to enroll in precheck requires travelers to pay a fee of $ 85 ( or more , through programs like global entry or nexus ) , which may provide an obstacle for some travelers .
the study by computer science professor sheldon h. jacobson and graduate students arash khatabi and ge yu calculated the cost of extensive screening compared with expedited screening in terms of workforce labor hours and equipment .
the tsa precheck program , which allows pre - screened , verified travelers to go through expedited security at airports .
abstract tsa precheck is the primary vehicle used by the transportation security administration ’s expedited screening program , the agency can save money and speed up the screening process at airports across the country .
they found that costs saved by frequent travelers using expedited security screening delays and growing tensions at airports because far fewer people signed up than the agency projected .
enrollment in the program known as precheck , and other similar plans , is less than half of the government ’s goal of 25 million .
this third point has led critics of the program to suggest that precheck should be offered at no cost to travelers .
this is an easy case where spending some money will as the u.s. expanded a program to streamline airport screening line that lets fliers keep their shoes , coats and belts on and keep laptops in their luggage .
that is the conclusion of a study by professors at the university of illinois at urbana - champaign , who offered the idea as a solution to the tsa ’s growing budget costs and long airport lines .