Where to Find Your KTN on Your TWIC Card for TSA PreCheck
As of April 15, 2020, active TWIC cardholders, including Great Lakes Mariners eligible for TSA PreCheck, gained eligibility for expedited security screening at airports nationwide. This means if you qualify, you no longer need to pay separately to enjoy this benefit on your next airport visit. To utilize this significant advantage, there are a few essential steps involved, and understanding where to locate your required number is key. This article will guide you through getting set up with TSA PreCheck using your TWIC card.
Many active TWIC cardholders are automatically eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits without needing a separate application or fee. This streamlined process is a major advantage for those working in maritime industries who frequently travel. However, it’s important to note that not all TWIC cardholders qualify. Eligibility for the TSA PreCheck Application Program is limited to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents. Additionally, active TWIC cardholders who obtained their card through a waiver from TSA are not eligible for this specific PreCheck benefit.
A common question among eligible TWIC holders is whether they receive a separate Known Traveler Number (KTN). The answer is no. Instead, your TWIC card’s Credential Identification Number (CIN) serves as your KTN for TSA PreCheck purposes. You will not be issued a distinct KTN from the TSA in this scenario. To access expedited screening, eligible TWIC cardholders must include the CIN printed on their TWIC card in the designated Known Traveler Number (KTN) field whenever making airline reservations with participating airlines or when updating their airline profiles. This is the critical step that links your TWIC eligibility to your flight booking.
When booking online via a participating airline’s website, making reservations over the phone with an agent, or using a travel management company, remember to provide your TWIC CIN as your KTN. To avoid looking up the number for every trip, it’s highly recommended to save your TWIC CIN to any frequent flyer profiles you maintain, employer booking systems you use, or online travel websites where you make reservations. This simplifies the booking process significantly. A crucial detail for successful expedited screening is ensuring that the name and date of birth used for your flight reservation and airline profiles exactly match the name and date of birth you provided when you applied for your TWIC card. Inaccuracies can prevent the TSA PreCheck indicator from appearing on your boarding pass. Planning your next adventure, whether you’re traveling to spain and portugal or just a domestic trip, remembering to add your CIN is vital for smoother travel.
Locating the Credential Identification Number (CIN) on Your TWIC Card
The most important piece of information you need is the CIN itself. Many people wonder, “Where Is My Known Traveler Number On My Twic Card?” Since your CIN acts as your KTN, you need to know where to find it. The Credential Identification Number (CIN) is printed on the back, in the lower left-hand corner of your physical TWIC card.
Back of TWIC card showing Credential Identification Number (CIN) location for TSA PreCheck KTN
For those who still have the original card mailing, the CIN is also typically printed on the lower left-hand corner of that mailing document that accompanied your TWIC card when you received it. It’s important to rely on the physical card or the original mailing for this number, as you cannot look up your TWIC CIN online through a public database. If you are planning extensive travel, perhaps a 2 week travel itinerary sri lanka, ensuring your CIN is saved in your profile or readily available will save you time and stress.
You will know if you have successfully obtained TSA PreCheck for a specific flight because participating airlines will print a TSA PreCheck indicator directly on your boarding pass. This indicator confirms your eligibility for expedited screening on that particular flight based on the CIN you submitted as your KTN. If your boarding pass does not have this indicator, you will not be permitted to use the TSA PreCheck lane, even if you are an eligible TWIC cardholder. You cannot simply present your TWIC card at the TSA PreCheck lane without the boarding pass indicator. Your TWIC card can still be used as a valid form of identification at the standard security checkpoint, but it alone does not grant access to the PreCheck lane. It’s also worth noting that a TSA PreCheck indicator will not be printed directly on your TWIC card itself; the eligibility is linked to your booking via the CIN. For those who are members of both the separate TSA PreCheck Application Program (and have a KTN issued through that program) and are active, eligible TWIC cardholders, you have the flexibility to use either your TSA PreCheck KTN or your TWIC CIN when making your airline reservation. Both are valid for obtaining TSA PreCheck eligibility on your flight. When planning travel, remember to leverage all resources available, from online booking tools to checking locations like a flying j dealer — mega travel plaza breezewood photos if driving is part of your trip.
In summary, leveraging your eligible TWIC card for TSA PreCheck expedited screening is a valuable, cost-free benefit for many maritime professionals. The key takeaway is understanding that your TWIC’s Credential Identification Number (CIN) serves as your Known Traveler Number (KTN). Remember: do not pay for TSA PreCheck if you are an eligible TWIC holder – the benefit is included. Crucially, provide the CIN number located on the back lower left-hand corner of your TWIC card when booking flights or saving it to your airline profiles. Adding this number before or during the reservation process is ideal, but you can typically call the airline before check-in to add it. Once you have checked in, adding it to that specific boarding pass becomes impossible, and you won’t be able to use the PreCheck lane for that flight. Always look for the TSA PreCheck logo on your printed or electronic boarding pass – that’s your confirmation to head for the faster, shorter lane!
