Stupid TSA precheck question

[zoo2tycoon]

I have not applied for TSA precheck- plan on doing this year (getting with global entry). On my past two SW flights I have gotten TSA precheck-

Very stupidly I am asking how do they assign this? No complaints but wondering.

 

[EACarlson]

my understanding is computer algorithm. Direct reply from TSA
"In addition to providing TSA Pre✓® eligibility through U.S. Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler programs, we use intelligence-driven, risk-based procedures to identify low-risk passengers for TSA Pre✓® screening on a flight-by-flight basis. Therefore, you may be selected for TSA Pre✓® even if you have not applied for a DHS trusted traveler program."

There is some speculation that DHS is trying to get more people to sign up for Pre check, and this is sort of a free preview. My wife and I are both signing up for Global Entry before we fly to WDW in Nov.

 

[jec6613]

Not a dumb question at all, especially since the real answer has been buried for more than a decade and the TSA doesn't tell the truth. Randomly from eligible people. It used to be risk profile though, but that went away (though they still say they use it) because of profiling complaints. The TSA after all is primarily security theater, to make you feel safe and make terrorists not want to risk it, as opposed to actual security like Ben-Gurion. And they've been successful as a deterrent so I can't complain too much.

Anybody with sufficient traffic on a single airline can be submitted by the airline as potentially eligible for TSA Pre. AA does it at Gold level or a 5 year AAdvantage account, but each airline has their own formula. Based on the load projection and staffing levels, the night before a certain number of Pre slots are available. When that exceeds the number of people with known traveler IDs, they pick randomly from the submitted pool by airlines. This means that without a known traveler ID, you will not get Pre unless you are booked onto the flight the night before, by the way.

WN heavy airports tend to have very few TSA Pre or Global Entry fliers, as frequent fliers almost always fly legacy airlines, so you're statistically more likely to end up in the TSA Pre line.​

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Thanks! I’m spoiled now so going to apply next week!

 

[jec6613]

Two quick tips for getting it: the first is that if you have a passport, just get Global Entry, it gives you TSA Pre as well and costs the same, but gives your priority at virtually every US border crossing and transportation method. The second is check your credit card benefits, because on the higher tier cards with annual fees that are travel oriented, a frequent benefit is them reimbursing your GE or Pre fees if you use the card for them.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Thanks for tips

 

[georgina]

Two quick tips for getting it: the first is that if you have a passport, just get Global Entry, it gives you TSA Pre as well and costs the same, but gives your priority at virtually every US border crossing and transportation method. The second is check your credit card benefits, because on the higher tier cards with annual fees that are travel oriented, a frequent benefit is them reimbursing your GE or Pre fees if you use the card for them.

Not exactly the same cost - precheck is $85, GE is $100. I know plenty of people who don't travel internationally and wouldn't need to pay the extra $15. (Those people also don't have expensive credit cards.)

 

[jec6613]

Not exactly the same cost - precheck is $85, GE is $100. I know plenty of people who don't travel internationally and wouldn't need to pay the extra $15. (Those people also don't have expensive credit cards.)

Ahh, they used to be the same when I went through it a few years ago.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks! I’m spoiled now so going to apply next week!

If you live near a Canadian border, consider nexus!! It’s cheaper than the other options and it gives you nexus, GE, and precheck. And it’s free for minors.

It’s just a bit more work (you interview with both US and Canadian officers) and a longer wait for the appointment.

 

[EACarlson]

Two quick tips for getting it: the first is that if you have a passport, just get Global Entry, it gives you TSA Pre as well and costs the same, but gives your priority at virtually every US border crossing and transportation method. The second is check your credit card benefits, because on the higher tier cards with annual fees that are travel oriented, a frequent benefit is them reimbursing your GE or Pre fees if you use the card for them.

GE is great if you just might go out of the country. My biggest issue with it is that there aren't as many interview locations as for Pre. It's 35 minutes from my house to the nearest location that does Pre, it's an hour and a half to a location that does GE. I'm still going to be applying for it as soon as my passport shows up but we are also considering a European or Caribbean trip at some point in the next couple of years.

Navy Federal Flagship card offers the benefit with a $49 annual fee, it also has no charge for authorized users and includes a credit for each authorized user as well.

 

[Lilsia]

I don't know how they assign it, but both of my kids have been getting pre-check for years, but not us. Not like I will send my kids through the line alone.

 

[jec6613]

I don't know how they assign it, but both of my kids have been getting pre-check for years, but not us. Not like I will send my kids through the line alone.

Under 12/Over 75 get it automatically in most cases since 2012-ish.

 

[Lilsia]

Under 12/Over 75 get it automatically in most cases since 2012-ish.

But my kids get it into their teens. Our last flight with them was this past fall when they were 16&17 and they still got it.

 

[AngiTN]

We got it for free on our second ever flight. So we weren't regulars or with status with anyone.
That was the only time we ever got it free.
And that was enough for us to know we wanted it
Signed up for it shortly after we decided we no longer wanted to drive to Disney