Unconfigured Ad Widget

Collapse

Unconfigured Ad Widget

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Shorter PreCheck Lines? Check!

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Shorter PreCheck Lines? Check!

    It is about time they started keeping these lines for people who have paid for the privilege.

    http://www.frequentflier.com/blog/sh...k-lines-check/


    Have you noticed fewer flyers clogging the TSA PreCheck lines to clear airport security? If you haven’t yet, you soon will. And there’s a reason.

    The Los Angeles Times reports that the TSA recently did away with one of the program’s longstanding unpublished features: managed inclusion. Under managed inclusion, TSA agents could direct travelers who had not signed up for the PreCheck service into the PreCheck line.

    That policy made sense in the service’s early days, when fewer flyers subscribed to PreCheck and the dedicated lines were often underused or empty. But as subscriber numbers swelled and the lines became increasingly congested, managed inclusion came to be viewed more as a problem than a solution. And so, sensibly, it has been discontinued.

    That’s good news for those who already pay $85 and undergo a background check to qualify for five years’ worth of PreCheck access. And it’s all the more reason for travelers who are not PreCheck customers to consider signing up. Those managed inclusion passengers weren’t just adding to the sheer numbers lining up for processing, they were hindrances in yet another respect: since they hadn’t enrolled in PreCheck, they were unaware of its benefits, and continued to remove their shoes, ready their laptops, and so on, further slowing down the lines. Removing them from the PreCheck queue should expedite the flow markedly.

    PreCheck is now available at more than 150 U.S. airports. Subscribers gain access to dedicated security-clearance lines, with no need to remove their shoes, belts, or jackets, or to de-bag their laptops. Participating airlines: Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue
    Pat
    *** My Website ***

  • #2
    I think I also heard that there is no more "random" PreCheck. Or maybe I just imagined that. Now the only people who will be getting the desired "PreCheck" on their boarding passes are those who paid for it.
    Luanne

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Luanne View Post
      I think I also heard that there is no more "random" PreCheck. Or maybe I just imagined that. Now the only people who will be getting the desired "PreCheck" on their boarding passes are those who paid for it.
      Is this the same as TSA Pre?
      If so I had it on my boarding pass in October and I don't pay for the upgrade.

      Comment


      • #4
        This has always confused me. I have NEXUS and use it frequently when driving back and forth between the US. Works great, and has been well worth the $50 I paid for it.

        When it comes to flying it has been a mixed bag however. Apparently, I have to go to Toronto (not Port Huron / Detroit where I went for my initial interview) for IRIS scanning. I have to make an appointment to do it, and cannot just do it on one of the occasions I happen to already been in Toronto at the airport.

        Where I get confused, is on one place it says that I can use Global Entry Kiosks and I have tried but then it tells me I have to have my fingerprints done. From what I can tell as well I have to pay separately for TSA pre-check but even on that I have seen conflicting evidence. Wondering if next time I am just better off signing up for Global Entry and not getting NEXUS or if I should pay the $150 and get both NEXUS and Global Entry.

        I do not travel THAT frequently as it is only personal travel never professional and it will be even less over the coming years as the CAD dollar has tanked. However, it has saved a significant amount of time when driving to and from the US.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by chriskre View Post
          Is this the same as TSA Pre?
          If so I had it on my boarding pass in October and I don't pay for the upgrade.
          Yes, it's the same thing. I can't remember where I saw it, as I said maybe I just made it up. I'm going to do some research.

          Do you have priority with any airlines or credit card companies? Some of them offer, or provide TSA PreCheck.
          Luanne

          Comment


          • #6
            Deleted - posted more current article.
            Luanne

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by chriskre View Post
              Is this the same as TSA Pre?
              If so I had it on my boarding pass in October and I don't pay for the upgrade.
              Yes. TSA PreCheck
              Pat
              *** My Website ***

              Comment


              • #8
                And here is a more current article:

                http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...-tsa-precheck/


                Free TSA Pre-Check Is Officially Over!

                September 17, 2015 by lucky 42 Comments


                The two innovations of the past several years which have made the US travel experience substantially more pleasant have been TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry. As a reminder, TSA Pre-Check allows eligible travelers expedited security, whereby they don’t have to take off their shoes, or take their liquids or laptops out of their bags.

                TSA-Pre-Check

                Meanwhile Global Entry allows for expedited customs & immigration, whereby eligible travelers can just use kiosks at immigration, rather than having to queue for an agent.

                Global-Entry

                Historically TSA Pre-Check has been limited to those enrolled in a Trusted Traveler Program, like TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry, NEXUS, etc. However, over time they started a “managed inclusion program,” whereby elite members of airlines and many other passengers deemed “low risk” got access to Pre-Check as well.

                This was quite annoying, not only because it made Pre-Check lines much longer, but mostly because these travelers weren’t familiar with how the lanes worked, so really slowed things down.

                Last August I wrote about how the TSA was planning on limiting Pre-Check eligibility, which is welcome news for any road warrior. At the time, about 45% of all passengers on domestic itineraries were eligible for Pre-Check, which is an insane number.

                That being said, the TSA’s follow through on this has been a slow process. In April of this year I wrote about how the TSA “warned” passengers once again that they’d start limiting those eligible for Pre-Check.

                Anyway, after what seems like a lot of threats and warnings, as of this week the TSA is apparently limiting Pre-Check to those belonging to a Trusted Traveler program.

                TSA-Pre-Check-1

                Via Travel Market Report:


                The TSA on Monday pulled the plug on its controversial but traveler-friendly Managed Inclusion Program, which allowed frequent travelers to use the PreCheck security lines at airports without paying the fee.

                The Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck Managed Inclusion program is now officially phased out from all airports nationwide.

