MCO Reserve vs TSA

[Doingitagain]

We have a party of 5 adults, two children flying out of Orlando Saturday the Saturday before Easter. Six can go through TSA Precheck, but one adult cannot. looking for feedback on using TSA Precheck for four adults and two kids and then MCO Reserve for the other adult.

If we make appointments for all seven with MCO Reserve but then decide last minute to have part of the group go through TSA Precheck, is that an issue? What happens if you don’t use your MCO Reserve appointment?

 

[EACarlson]

You are talking about Precheck? Then this is a no brainer, the four adults and two kids go through Precheck and the poor soul that isn't eligible goes through Reserve by themselves. If everyone is on the same reservation, the person not Pre eligible may end up getting it anyway but don't count on it. There is no way I would subject anyone that is eligible for Pre to the standard security process, which is what you get when using Reserve.

 

[Doingitagain]

You are talking about Precheck? Then this is a no brainer, the four adults and two kids go through Precheck and the poor soul that isn't eligible goes through Reserve by themselves. If everyone is on the same reservation, the person not Pre eligible may end up getting it anyway but don't count on it. There is no way I would subject anyone that is eligible for Pre to the standard security process, which is what you get when using Reserve.

I was looking at the MCO Reserve powered by Clear, the free service where you make an appointment in advance and have a 40 minute time slot to go through a special shorter line. We thought that might be better than TSA Precheck, but I am not sure how the TSA Precheck lines are at MCO. We are from MSP and so many travelers are TSA Precheck that sometimes those lines are long, too. In comparing the two, it sounds like you recommend splitting up the group. Thanks!

 

[EACarlson]

ARE YOU REFERRING TO PRECHECK WHEN YOU SAY "TSA?"

TSA is a government agency that handles all airport security. Precheck is a voluntary program that you go through a background check to have expedited screening. They are not the same. Reserve still has you go through the standard TSA screening, the Precheck level of screening is not available using Reserve.
Depending on when the last time was you flew out of MSP Terminal 1, the fact that Precheck sometimes took longer than the standard lines was because of Clear, not any issues with Precheck. Until about 6 months ago, Precheck without Clear passengers would only be allowed through the ID checker if there were no Precheck with Clear passengers in line. Precheck with Clear now has it's own line and on many occasions Precheck without Clear is faster than Precheck with Clear since so many Delta frequent flyers get Clear for free or very cheap. Precheck with Clear also has it's own line at MCO.
I have a co worker that we fly out together almost every business trip to MCO, he has Precheck and Clear, I have Precheck. He is usually through TSA at MCO in about 8 minutes, I'm through in about 12. Normal security at that time us generally 45.
In my opinion, there is no way I am going to give up Precheck, to use Reserve. I really like not taking my electronics out of my bag, keeping my shoes on, going through the metal detector rather than the mm wave scanner, not having all of my toiletries in a one quart ziploc and not having to take that ziploc out for them to screen separately.
My recommendation is to have the one knucklehead that doesn't have Precheck to sign up for it before your trip. It's now down to $78 for five years and many credit cards will pay for it. There are four enrollment centers in the Minneapolis area, Bloomington, MSP, Little Canada and Fridley. Precheck can be received in as little as two days from application.

 

[_19disnA]

Another advantage for those approved for TSA pre-check is you are standing in line with other frequent travelers who know the security procedures so things tend to move faster. The regular security lines always seems to have people who act like this is their first time at an airport or that the security procedures don't apply to them which slows down the line for everyone else.

 

[Doingitagain]

ARE YOU REFERRING TO PRECHECK WHEN YOU SAY "TSA?"

Yes, I edited the post to make it clear for others. Thank you for your thoughts, they were helpful.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I was looking at the MCO Reserve powered by Clear, the free service where you make an appointment in advance and have a 40 minute time slot to go through a special shorter line. We thought that might be better than TSA Precheck, but I am not sure how the TSA Precheck lines are at MCO. We are from MSP and so many travelers are TSA Precheck that sometimes those lines are long, too. In comparing the two, it sounds like you recommend splitting up the group. Thanks!

