The TSA is moving away from giving free samples of its PreCheck program to frequent flyers or other lucky travelers. From here on out, reports Yahoo Travel, you’ll probably have to be a paid member to have that luxury of not removing your belt or shoes.

In a blog post, TSA said: "As more and more travelers obtain KTNs, soon, travelers without a Known Traveler Number or KTN, including those who previously “opted-in” via a frequent flyer program, will notice a reduction in the frequency in which they are chosen for TSA” Pre-Check.

The PreCheck program has more than 1 million members, plus another 3.6 million eligible for PreCheck under the trusted traveler programs offered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Global Entry, Nexus, and Sentri.

"Up to now, members of frequent flyer programs were able to opt in through their airline to the expedited security screening – a trial subscription, if you will. Same with the “managed inclusion” program of allowing unqualified travelers into the PreCheck line when it gets empty," said Yahoo News. "But the TSA wants to boost its PreCheck users from 4.6 million to 25 million, which would allow it to focus on the minority of flyers who might actually pose a security threat."

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/tsa-limiting-precheck-access-to-paying-members-115861974952.html