TSA Pre Approval Screening

The other day my wife and I experienced the TSA Pre Approval Screening for our very first time and I really was pleased with the entire process.

It was more like the old days of flying where we did not have to remove shoes nor the small liquid bags nor the computers from our carry on bags. It just made things so much easier.

My wife was one of the random ones chosen so after she went through the initial security she was asked to go for one more check involving another TSA Agent who wiped the special paper on each of her palms and ran it through to determine if there was any explosive residue on her hands. It took no more than a minute and then the agent said all is fine.

It brought back the older days of flying until we stepped on the plane and were again reminded that air travel is not what it used to be in terms of service and food but it was certainly much easier this time around than in years.

I am one of those who will go along with whatever is asked of us if it will make us safer.

Happy New Year.

Keith

You're right, air travel isn't what it used to be. Most of us can afford it these days ;)

The other day my wife and I experienced the TSA Pre Approval Screening for our very first time and I really was pleased with the entire process.

 

It was more like the old days of flying where we did not have to remove shoes nor the small liquid bags nor the computers from our carry on bags. It just made things so much easier.

 

My wife was one of the random ones chosen so after she went through the initial security she was asked to go for one more check involving another TSA Agent who wiped the special paper on each of her palms and ran it through to determine if there was any explosive residue on her hands. It took no more than a minute and then the agent said all is fine.

 

It brought back the older days of flying until we stepped on the plane and were again reminded that air travel is not what it used to be in terms of service and food but it was certainly much easier this time around than in years.

 

I am one of those who will go along with whatever is asked of us if it will make us safer.

 

Happy New Year.

 

Keith

Keith

The TSA Pre Check program is great. They just added like 40 new airports - Sacramento got it, Providence RI, quite a few now. It really is worth it to sign up for it

The bad part is when TSA sends "average" traveler to the Pre-Check line. And that causes it to bog down when they aren't aware of how PC works.

The bad part is when TSA sends "average" traveler to the Pre-Check line. And that causes it to bog down when they aren't aware of how PC works.

Actually it is a great time for us more experienced travelers to engage them and teach them. Point out the signs that no one reads about what to do, tell them they can keep their shoes on, etc.

Many frequent travelers feel it is their and only their right to have expedited screening, which unfortunately is a warped and DYKWIA attitude.

Easy to engage the person right in front or behind you....not when it's the couple three or four persons ahead.

Also, you would not believe the response attitude from those you might "help". Can you say "keep to yourself"? So, you do.

Also, you would not believe the response attitude from those you might "help". Can you say "keep to yourself"? So, you do.

Totally agree. It's not my job to educate the public and they don't listen anyway. If they can't read huge signs and listen to TSA agents telling them they don't have to remove coats/shoes or take their laptops out, why would they listen to me?

Just did a lot of traveling over the last few weeks, and there were people who had precheck who had no idea what to do. They help up the entire line every time. Kind of defeats the purpose.

I don't have all the answers but the bottom line is that I was thrilled with the new system.

Sure, a guy in front of me seemed a little clueless as he took his shoes off and just seemed confused but that is life when you travel with other people. Even with him being a bit slow we went through quickly and again I was happy not to take off shoes, take out computers as well as the bag containing liquid items. To me all positive.

Keith

As far as the "I'll do anything TSA asks if it makes me safer": Nothing the TSA does makes us any safer. It's a dog-and-pony show designed to give the infrequent traveling public the impression of what they are doing makes them safer. As we are now finally getting away from the 2001 hysteria, the scanning process is moving back to what was done - the old mag&bag process… JMHO.

There needs to be another kind of line, like they tried with the "diamond" and "family" lanes. Those who are credentialed Trusted Travelers and those who are randomly selected. Let the TTs breeze through the line and let those who do not understand the process/ won't/can't listen to the TSA clerks and barkers who shout at them to keep shoes on, keep the Kippie Bag in the bag, etc., take their time. I fly out of an airport where there are lots of families traveling - it is annoying when a family gets selected and they take FARRR too long to get their act together for mom, dad and the 5 kids...

Actually it is a great time for us more experienced travelers to engage them and teach them. Point out the signs that no one reads about what to do, tell them they can keep their shoes on, etc.

Good luck with that; I gave up a long time ago. One example that sticks in mind (among many): Wasn't Pre-Check, just a regular line before Pre-Check was available at my home airport, and I was behind 2 ladies who were holding things up because one was searching desperately in her big tote bag for her phone. Why? Because she thought it had to go separately in a bin, like a laptop. I was right behind them and couldn't help overhearing so I told her, and very nicely I might add, that cell phones could stay in the bag, and all that had to come out was liquids and laptops. They both looked at me like I was from Mars and couldn't possibly know what I was talking about. She kept searching, kept holding up the line. So again, very nicely, I said I was a frequent flyer and I really could assure her that her cell phone was fine IN the bag. She completely ignored me. She had it in her head that all electronics must come out and go in a bin by themselves and nothing I said was going to change her mind. After that and several other similar incidents I gave up trying to help.

