TSA Pre Check
 

Anyone applied for the TSA Pre Check program? Comments? Preferably informed and non-ideological ones? (I.e. I don't care if TSA is a good or bad thing, I simply want to know if the benefits if any of getting into the program are worth the costs if any.)

I got it free as part of being an AA frequent flyer. With pre-check, the security show is rewound to pre 9/11 days. You don't have to take off shows, belt, or remove laptop and liquids out of your bag. If you travel a lot, it's a must have.

It's the best thing since sliced bread. You haven't lived until you're cutting it close for your flight, see a mile long line for security and breeze through the pre-check line in five minutes. It's a serous life saver for a frequent traveler.

Too bad showing a concealed carry permit won't do the same...

I travel intl most every week. This saves a lot of time and headaches. If you travel intl. Get GOES which includes PreCheck.

Think of this, not having to take off your shoes, belt or extracting liquids and laptop...!

Only grudge is when flying with my family that i get precheck which is extended to my kids but not to my wife (even though she is also an elite frequent flyer).

I am part of the NEXUS program, which allows you to use the TSA Pre Check. We love it. At many airports, you simply do a iris scan and away you go. You get to use trusted travellers lanes and some allow you to bypass normal security.

We use it most of the time on land crossings...they have special lanes. You merely wave the card at an IR reader, and usually they just wave you through.

If traveling within North America, no need to carry a passport, either.

NEXUS | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

I'm eligible through Global Entry, but I haven't applied

The last time we flew Southwest our boarding passes had TSA Pre-check printed on them. Have never applied and am not on any airlines frequent flier program. There were quite a few others like us being directed into the pre-check line (all confused like we were as to why but definitely not questioning it) but the common theme seemed to be we were probably all over 65 ??

One of the few benefits of being "elderly" I guess...

It is not at all airports. At many airports, it's still strip 'n grope as usual.
The pre-check system worked fantastic for me with a domestic flight from DFW. But every time I fly into IAD or EWR from overseas, it is the same bull****. Breeze through passport control and then wait for your bags to come in, claim them, stand in the customs line, re-check your bags, and then proceed through security. Even though you just got off a plane and have been in a sterile area. Why? Because you could have taken something out of your checked bag! Stupid system. And Pre-check? So what... get back in line, cattle.

On four flights in the past two weeks this happened to me every flight. My companion got the "pass" 3 of the 4. I like it.

Weird timing. Just got a postcard in the mail to remind me to sign up with pre-check. Going to go to the local office tomorrow to get fingerprinted and pay the $85.

Pre Check, Nexus, Global . . . I use them all. They ease a teeny bit of the pain of travel. Now if I could ban 5 year old kids in the seat behind me (like this morning's flight out of Orlando) . . .

Ian

Yep, this and Global Entry are the bees knees.

TSA: Give Us Fingerprints, Web History and You Can Keep Your Shoes On

So you get to keep your shoes on if you give them fingerprints and web history ...and $85

Still get the naked scanner.

Someone please tell me ^this^ is all wrong.

Land of the Free. Home of the Brave.

That's a service for which I'd pay very good money!

I got Pre-check the second it became available at Denver. It is the bomb, I fly quite a bit so its totally worth it.

Bill

I'm convinced.

From your link:

"Rewards are given to those who offer the TSA their fingerprints, their web data (likely using a download from the TSA website that scans your usage and reports everything back to DHS)"

Sound like a very credible new source.

yeah, I searched after reading this. Another site said pretty much the same.

So what are you saying? It's wrong?

FYI for you military guys. PreCheck is complimentary to active or reserve military members. I became a PreCheck member by simply putting my military ID number into the known traveler number location on the Southwest website. No fee, no fingerprints, etc.

Make sure TSA Pre appears in the upper left corner of your boarding pass.

Awesome for the frequent traveler.

I get Pre most times -seems somewhat random. I am a Premier Flyer on United -( not that thats worth much)
Great at most sirports -- but at Ohare I have actually gotten thru the normal security faster on ocasion - but that is the PRI for you. (Peoples REpublic of Illinois)

Apparently, with Global Entry, I am already approved. All I had to do was update my Frequent Traveler profile with my airline with my "Known Traveler" number. Had to go to GOES to get my number. I also found out that I am now also a SENTRI member. I had to request a card for SENTRI ($25), but that is no big deal.

Next stop, TWIC card...

I don't like giving personal info but TSA Pre Check is a necessary evil for frequent travelers. I'm on a plane weekly and welcome any shortcuts through airport security. I sometimes get selected randomly for pre check. I want that treatment every time I travel.

TSA Pre Check
 

We didn't know about Global Entry before signing up for TSA Precheck. We wish we did. Precheck is pretty much like pre-9/11 security. It's a lot less hassle and faster through the airport. At least it was this AM. :)

Global Entry allows you to bypass the regular Immigration and Customs lines when returning to the USA. You go to a kiosk that looks a lot like an ATM. Scan your passport and fingerprints, answer a few questions, then on to baggage claim. You go to the customs line that the airline passengers use.

FBI already has the same information I provided to DHS, so no big deal...

I signed up about six months ago and have flown a handful of times since.

What a difference - I could not go back to the take off your shoes, take your laptop out, wait behind people who have never been to an airport stuff.

Fabulous!

I have been a Global Entry member for a couple of years now. Added my GE number to my frequent flyer accounts but still no TSA pre-check when I flew internationally last week. Don't know why the pre-check is not happening for me :(

Make sure the name on your passport, frequent flyer, and GOES account all match EXACTLY. Middle initial on one and full middle on another? No Pre... The number in frequent flyer should be your known traveler ID. Not sure if that is the same as your GE number...

It's the best thing since sliced bread. http://newfinancehelp.com/hu3l.jpg
http://interinsurances.com/huht.jpg

Do any of you Pre-Checker have enough metal in your bodies (eg Evil Kenevil) that you will Always set off the metal detector? ...how's that work? Any advantages?

Me too - I agree it is great for the business traveler. However, it doesn't exist in Europe, specifically, Brussels.

At ORD, the international terminal has a differenct process. You go to a kiosk, swipe your passport, get your picture taken and get a print out reciept. That is used for the check in process. I never had to show my passport or got it stamped.

I got caught in this. My passport has my middle initial only whereas my ticket had my full middle name. My passport expires this year and I will fix that.

I've got a TWIC card, (transportation workers identity card) that required full fingerprint and background check. Has a microchip built in for tracking. They know zackly where I am at all times, lessen I forget my wallet somewhere.
Cost $140 every 5 years IIRC.

In most places it allows me to bypass the normal security lines as if I was part of the flight crew. But not always.
Sometimes the TSA is too STOOPID to know its own rules.