TSA adds RDM PreCheck enrollment slots after 1,000 fill up

(Update: TSA contractor adds 600 appointment slots, second agent after initial 1,000 fill up fast)

Saving time when flying is very popular in Central Oregon — and that’s why the Transportation Security Administration just added 600 more appointment slots for their enrollment in the PreCheck expedited screening program at Redmond Airport.

The previous 1,000 appointment slots, scheduled over the next three weeks, filled up in just a couple of days.

Airport representative Erinn Shaw said the “overwhelming response” to the temporary PreCheck event prompted the added appointments, starting next Monday.

TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said a second enrollment agent through the contractor, IdentoGO, will be added at the RDM office, starting Monday.

“This will double appointment availability and the ability to handle walk-ins,” she said.

Dankers said she was not sure when the added appointments would show up online but advised travelers to keep checking the website.

Previously, all that were left were walk-in possibilities for canceled or shorter appointments that open up slots.

It appears the TSA underestimated the interest in the program, according to Shaw, who said another week was added at RDM when the last such opportunity was offered.

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Previous story:

The Transportation Security Administration announced Tuesday that TSA Pre ✓ ® enrollment will be offered at the Redmond Municipal Airport for three weeks.

At every airport, TSA Pre ✓ ® -eligible travelers can leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt. At airports without a dedicated TSA Pre ✓ ® lane, which includes RDM, travelers must remove their laptops and electronics larger than a cell phone from their carry-on luggage as well as liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bag during the security checkpoint screening process.

TSA operates dedicated TSA Pre ✓ ® lanes at more than 200 other airports nationwide.

The temporary enrollment center will be open next Monday through Friday, March 29, near the ticketing area at RDM. The hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

To make an appointment, visit www.tsa.gov/precheck and select “Apply Now” and follow the online prompts. Select “Redmond Municipal Airport” as your enrollment location. An in-person visit to the enrollment center at the airport is required to complete the application process. Applicants must bring a current U.S. passport or a driver license and a certified copy of a birth certificate. Fingerprints will be collected during the enrollment session.

Travelers who want to enjoy the benefits of TSA Pre ✓ ® on a consistent basis are encouraged to enroll in the program. The application fee is $85 and Trusted Traveler status is good for five years. It can be paid at the time of your appointment by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. Walk-ins are permitted and will be accommodated around scheduled appointments.

Once approved, individuals will receive a Known Traveler Number making them eligible to experience TSA Pre ✓ ® screening at airports nationwide. Children 12 and under are permitted to use the TSA Pre ✓ ® lane when traveling with an eligible parent or guardian.

TSA recently announced the expansion of TSA Pre ✓ ® to include nine additional domestic and international carriers, bringing the total of number of participating airlines to 65. TSA continues to incorporate random and unpredictable security measures both seen and unseen throughout the airport. All travelers will be screened, and no individual is ever guaranteed expedited screening.

To date, nearly more than 7.9 million people have enrolled in TSA Pre ✓ ® nationwide. To learn more about TSA Pre ✓ ® , visit tsa.gov/precheck . For more information on the Department of Homeland Security’s four Trusted Traveler programs including, Global Entry and NEXUS, all of which provide TSA Pre ✓ ® eligibility, visit dhs.gov/tt .