Anyone have experience with TSA Cares?

[herrmannpt]

I have read that you can request assistance to get through security at the airport through TSA cares. We are traveling in early June with a total of 11 people. My immediate family of 4 includes a 12yo son with Autism. My husband and I have TSA PreCheck, and that has helped in the past to have the shorter line, not take shoes off, etc. My mother, who has some health and anxiety issues, will be with us and will bringing her own personal mobility scooter. I assume she won't be able to use PreCheck with us. I feel she will struggle in the long regular TSA lines at MCO. Has anyone used TSA Cares that can provide their experience? Maybe we should all use it together so we don't have to separate? Advice appreciated!

 

[murmer]

I have used it for my daughter with autism and mental health needs (including elopement risk, need to limit lines and an intense fear of metal detectors). It varies according to airport but was has helped us. I always try to call ahead but when flights have been cancelled we have sent one person up to ask for a passenger support specialist who has been able to help us. I don’t know how it works for mobility vs invisible need. Orlando does sometimes have a special line for those with wheelchairs.

 

[SueM in MN]

We‘ve used TSA cares about 5 or 6 times. We set it up by filling out the form on the TSA Cares website. There is also a short video about the service.

The services vary from airport to airport - we’ve not had good luck in Orlando, but our home airport has been good (except one time when the TSA Cares agent didn’t get our information in time).
My DD uses a wheelchair and can’t walk or stand. The TSA Cares officer helps to get her wheelchair thru to the other side of the screening area, finding a female screener for a pat dow, helps us get our bags onto the belt for the X-ray machine. They also my daughter’s medical liquids to be tested without going thru the X-ray machine and kind of watched everything to help the screening to go smoothly.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have read that you can request assistance to get through security at the airport through TSA cares. We are traveling in early June with a total of 11 people. My immediate family of 4 includes a 12yo son with Autism. My husband and I have TSA PreCheck, and that has helped in the past to have the shorter line, not take shoes off, etc. My mother, who has some health and anxiety issues, will be with us and will bringing her own personal mobility scooter. I assume she won't be able to use PreCheck with us. I feel she will struggle in the long regular TSA lines at MCO. Has anyone used TSA Cares that can provide their experience? Maybe we should all use it together so we don't have to separate? Advice appreciated!

I would plan that she won’t be able to use PreCheck with you.

My DH, DD and I do have PreCheck and have traveled with other family members who did not have it. We‘ve been told everyone needs to have PreCheck printed on their ticket to use the PreCheck line, even if using TSA Cares.

 

[Disneylvr]

We have used TSA Cares in our local airport, STL and at MCO. At STL we called them 15 before arrival at the airport and the agent met us as the security checkpoint. They escorted us all the way through security and to the gate. They were very kind and gentle patting my daughter down (she can't follow directions through a scanner) while telling her what they were going to do before they touched her. They screened us in a more private area. STL was great! MCO, not so much. No one met us upon arrival. We had to request an agent at the security checkpoint and it took a long long time for one to arrive.