                TSA had been allowing passengers deemed “low-risk” to use the expedited security lanes in order to speed up the security process. Passengers could save time—and money—if they were lucky enough to be cleared to use the PreCheck lanes without paying the $85 application fee.

                If you’re one of the people who has become accustomed to receiving Pre-Check without being enrolled in a Trusted Traveler program, it seems those times are over.

                If you’re not yet enrolled, your best bet is to sign up for Global Entry ($100) rather than TSA Pre-Check ($85). Both are valid for five years, and if you sign up for Global Entry you’ll also be included in TSA Pre-Check. As a reminder, here are the credit cards which offer Global Entry fee credits as a benefit.

                Bottom line

                This is bad news for those who weren’t in a Trusted Traveler program but were still getting Pre-Check frequently. As someone who has Global Entry, I’m really excited about this change, as it both means the Pre-Check lines will be shorter, and the people in those lines will hopefully have a better understanding of what’s going on.

                If you’ve flown this week, have you noticed shorter Pre-Check lines? How do you feel about this change?
                Luanne

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by gandalf252002 View Post
                  This has always confused me. I have NEXUS and use it frequently when driving back and forth between the US. Works great, and has been well worth the $50 I paid for it.

                  When it comes to flying it has been a mixed bag however. Apparently, I have to go to Toronto (not Port Huron / Detroit where I went for my initial interview) for IRIS scanning. I have to make an appointment to do it, and cannot just do it on one of the occasions I happen to already been in Toronto at the airport.

                  Where I get confused, is on one place it says that I can use Global Entry Kiosks and I have tried but then it tells me I have to have my fingerprints done. From what I can tell as well I have to pay separately for TSA pre-check but even on that I have seen conflicting evidence. Wondering if next time I am just better off signing up for Global Entry and not getting NEXUS or if I should pay the $150 and get both NEXUS and Global Entry.

                  I do not travel THAT frequently as it is only personal travel never professional and it will be even less over the coming years as the CAD dollar has tanked. However, it has saved a significant amount of time when driving to and from the US.
                  Yes, this is is a different program then nexus.

                  TSA PreCheck is strictly for security lines at participating airports and airlines. As an example, when I flew to China on Cathay Pacific, they do not participate in PreCheck so I was on the regular line. You are on a special line where (supposedly) everyone knows what they are doing and how to read the signs to go swiftly thru without taking off shoes, removing laptops and liquids and just generally knows the deal. When the people at the airport randomly put non TSA PreCheck peeps on the line, everything backs up because the people don't know what they are doing. Very Very Very annoying.
                  So I am really glad they are stopping this practice.

                  It will be interesting to see if they also stop giving frequent fliers like Christine a free ride thru the line.

                  Global entry is $100 for 5 years and is for expedited passage thru US Customs. Did not know that as a Canadian citizen you would be elite for this. You have to fill out a detailed form online, get approved and then go in for an interview and instructions. If you pass, they take your picture and fingerprint you. You are then able to use the GE machines. In NY, they have installed machines for the non Global Entry people but you still have to see an agent with your machine printed forms.
                  Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck.

                  HTHs

                  EDIT. Typed out my post before I saw Luanne's response. Yup, that's it!
                  Pat
                  *** My Website ***

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    We flew Thanksgiving week and had TSA precheck...never paid for the priviledge, but have that assignment almost every time I fly...so far.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I have also had that pre check on my boarding pass several times. But, since it isn't consistent, I will be gathering my documents and applying for the approval.
                      Don

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by grest View Post
                        We flew Thanksgiving week and had TSA precheck...never paid for the priviledge, but have that assignment almost every time I fly...so far.
                        So far is the key.

                        Dh and I were getting TSA precheck on a pretty regular basis. Then on one trip I got it and he didn't. That was when he decided to apply for Global Entry. It's $100 for 5 years as opposed to $85 for 5 years of just Precheck. The process was very easy. Most of it is done online, we just needed to go to the airport for the "interview", which took about 5 minutes. We planned our interviews on a day I had a flight, so we had reason to be there anyway.
                        Luanne

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Luanne View Post
                          Yes, it's the same thing. I can't remember where I saw it, as I said maybe I just made it up. I'm going to do some research.

                          Do you have priority with any airlines or credit card companies? Some of them offer, or provide TSA PreCheck.
                          Yes I have a Platinum card with AA which gets you Priority boarding and in their gates I get Priority TSA screening.
                          But I also have handicap access so that gets me to the front of the line for free.

                          Originally posted by GrayFal View Post
                          It will be interesting to see if they also stop giving frequent fliers like Christine a free ride thru the line.
                          Hey, hey! Don't be a TSA line jump hater! LOL.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Has anyone applied for Global Entry? Know how long the process takes? The past two years we have gotten the TSA pre-check no charge and really like it. But most of our flights are international and Global Entry is only $15 more so it makes more sense. The only drawback is no close airport for the interview.

                            Anyway, just applied and we have a trip coming up in January. Hoping we get approved by then.
                            Vicki

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by shorts View Post
                              Has anyone applied for Global Entry? Know how long the process takes? The past two years we have gotten the TSA pre-check no charge and really like it. But most of our flights are international and Global Entry is only $15 more so it makes more sense. The only drawback is no close airport for the interview.

                              Anyway, just applied and we have a trip coming up in January. Hoping we get approved by then.
                              Yes, I have Global entry.

                              If you applied, you can schedule your appt when you next fly.
                              I live 1.5 hours away from airport but they let you schedule when it is convenient to you.

                              To me, it is worth it.
                              I fly 8-10 times per year
                              Husband flies 4-6 times.
                              The Pre Check line is normally much shorter. And even if you fly 1-2 times per year internationally, it is a nice perk.
                              Pat
                              *** My Website ***

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X