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TSA PreCheck members save just seven minutes in security lines on average, according to the survey released by travel website Upgraded Points on Tuesday, Mar. 25. The PreCheck respondents did report feeling far less stressed than other travelers.
More than 1,500 people were polled earlier in March. The survey compared wait times, stress levels, and satisfaction among those with and without TSA PreCheck.
The program, which launched in December 2013, still holds value for flyers — but not always for the reason they expect.
"TSA PreCheck was created to expedite getting through airport security, but while many appreciate its benefits, there is still room for improvement," said Upgraded Points editor-in-chief Keri Stooksbury. "Travelers in TSA PreCheck lines do not think they are always saving as much time as advertised, but they do feel less stressed about going through security."
While the Transportation Security Administration claims PreCheck lanes take under 10 minutes, survey results showed the average wait time was 36 minutes — just seven minutes faster than the 43-minute average for standard lines. TSA PreCheck members also tend to arrive at the airport only six minutes later than non-members.
Even so, 39 percent of PreCheck users said the biggest benefit is a less stressful experience. Another 34 percent pointed to shorter lines. Only three percent of PreCheck members said they've missed a flight due to a security delay, compared to 18 percent of frequent flyers without it.
On a 10-point scale, TSA PreCheck travelers rated their stress at 3.3, while non-members rated it more than double at 7.3. When asked to estimate how they'd feel with TSA PreCheck, non-members said their stress might drop to 3.5 — nearly matching the real response from actual members.
The survey also found that many travelers still aren't sold on the program.
About 41 percent of non-members said they don't fly often enough to justify the cost, while 25 percent said they'd never even considered enrolling. Another 13 percent found the sign-up process to be too complicated.
Still, nearly one-third of those without PreCheck said they plan to enroll. Among current members, 29 percent said their credit card reimbursed the $78 fee — an incentive that 87 percent of non-members said would make them more likely to sign up for PreCheck.
You can click here to see the full survey results from Upgraded Points.
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