No REAL ID? That'll be $18.

[kanne323]

O can sympathize....The Springfield MVC made me cry so much. Last time I was there you had to pay for parking, but there was a 2 hour limit. I had to go out to put more money in the meter. I had been waiting for 2 hours with 2 toddlers by that time. I was told that if they happened to call my name while I was out putting money in the meter, I would lose my spot. The choice was hold your spot or risk getting a ticket (and they did have parking enforcers). I ended up having to hire a babysitter and come back another day. Never again! Thank goodness I live in FL now. We have such a fast and efficient DMV here.

Uggggghhhhhhh I forgot they charge for parking there! That's right! And 2 hours would be a short experience there. I had a bad experience at the Rahway MCV when I first moved to NJ, and Springfield was technically the closest, so it was usually my go-to. But sometime about 4-5 years before I left NJ, I discovered the Randolph MVC was a better option, even if a further drive. I always heard that the Somerset (maybe? I'm blanking on towns near there now, one of the towns in that area) was amazing compared to all of the rest, but I never tried it. The BMV here in Maine has been a dream compared to NJ. No paying for parking, appointment times mean something, and the workers are nice.

 

[mjkacmom]

Uggggghhhhhhh I forgot they charge for parking there! That's right! And 2 hours would be a short experience there. I had a bad experience at the Rahway MCV when I first moved to NJ, and Springfield was technically the closest, so it was usually my go-to. But sometime about 4-5 years before I left NJ, I discovered the Randolph MVC was a better option, even if a further drive. I always heard that the Somerset (maybe? I'm blanking on towns near there now, one of the towns in that area) was amazing compared to all of the rest, but I never tried it. The BMV here in Maine has been a dream compared to NJ. No paying for parking, appointment times mean something, and the workers are nice.

We are Wayne, not pretty but close. My youngest got their licenses in January 2020, when it was really getting bad, took the test in Randolph because they couldn’t get into Wayne, passed at noon but couldn’t get their licenses that day because lines were too long and they were closing at 4. Went to wallington at 8 am the next day and were license holders by noon.

 

[bluezy]

Since we've gotten pre-check at least at airports where it's run in a functional manner we don't look at it so much as saving time but for not having to take things out of our bags.

At our home airport pre-check most of the time is about the same time or only a smidge less than normal line. But the security is, especially as the new terminal (de facto new airport) has had time to get the kinks out) is much less volume than other airports can be. With being able to not worry about liquids, laptops, kindles and majority of the year light jackets it's just an overall easier process in pre-check. The shoes is a relatively new thing but that was also good about pre-check. Clear customers at our home airport is minimal so it's not usually too many "cut to the front" that we see.

As time goes on especially if they get the machines to work better that allow people to not have to take things out of their bags pre-check will start to lose more value but it was always more than just not having to take your shoes off.

When we were flying out of Atlanta in September back to our home airport that is probably the single worst experience we've had thus far in pre-check (which we've had now for several years). They were the most incompetent I've seen even worse than Chicago was in the pre-check. They were using the newer and very slow machines which add on time but it was a big issue with line management and everyone was really starting to grumble about how they were doing it because it was clearly not efficient.

Back when pre-check was newer and before more credit cards covered it yes the amount of time it took you to get through could be a significant difference at more higher volume airports but it's been a while since that's been the case so I don't think it's the best to compare just wait times. Pre-check has evolved in number of people who have it, regular TSA has evolved in what security procedures are being used and eventually pre-check will need to figure out what perks will be over the years.

That said most of the stories you hear about really backed up security lines at the airport is that for those who didn't have pre-check it was almost assuredly they missed their flight.

I think that even not taking things out of the bag has become less of an advantage for pre check. I flew through PHL & SAN a few months ago and didn't need to take liquids out of my bags at either airport. My DIL flies numerous times a year and hasn't had to do that in ages. And even having to take her laptop out, she still sometimes gets through faster than her husband who has pre-check. I know a lot depends on the specific airport and the particular agents working at the time as well. And also how prepared the people ahead of you in line are.