TSA PreCheck does not allow you to "skip" security entirely, but it provides access to dedicated, expedited lanes that are significantly faster than the standard security lines. In these lanes, you do not have to remove your shoes, belts, or light jackets, and you can keep your laptop and compliant 3-1-1 liquids inside your carry-on bag. This streamlined process reduces the physical "unpacking" time, leading to much shorter wait times. In 2026, the program has expanded to include Touchless ID at 65 major US airports, which uses facial recognition technology to verify your identity, allowing you to move through the checkpoint without even showing a physical ID at certain participating airlines. While there is still a wait in the PreCheck lane during busy periods, the TSA reports that the vast majority of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes. It is a "Trusted Traveler Program" that changes the screening process based on a prior background check, rather than a way to bypass the security infrastructure altogether. You must still pass through a metal detector or body scanner and have your bags X-rayed.