace the old number with the new one. Future boarding passes will use the updated number. If you have an active flight booked under the old number, edit that reservation to update it as well.

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

No. Each person must add their own TSA PreCheck number to their own Southwest account. If you are booking a flight for a family member, they need to either add their number to their own account or you can add it to their passenger information when you edit the reservation after booking.

Will adding my TSA PreCheck number to Southwest cost anything?

No. Linking your existing TSA PreCheck number to your Southwest account is free. You have already paid for TSA PreCheck through the TSA directly—Southwest straightforward displays that information on your boarding pass at no additional charge.

What if my TSA PreCheck expired?

You can leave the expired number in your Southwest profile, but it will not grant you PreCheck benefits at security. Renew your TSA PreCheck through the TSA website, receive your new number, and update it in your Southwest profile. The old number will stop working once your PreCheck status expires.