I won't ever worry about which line I get in because I absolutely refuse to participate in any more of TSA/DHS goofy security plans and give the government any more info than they absolutely have to have.

After all the hassle we went through 3-4 years ago trying to get TWIC cards (port entry cards) for some of our drivers and DHS just couldn't seem to get the paperwork processed after 6-8 months, I said no more for these silly "security" games that mean little and don't work very well.

Just a couple of examples-DHS allows non TWIC drivers to "hire" a port escort that has a TWIC card. So some driver gets in the truck with the non TWIC driver, clears port security with his TWIC card. And BOOOM!!! The non TWIC driver was a terrorist and the TWIC escort only opened the trailer and saw a bunch of boxes that were marked "FROZEN FOOD".

It hasn't happened yet but it sure could-very, very easily, particularly in Gloucester PA (Philly port) and Newark which are WIDE open to just about anyone.

And the airports are now allowing just about anyone into the cargo bays. We had a truck break down on Thursday. Only had a couple of small pallets that our customer wanted sent on Delta to Atlanta. So we stuck all the boxes in the back of one of my employees pickups and he drove them to LGA. I thought we MIGHT have a problem getting them into the airport with that vehicle so I was prepared with all the paperwork, manifest numbers, etc. in addition to what Miguel had with him. We don't do much Atlanta business so I was going to call the shipper for help if needed.

90 minutes later, Miguel walked back into our office. No one asked for a darn thing to get him into the Delta cargo bays. He just told the security guard he had a delivery. No paperwork was looked at, no driver's license was asked for. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Could that pickup have gone BOOOM??? You betcha.

Let's all hear it for security.

I am very happy with the TSA Approval Screening.

Didn't have to do a thing to participate other than essentially say yes when we were asked about it awhile back from the airline we fly frequently. My wife was not asked but since she was traveling with me she had it on her boarding pass. Very easy and I am happy it is now in place.

Keith

Flying at T-giving my boarding pass was checked TSA approved but DH's wasn't (same booking and he's even more senior than me). He beat me through security because there were several lines for him to use and just one for me (CLE-United concourse). We both had it on the return flight for that trip.

Just got back from a SWA r/t. Outbound no TSA approval for us, but homebound there was.

Our first experience with the benefit of TSA approval was in October at CLE when we were given yellow cards by the TSA agent checking our ID & boarding passes, and sent to the pre-approved line.

Totally agree. It's not my job to educate the public and they don't listen anyway. If they can't read huge signs and listen to TSA agents telling them they don't have to remove coats/shoes or take their laptops out, why would they listen to me?

 

Just did a lot of traveling over the last few weeks, and there were people who had precheck who had no idea what to do. They help up the entire line every time. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Fine, then it is also not our job to b!tch about such people on travel forums :D (and the signs I have seen in the Pre Check line about what to do were anything but huge). Here are FT are great places for b!tching!

Fine, then it is also not our job to b!tch about such people on travel forums :D (and the signs I have seen in the Pre Check line about what to do were anything but huge). Here are FT are great places for b!tching!

The world in not one gigantic kumbaya moment, either existing or just around the corner. Reality doesn't care about anything - it just exists and we need to know how to deal with it. And if saying that inexperienced travelers are jamming up the pre-check lines, well, in my book, that's a statement of fact, not "bitching".

Have a nice day with your unicorns and rainbows and unrealistic expectations.

Fine, then it is also not our job to b!tch about such people on travel forums :D (and the signs I have seen in the Pre Check line about what to do were anything but huge). Here are FT are great places for b!tching!

Neither you nor I get to arbitrate what it is our "job" to do on travel forums. Pre check started as a method to expedite the security process for experienced flyers. Ever watch a true road warrior go through security? They have the choreography down perfect. Neither a motion nor a second wasted.

OTOH, the once-a-year (or less) flyer may have some limited general knowledge about the drill: remove the shoes, small liquids in kippie bags, no water bottles (oops), no gels (yes, that big jar of peanut butter is a gel), take out the computer, etc. It's not easy to re-train those infrequent flyers -- and why should it be? The rules may have changed by the next time they fly.

Passing through airport security is just a fact of life for flyers. Sure, I still will go a few steps further to the precheck line - it's usually, but not always, a smoother process. Explaining or pointing out the "but not always" is not complaining, it's just painting an accurate picture. No exclamation points substituting for letters required.

The pre approval process is quite good and while anything can be improved for my wife and myself it made it very easy go get through security and that even included them doing the extra check on her. And, as I mentioned, we had someone in front of us, who was confused but in spite of that it was much easier and we didn't have to deal with removing all of those items from our carry on and putting them back. And if my wife was not checked a second time and if the guy in front of me knew what he was doing it would have been even faster but we were still very happy.

