TSA PreCheck can be a smooth process and a smart investment, especially when the regular line is long and you’re in a hurry to board your flight. Some passengers, specifically veterans, can get the service for free, thanks to the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act. However, the benefit is limited to those who meet certain requirements.
To be considered eligible, you have to be a veteran enrolled in VA healthcare and have a disability connected to your service. This includes permanent blindness, a VA-issued prosthetic limb, or the need for a wheelchair issued by the VA. If you’re unsure about the details, you can always check your VA account for an eligibility letter, which you can then use to apply for or renew TSA PreCheck through IDEMIA. From there, you can complete the application, fingerprinting, and photo process before getting approved. If you need help with your VA eligibility letter, contact the VA directly, as the TSA cannot confirm eligibility details.
However, receiving an eligibility letter from the VA does not automatically mean you can access free PreCheck. You must also meet the TSA’s standard requirements, including a background check and security screening. You must also meet the TSA’s standard citizenship rules before the process is complete. Even if you don’t qualify for free PreCheck, TSA Cares can still provide support as you go through the security checkpoint. For any questions about your PreCheck application, you should contact the TSA.
Inside the TSA PreCheck cost and value
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Free TSA PreCheck enrollment under the VETS Safe Travel Act does not apply to veterans’ family members. But minors under the age of 17 using TSA PreCheck lanes, as well as some service members and families, could be eligible for separate PreCheck programs. The TSA also provides assistance to veterans unable to meet specific physical requirements due to medical conditions. Currently, the TSA PreCheck free enrollment process is only available through approved providers.
If you don’t qualify for free PreCheck, you can expect to pay a $76.75 enrollment fee, which is valid for five years. The application process begins online and is completed in person at an approved enrollment center, where you may need an appointment and the required documentation to finish. Renewing your TSA PreCheck will cost you $58.75 for five years online, and $66.75 in person for five years. If you’re already enrolled in an approved traveler program, you may not need to enroll separately.
When it comes to whether or not PreCheck is worth it, the answer depends on how much you travel. PreCheck lines are often shorter and move faster than standard lines, and you don’t have to remove your belt or take your laptop out before sending it through the scanner. But if you don’t fly that often, you could decide to just go through the standard screening process and save on the added cost.
Forza Horizon 6 has already launched on Xbox Game Pass as a day one release, making May a big month for the subscription service. Still, what Microsoft gives, it also takes away, as two phenomenal JRPGs – Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden – will leave the service at the end of the month.
Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($23 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including new ones the day they’re released, each month.
Here are the games Microsoft plans to bring to Game Pass in May. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in April, including Hades 2, and more options in our list of the best gaming subscriptions.
Forza Horizon 6
On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.
Forza Horizon 6 is the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games. This time, players can speed around Japan, from the busy cities to the countryside roads. More than 550 cars are available to collect via races, seasonal events and online challenges. The game continues the arcade-style racing the series is known for, and with more car customizations, a deeper progression system and dynamic weather changes affecting road conditions.
Dead Static Drive
On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.
Dead Static Drive mixes road trip exploration, survival horror and action gameplay in a strange post-apocalyptic world filled with supernatural threats. Players travel across highways and down while scavenging supplies, upgrading vehicles and fighting bizarre creatures. The game combines tense combat with quiet exploration, creating an eerie atmosphere with retro graphics.
Pigeon Simulator is a sandbox game unlike any other. As a pigeon, it’s up to the player to create as much disruption as possible in order to complete objectives, annoying pedestrians out for a walk and making use of the game’s unique physics systems. Players can fly over streets, knock over objects and find hidden secrets in this absolutely absurd game.
Remnant 2
On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.
The soulslike subgenre is popular among gamers, and the Remnant franchise does a little something different by replacing swords with guns. In Remnant 2, players will fight off monsters and giant bosses in a world filled with secrets and loot. The sequel improves on the original by having more ways to customize your character and larger-scale battles intended for solo or cooperative play.
Luna Abyss
On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.
Luna Abyss is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a mysterious underground colony. The sci-fi horror shooter has players descending deeper into a massive prison facility while battling enemies and learning the secrets of what happened here. The game offers stylish combat with fast movement as the story is told via the environments, which creates a tense and exciting experience built around shooting and exploration.
Escape Simulator
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 26.
Players work together to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues in Escape Simulator. The cooperative escape room experience puts players in themed areas such as mysterious labs or fantasy dungeons. Each room introduces new mechanics and requires teams to work together to escape. The game’s online community can also contribute to the game by creating their own rooms with custom scenarios.
Echo Generation 2
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 27.
Echo Generation 2 continues the voxel-inspired RPG series with a new adventure focused on supernatural mysteries with turn-based combat. Players explore strange towns, investigate paranormal events and battle bizarre enemies. The sequel expands on the original game’s storytelling and combat system while keeping the colorful visuals and quirky humor.
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 27.
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the complete, remastered version of the 2019 sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This version includes the previously released DLC, a higher level cap, better graphics, improved performance, additional animations and more improvements on the original game.
Crashout Crew
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 28.
A mix of party game chaos and cooperative action, Crashout Crew throws players into unpredictable arenas filled with traps, obstacles and physics-based mayhem. Players race to complete objectives while trying to survive the hectic action. Fast matches, colorful visuals and multiplayer gameplay make it easy to play online with friends or strangers.
Kabuto Park
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 28.
Collecting rare insects and exploring colorful outdoor environments are at the center of Kabuto Park. You have to search forests and parks to find new species while upgrading equipment to compete in bug tournaments. The cheerful art style blends with exploration and creature collection, making for a relaxing game about finding bugs.
Final Fantasy 6
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.
Final Fantasy 6 is not only one of the best Final Fantasy games, but it’s also one of the best games ever. First released on the SNES in 1994, the game follows a cast of characters out to save the world. This version is part of the Pixel Remaster for the older Final Fantasy 2D games that improves on the visuals, updates the audio and adds modern gameplay improvements so new and returning players can enjoy.
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.
Building and managing a dinosaur theme park returns in Jurassic World Evolution 3. As the park manager, you’ll have to balance guest entertainment, scientific research and park security while also dealing with those giant dinosaurs just waiting to take over the island. Expanded customized tools, a new management system and improved creature behaviors improve on the previous games while adding more depth to the simulation gameplay, giving players a taste of what running a dinosaur park could feel like.
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Games that are leaving the service
While Microsoft is adding the above games to Game Pass, it will also remove five games, including two amazing JRPGs: Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden. If you want to finish either of these games before the end of the month, now is the time as these games take many hours to beat.
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