It is not. Clear reserve will take longer
I was reading on Clear Reserve today at MCO and it says anyone with PreCheck is not eligible to use it

 

[Doingitagain]

It is not. Clear reserve will take longer
I was reading on Clear Reserve today at MCO and it says anyone with PreCheck is not eligible to use it
View attachment 744610

I thought that meant you could still use it, but as a regular passenger where you have to take out liquids, take off shoes, etc.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I thought that meant you could still use it, but as a regular passenger where you have to take out liquids, take off shoes, etc.

not sure
that doesn’t say anything about using it but going through regular security
it says it’s not available for those passengers.

i know clear mentions anyone can use it
MCO put that there for some reason
maybe MCO said that due to volume?

 

[_19disnA]

I take the restriction statement above to mean you can't reserve a time if using the TSA pre-check line, but it could be worded more clearly. Typically the lines for TSA pre-check aren't that long which means you have no reason/advantage trying to reserve a time.

 

[mmouse50]

Out of 7 passengers - I am the only one that has Pre Check but I have my 13 year on my reservation (the rest have their own reservations) so I am assuming that his boarding pass will say Pre Check also. I was going to sign up the others on the reserve.clearme website for our return flight out of MCO on Columbus day weekend, but trying to decide - do I sign up the 13 year old to go through MCO reserve with the rest of the party or will his boarding pass have pre-check on it because he is on the reservation with me?

 

[teawar]

Out of 7 passengers - I am the only one that has Pre Check but I have my 13 year on my reservation (the rest have their own reservations) so I am assuming that his boarding pass will say Pre Check also. I was going to sign up the others on the reserve.clearme website for our return flight out of MCO on Columbus day weekend, but trying to decide - do I sign up the 13 year old to go through MCO reserve with the rest of the party or will his boarding pass have pre-check on it because he is on the reservation with me?

My daughter’s ticket never says “precheck” on it, but I have precheck, so she goes through with me.

Here is an article I found about children and precheck. https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/can-kids-use-tsa-precheck-with-their-parents-sometimes-heres-how-to-know#:~:text=If%20you're%20a%20parent,as%20you're%20with%20them.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Out of 7 passengers - I am the only one that has Pre Check but I have my 13 year on my reservation (the rest have their own reservations) so I am assuming that his boarding pass will say Pre Check also. I was going to sign up the others on the reserve.clearme website for our return flight out of MCO on Columbus day weekend, but trying to decide - do I sign up the 13 year old to go through MCO reserve with the rest of the party or will his boarding pass have pre-check on it because he is on the reservation with me?

There’s no guarantee that kids with get it just because you do. At 13 they are supposed to have their own not go through with you. We got out 13 yo signed up for her own. We traveled with her friend recently and did get lucky that she got precheck on hers. I’d have a back up plan just in case your teen doesn’t get it so yes I’d sign them up with the others to be safe. Though you can always opt to use the regular line yourself if they don’t get precheck

 

[EACarlson]

Out of 7 passengers - I am the only one that has Pre Check but I have my 13 year on my reservation (the rest have their own reservations) so I am assuming that his boarding pass will say Pre Check also. I was going to sign up the others on the reserve.clearme website for our return flight out of MCO on Columbus day weekend, but trying to decide - do I sign up the 13 year old to go through MCO reserve with the rest of the party or will his boarding pass have pre-check on it because he is on the reservation with me?

I would book a Reserve time and cancel it if he has Pre on his boarding pass. He is more likely to have Pre on his boarding pass because you have it, somewhere in the 75% category. Getting him his own Pre number will move that to 99%.

My daughter’s ticket never says “precheck” on it, but I have precheck, so she goes through with me.

Here is an article I found about children and precheck. https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/can-kids-use-tsa-precheck-with-their-parents-sometimes-heres-how-to-know#:~:text=If%20you're%20a%20parent,as%20you're%20with%20them.

