Add your TSA PreCheck number during booking or after

You can add your TSA PreCheck number to a Delta boarding pass in two ways: when you first book your flight, or after your reservation is already made. The easiest time is during booking — Delta will ask for your Known Traveler Number (KTN) as part of the standard reservation form. If you book without it, you can log into your Delta account, find the reservation, and add the number there before you check in.

Your Known Traveler Number is the nine-character code TSA gives you when you enroll in PreCheck. It appears on your approval letter and in your TSA account. Delta needs this number to link your PreCheck status to your boarding pass so TSA officers at the airport can see it.

The number must match exactly what TSA has on file. If you mistype it or use an expired number, the PreCheck indicator will not appear on your boarding pass, and you will go through standard security screening instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Add your Known Traveler Number during flight booking on Delta's website or app, or edit your reservation afterward in your account.
  • Your KTN is the nine-character code from your TSA PreCheck approval letter — it must be entered exactly as TSA has it on file.
  • The PreCheck indicator appears on your boarding pass only after Delta receives and processes your KTN, which usually happens within minutes.
  • If your boarding pass does not show PreCheck, check that your KTN is correct and that your PreCheck membership has not expired.

Adding your KTN during the booking process

When you book a flight on Delta.com or the Delta app, you will see a field labeled "Known Traveler Number" or "TSA PreCheck/CLEAR/NEXUS" in the passenger information section. Enter your nine-character KTN exactly as it appears on your TSA approval letter. Do not add spaces or dashes — type only the letters and numbers.

Delta will save this number to your reservation. Once you complete the booking, your boarding pass should show "TSA PreCheck" or a TSA logo within a few minutes. You can check this by viewing your reservation in your Delta account or by looking at your email confirmation.

If you are booking through a third-party site like Kayak or Google Flights, you may not see a field for your KTN. In that case, book through Delta directly, or add the number to your Delta reservation after the booking is complete.

Adding your KTN to an existing reservation

Log into your Delta account on Delta.com or open the Delta app. Find the reservation you want to update and select "Manage My Booking" or "Edit Reservation." Look for the passenger information section and locate the field for Known Traveler Number or TSA PreCheck.

Enter your nine-character KTN and save the changes. Delta will update your boarding pass within a few minutes. You can refresh your reservation page or check your email to confirm that the PreCheck indicator now appears.

You can make this change at any time before your flight — even on the day of travel, though it is better to do it as soon as you book to avoid any last-minute issues.

Where to find your Known Traveler Number

Your KTN appears on the approval letter TSA mailed to you when you completed your PreCheck enrollment. It is a nine-character code made up of letters and numbers. If you cannot find your physical letter, log into your TSA account at tsa.gov. Click on "Manage Enrollment" and select your PreCheck membership — your KTN will be displayed there.

You can also call the TSA at 1-855-347-8371 to confirm your KTN if you are unsure whether you have the correct number. Have your name and date of birth ready.

What happens if your boarding pass does not show PreCheck

If you added your KTN but your boarding pass still does not display the PreCheck indicator, first check that you entered the number correctly. Go back into your reservation and verify that the KTN matches your approval letter exactly — even a single wrong digit will prevent the indicator from appearing.

Next, confirm that your TSA PreCheck membership is still active. PreCheck memberships last five years. If your enrollment period has ended, you will need to renew it through TSA before the indicator will show on your boarding pass. You can check your membership status in your TSA account.

If your KTN is correct and your membership is active, wait a few minutes and refresh your boarding pass page. Delta sometimes takes a few minutes to process the update. If the PreCheck indicator still does not appear after 15 minutes, contact Delta customer service to confirm the number was saved to your reservation.

Using PreCheck at the airport

Once your boarding pass shows the TSA PreCheck indicator, you can use the PreCheck lane at security. You will not need to remove your shoes, belt, or light jacket, and you can leave laptops and liquids in your carry-on bag. The process is faster than standard screening.

Bring your boarding pass and a valid ID to the security checkpoint. TSA officers will scan your boarding pass and see your PreCheck status. If for any reason the indicator does not scan or is not visible, tell the officer — they can look up your KTN manually if you provide it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add my TSA PreCheck number after I check in online?

Yes. You can add or update your KTN in your reservation at any time before your flight, even after you have checked in online. Your boarding pass will update to show the PreCheck indicator once Delta processes the change. Check your updated boarding pass to confirm the indicator appears before you head to the airport.

What if I have CLEAR or NEXUS instead of TSA PreCheck?

Delta accepts Known Traveler Numbers from CLEAR and NEXUS as well. Enter your KTN from whichever program you are enrolled in — the field on Delta's booking form accepts all three. The same process applies: enter the number during booking or add it to an existing reservation.

Do I need to add my KTN to every Delta flight I book?

No. Once you add your KTN to your Delta account profile, it will automatically populate on all future bookings. You only need to enter it once per reservation if you did not have it saved to your profile when you booked.

What if my TSA PreCheck membership expires soon?

You can still use your current KTN until your membership officially expires. After that date, the number will no longer work, and you will not be able to use the PreCheck lane. Renew your membership through TSA before the expiration date to keep using PreCheck on future flights.