Picture it: You are hustling through the airport with a carry-on full of Goldfish crackers, a backpack stuffed like a deployment duffel, and a kid who needs to pee the minute you reach the scanner. Now imagine waltzing through the PreCheck lane, shoes on and dignity intact. Thanks to a brand-new TSA offer, that smooth-sailing fantasy costs less than a take-out pizza.
The Need-to-Know
| Who gets the perk | What you pay | What you keep |
|---|---|---|
| Military spouse with DoD-issued ID | $51.75 for five years | Shoes, belt, sanity |
| Gold Star family member | Free | Same, plus your wallet stays closed |
| Service member | Still free | You already had it, show-off |
Why this matters in real life
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Time is love. Shave twenty minutes off every security line; tack those minutes onto hugs at baggage claim.
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Kid bonus. Your under-18s slide through with you when they are on the same reservation. No extra paperwork, no extra fee.
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Cost breakdown. Ten bucks a year for five years of “leave the laptop in the bag” magic. That is cheaper than one airport latte a year.
How to lock it in
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Go to tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov and type in your ZIP code.
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Pick a spot. IDEMIA has more than five hundred locations tucked inside everything from Staples to major airports, so odds are good there is one near your next Target run.
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Grab two IDs: a government photo ID and your spouse or Gold Star documentation.
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Show up, fingerprint, swipe your card if you are paying the spouse fee, and you are done in about ten minutes.
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Watch for an email with your Known Traveler Number. Add that number to every airline profile before your next PCS or block leave getaway.
Already enrolled? Use the same site to renew, and the discount still applies.
Real-talk wrap-up
Travel days are already high drama—airport snacks cost a fortune, and the gate is always the farthest one on the concourse. Give yourself the gift of a short line and zero shoe juggling. You have earned it.
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Army Wife 101
Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market. She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.
Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market.
She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.