If you're daughter is over 12, they should not be allowed in to the Pre line without Pre on their boarding pass. 12 or below, that is how the program is supposed to work. That article is flat wrong, as a poster here confirmed directly from TSA. That article glommed onto one sentence of a 9 paragraph press release just before Memorial day and the start of the summer travel season. No change to policy has been made. If you're teenager has Pre on their boarding pass they get to use Pre, if they don't, they don't.

 

[ClapYourHands]

My daughter’s ticket never says “precheck” on it, but I have precheck, so she goes through with me.

Here is an article I found about children and precheck. https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/can-kids-use-tsa-precheck-with-their-parents-sometimes-heres-how-to-know#:~:text=If%20you're%20a%20parent,as%20you're%20with%20them.

If your daughter is 12 or under, she doesn’t need precheck. If she is 13-17, she needs precheck on her boarding pass to use it. While teens on the same reservation will usually be included, there’s no guarantee, and they could be “randomly excluded” and have to use the regular screening, per this article directly from the TSA website.
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Arti... the ages of,indicator on their boarding pass.

Interestingly, I just flew with 6 kids and another adult, and I’m the only one with a KTN. On both legs, I checked in on a computer, and the printed boarding passes had TSA Precheck on all except for the other adult. When I pulled up our e-boarding passes on the airline app, only mine had the precheck logo. Obviously I chose to use the paper copies in the airport.

 

[Lewisc]

ARE YOU REFERRING TO PRECHECK WHEN YOU SAY "TSA?"

TSA is a government agency that handles all airport security. Precheck is a voluntary program that you go through a background check to have expedited screening. They are not the same. Reserve still has you go through the standard TSA screening, the Precheck level of screening is not available using Reserve.
Depending on when the last time was you flew out of MSP Terminal 1, the fact that Precheck sometimes took longer than the standard lines was because of Clear, not any issues with Precheck. Until about 6 months ago, Precheck without Clear passengers would only be allowed through the ID checker if there were no Precheck with Clear passengers in line. Precheck with Clear now has it's own line and on many occasions Precheck without Clear is faster than Precheck with Clear since so many Delta frequent flyers get Clear for free or very cheap. Precheck with Clear also has it's own line at MCO.
I have a co worker that we fly out together almost every business trip to MCO, he has Precheck and Clear, I have Precheck. He is usually through TSA at MCO in about 8 minutes, I'm through in about 12. Normal security at that time us generally 45.
In my opinion, there is no way I am going to give up Precheck, to use Reserve. I really like not taking my electronics out of my bag, keeping my shoes on, going through the metal detector rather than the mm wave scanner, not having all of my toiletries in a one quart ziploc and not having to take that ziploc out for them to screen separately.
My recommendation is to have the one knucklehead that doesn't have Precheck to sign up for it before your trip. It's now down to $78 for five years and many credit cards will pay for it. There are four enrollment centers in the Minneapolis area, Bloomington, MSP, Little Canada and Fridley. Precheck can be received in as little as two days from application.

You make a good point.
Devils Advocate position TSA pre at MCO will save you less then an hour; probably 20 - 40 minutes. It will take more then that amount of time to go through the TSA pre enrollment process. Does it still require an in person interview?

A pax who is very sure they won't be taking any other flights could make the case to suck it up and wait at MCO. Maybe book the Reserve.

Edited to add I'd get precheck even if I didn't think I'd be flying. Spending time and money getting pre will make for a better experience at MCO security.

 

[EACarlson]

You make a good point.
Devils Advocate position TSA pre at MCO will save you less then an hour; probably 20 - 40 minutes. It will take more then that amount of time to go through the TSA pre enrollment process. Does it still require an in person interview?

A pax who is very sure they won't be taking any other flights could make the case to suck it up and wait at MCO. Maybe book the Reserve.

Edited to add I'd get precheck even if I didn't think I'd be flying. Spending time and money getting pre will make for a better experience at MCO security.

Not an interview, an in person docs check and fingerprints are required. If you were certain you wouldn't take any other flights in the next five years, then I agree it would make sense to book reserve. If you fly once a year or once every two years I would still go for Pre.