TSA & Security

TSA Customer Dashboard

TSA launched a new dashboard to help air travelers know their rights when they experience flight disruptions caused by airlines.

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TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck allows low-risk travelers to experience expedited, more efficient security screening at participating U.S. airport checkpoints for domestic and international travel.

For information on signing up for TSA PreCheck, visit the website here: TSA PreCheck | Transportation Security Administration

How it works:

• An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and cannot have been convicted of certain crimes. If an applicant has a record of any of the crimes identified in the eligibility requirements, they may choose not to apply, as the application fee is nonrefundable.
• Interested applicants must provide biographic information that includes name, date of birth and address. An applicant will be fingerprinted and will be required to provide valid required identity and citizenship/immigration documentation. An applicant also has the option to pre-enroll online to provide basic information. 
• After completing enrollment, successful applicants will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) via U.S. mail approximately 2-3 weeks following the visit to the application center. An applicant also may check status online by visiting https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov/ and clicking on “Service Status.” The Known Traveler Number is valid for five years.
• Once approved as eligible for TSA PreCheck™, the enrollee must enter the provided KTN in the ‘Known Traveler Number’ field when booking travel reservations on any of the ten participating airlines. The KTN can also be added when booking reservations online via a participating airline website, via phone call to the airline reservation center, or with the travel management company making reservations. Additionally, the KTN can be entered in participating airline frequent flyer profiles, where it will be stored for future reservations.
  • Please make sure the name used when applying for the TSA PreCheck application program matches the name used when booking travel.
  • TSA PreCheck eligibility will be identified with a TSA PreCheck indicator on the boarding pass.

Please note, appointments may only be made for a date within a 45-day window of completing the online application, and if all available appointments are booked in that period, appointments would not be accepted, requiring the applicant to check back for availability. The applicant also may visit an application site as a “walk-in” without an appointment but could experience a longer wait time.

For more information, visit the TSA PreCheck website.

Ready to pre-enroll? Visit the TSA PreCheck application website.

CLEAR

CLEAR is available in the Central Checkpoint for travelers with TSA PreCheck and in the South Checkpoint for those who don’t. Travelers will now be able to use CLEAR to verify their identity with just the tap of a finger or blink of an eye before moving to physical security screening.

CLEAR is changing the way consumers experience the world by transforming the cards in their wallets into a single biometric ID.  Today, more than 3 million CLEAR members enjoy secure and frictionless experiences at airports, sports stadiums and beyond.

The expansion to CLE follows the company’s launch of a new experience enabling members to simultaneously confirm their identity and boarding pass information through a fingerprint or iris scan.

After a fast, one-time enrollment, members can begin using CLEAR immediately. CLEAR is certified as Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More information can be found on the CLEAR Website: clearme.com

REAL ID

On February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) introduced a new option at CLE and airports nationwide: Confirm.ID. This new service helps verify the identity of travelers who arrive at the security checkpoint without a REAL ID compliant form of identification.

For a $45 fee, Confirm.ID allows these travelers to complete TSA’s identity verification process and receive approval to fly for a 10‑day period. TSA recommends paying the fee online BEFORE arriving at the airport to reduce wait times.

Acceptable IDs continue to include REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, DHS Trusted Traveler cards, and other federally recognized documents. A full list is available at TSA.gov.

Travelers who choose not to pay the $45 fee, or whose identity cannot be verified through this process, will not be permitted to enter the security checkpoint.

To learn more or access Confirm.ID, click here.

CLE Travel Tips

• Please arrive 2 hours prior to your scheduled domestic flight departure time and 3 hours prior to international flights to ensure that you and your bags have enough time to go through the screening process and be transported to the aircraft.
• During peak travel periods such as holidays, spring break and summer, please consider arriving 2 hours early.  If you have an early morning flight, you may need to arrive even earlier as that is our busiest travel time of the day.
• Leave all checked baggage unlocked. Security screeners may forcibly unlock locked baggage if it requires inspection.
• All laptop computers and video cameras must be removed from carry-on bags prior to moving through the screening process.
• All travelers over the age of 18 need government-issued photo identification—federal, state, or local. If you do not possess any government-issued photo identification, please carry at least two pieces of identification with you—one of which must have been issued by a government authority. You may be asked to show your ID at various locations within the airport, including at check-in, screening, in the gate area, and/or prior to boarding an aircraft.
• Only ticketed passengers are allowed beyond passenger screening points. If you need to accompany a ticketed passenger past a screening point, you should contact the passenger's airline for instructions.

Additional Safety Information

• Please maintain continuous control of carry-on baggage, briefcases, purses, and other personal items at all times.
• Personal items should never be left unattended as they could be subject to tampering or theft.
• Do not carry or transport any items or baggage for any other person, especially people you do not know.
• If you notice any unattended baggage, briefcases, purses, or other items, as well as any suspicious activity, please report it to the Airport Unit of the Cleveland Police Department immediately by dialing 6055 on any white courtesy telephone.
• While at the airport or on airport property, never make jokes about security, including comments about having a bomb or a firearm on your person or in your luggage. Airport personnel are trained to take all such comments as serious threats, and they will immediately report such threats to the Airport Unit of the Cleveland Police Department. Such activity may result in civil and criminal penalties.

Airport Police

The Airport Unit of the Cleveland Police Department patrols Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. These highly trained officers are permanently assigned to the airport, with offices conveniently located within the terminal. They provide a wide range of law enforcement duties and responsibilities including patrol, investigation, traffic flow management, and control and response to airport emergencies.

To contact the Airport Unit of the Cleveland Police Department from anywhere in the terminal or the parking garage, dial 6055 on any white courtesy telephone. They may also be contacted from any telephone by dialing (216) 265-6055. 
 

Human Trafficking Happens In Our Community

Human trafficking is a hidden crime that affects communities everywhere — including ours. Airports are often used to transport victims, but with awareness and quick action, we can help stop it. Learn how to recognize the warning signs and what to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked.

Learn More