Keith

My husband and I went today to my appointment for enrolling in Pre Check. After the local paper announced that new centers were open, it was extremely tough getting an appointment in the Wash. DC area. I had to keep trying until I got a slot that appeared at random (probably a cancelation). My husband had to make one for 2 weeks later. Today was my appointment, and my husband went with me in case there was no line for walk-ins and/or they would take him as well as me. Imagine my surprise when there were 2 people working there with NOBODY in line! We breezed through, with the first person taking me and the other person taking my husband. By the time we were done (in about 10 minutes) 4 more people had walked in, but I would guess that at most, each waited for no more than 10 minutes to get their turn.

All in all, the process was incredibly fast and simple. It took more time to make the appointments (trying on different dates) and it took longer to drive to my appointment (45 minutes) than it did for 2 of us to enroll. Now we're waiting for our numbers so we can see if the lines and process at BWI (Baltimore) will be easier and quicker.

Oh, and to those who like to complain about being delayed at security, the last time I flew (home from Heathrow), British security was no better. My husband was flagged and had to wait at least 10 minutes until someone even LOOKED in his bags. As for the government asking questions they shouldn't ask, I didn't see any evidence of that at all. What WAS asked was to the point, and none of it seemed the least bit intrusive. Does TSA have a right to ask if I've ever been charged with a gun violation? Yes, I think so. Do I care if an employee sees a rather vague scan of my body? No. Do I expect every TSA employee to catch every single prohibited thing that goes through a scanner? No, not at the volume and pace that things go through. (Do I expect every pilot to land his/her plane at the right airport? Hhmm...not sure of my answer on that one!)

This thread is interesting. On our last trip thru the US we were selected for Pre Check at two different airports (on our boarding pass). I checked and we don't qualify under any of the criteria shown on the TSA or Airline website. I understand that the websites are not exactly 'up to date', so am not complaining. Got lucky? Maybe - but the lines were not long anywhere, so... less hastle, but no real time savings for us.

This thread is interesting. On our last trip thru the US we were selected for Pre Check at two different airports (on our boarding pass). I checked and we don't qualify under any of the criteria shown on the TSA or Airline website. I understand that the websites are not exactly 'up to date', so am not complaining. Got lucky? Maybe - but the lines were not long anywhere, so... less hastle, but no real time savings for us.

Here is part of TSA web site that explains eligibility, although you may have to drill down a bit:

http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/application-program

Basically, you do not need to be a frequent flyer or anything like that, just a law-abiding citizen who enrolls in the program. When we got to the enrollment center, they had laminated copies explaining the eligibility criteria, and made sure we were familiar with the criteria. I believe the program was expanded in December. Are you saying you never enrolled, but you had Pre Check specified on your boarding pass? Is it possible that the program was in the testing phase at that point, using frequent flyers, or that the eligibility rules have changed recently?

What is happening is that at some airports, TSA is sending folks who have NOT been pre-approved over to the Pre-Check line. On a "random" basis, and usually when the Pre-Check line is short to non-existent.

My own two kopeks is that TSA is doing this to utilize the lane equipment, again on a "random" basis, and reduce the lines at the "regular" lanes. Which sorta defeats the whole concept of the "trusted traveler" if random choices are made that result in reduced screening for "non-trusted".

Much like the new CBP kiosk that I used at SEA last week. No need for Global Entry, just walk to the kiosk, scan the passport, hit the "All no" button and off you go with a receipt. They didn't even look at or take the blue customs form. No face to face, just a machine. Let's hear it for secure borders.

Are you saying you never enrolled, but you had Pre Check specified on your boarding pass? Is it possible that the program was in the testing phase at that point, using frequent flyers, or that the eligibility rules have changed recently?

Don't know if the rules have been relaxed recently, but... I'm not a FF nor a US citizen, nor have I applied for enrollment. But Pre Check was printed on my boarding pass. The airline site states you must be enrolled in their FF plan to even hope to get randomly selected for this program. Duh ???

If you are a US citizen and have to pay, isn't Global Entry a better option than TSA pre-screen (since TSA prescreen is covered) and both are good for 5 years and about the same cost?

Is TSA prescreen an easier process?

I noticed Global Entry can be used entering Australia and that is where we are going in March.

If you are a US citizen and have to pay, isn't Global Entry a better option than TSA pre-screen (since TSA prescreen is covered) and both are good for 5 years and about the same cost?

 

Is TSA prescreen an easier process?

 

I noticed Global Entry can be used entering Australia and that is where we are going in March.

I go to Australia a few times each year, and have Global Entry...but I love collecting stamps. So I'll wait for the guy/girl at Australian immigration, which has never taken me more than 10 minutes. Even then, I usually beat my bag out to the carousel ;)

I go to Australia a few times each year, and have Global Entry...but I love collecting stamps. So I'll wait for the guy/girl at Australian immigration, which has never taken me more than 10 minutes. Even then, I usually beat my bag out to the carousel ;)

I never thought about the passport stamp.