SWA and TSA Precheck

[Coastie]

I am a frequent flyer and have had TSA Pre-check since inception with nearly 500k miles in the last few years. Over the last year, because of mostly domestic flights, I decided to try SWA. However, I noticed even if my ticket has TSA Pre, when I go to the TSA precheck desk, the TSA agent tells me my ticket does do scan as being approved. This has happened the last 2 trips to Orlando and has ONLY happened with SWA ticketed flights. I have never had this issue with United or Jetblue. With my wife paying for TSA pre, this is unsatisfactory.

Has any else experienced this?

 

[LegoMom3]

Well, first of all, TSA is independent of any airline, so this shouldn't be a SWA issue. Not sure why it is suddenly happening.

Also, I wasn't aware that one can "pay" for TSA pre-check?? That would seem to defeat the purpose of it, if anyone can get it simply by paying extra. I thought it was designated to certain flyers who, for whatever reason, pose less of a perceived risk by TSA, thereby allowing them a quicker and easier trip through security. (and I'm genuinely curious about this, not trying to be snooty!!.... do you pay to get a full background check or something similar? I've just never heard of that option).

FWIW, I've gotten it a couple of times (as has my DS14), always fly SWA, and never had a problem with my ticket.

.

 

[Gracie09]

Well, first of all, TSA is independent of any airline, so this shouldn't be a SWA issue. Not sure why it is suddenly happening.

Also, I wasn't aware that one can "pay" for TSA pre-check?? That would seem to defeat the purpose of it, if anyone can get it simply by paying extra. I thought it was designated to certain flyers who, for whatever reason, pose less of a perceived risk by TSA, thereby allowing them a quicker and easier trip through security. (and I'm genuinely curious about this, not trying to be snooty!!.... do you pay to get a full background check or something similar? I've just never heard of that option).

FWIW, I've gotten it a couple of times (as has my DS14), always fly SWA, and never had a problem with my ticket.

.

There is a program where you can pay for the TSA (I think) to do a background check etc so you can use the pre-check line. Its the trusted traveller program .
However, you are not guaranteed to always be able to by pass the line.

I would contact sw and make sure your pre check number is correct in your profile with them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is your KTN in your Southwest profile, and are you including it when you make your SWA reservation? http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/frequently-asked-questions

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There are two ways to get TSA Pre besides being randomly selected; Global Entry or application to TSA Pre:

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

http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about

Make sure you give your airline your Known Traveler Number if you are accepted into these programs.

OP, I have no idea what's going on. If your boarding pass says TSA Pre, you should be able to use the TSA Pre line.

 

[bumbershoot]

Make sure you give your airline your Known Traveler Number if you are accepted into these programs.

Every time, with every checkin.

DH's global entry number is in all of his airline accounts, but with Alaska and United if he doesn't enter it in during online checkin, he won't get Pre. When we go back and redo it, including the number, he gets it. Don't know why it doesn't autopopulate!

 

[formill]

I have no idea why 4 of us were selected this past Sunday to go through different procedure at MCO......we were guided down different line......I was asked to have my hands swabbed for explosives.....my husband and 2 kids were not then we were told none of us had to take our shoes off or take anything out of our bags -including laptops/liquids.........it was all very fast and weird....then we had to wait while our other daughter retrieved her belongings, laptop etc and put her shoes on in the "normal" line.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Every time, with every checkin.

DH's global entry number is in all of his airline accounts, but with Alaska and United if he doesn't enter it in during online checkin, he won't get Pre. When we go back and redo it, including the number, he gets it. Don't know why it doesn't autopopulate!

That is odd. If he gives his KTN to UA, it should always be there.

 

[Coastie]

Because of my employment with the federal government, I was part of the initial TSA pre "trial" period and had a KTN issued since the beginning. As for the payment to TSA for precheck, every traveler has the option to pay and have a KTN assigned. However, you must make an appointment to visit a TSA site and show proof of US citizenship, other documents, and be interviewed. They conduct a background check and then if everything is clear, you get assigned a KTN - process takes about 2 weeks. This is basically to determine if you are considered low risk. The KTN is good for 5 years. All the airlines we fly have exactly the same personal profile so when we purchase tickets, the printed boarding passes have TSA pre.

No, the problems I have with SWA is not a TSA issue. I have colleagues in TSA who have stated that this is an airline issue and when checking bags, have the agent check every time that the TSA pre is valid, inclusive of e-tickets.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . With my wife paying for TSA pre, this is unsatisfactory . . .

1) Pay?
2) What payment?
3) We do TSA-Pre-Check and have not paid a penny . . . ever.
4) As for your issues, we have not had such even when flying
. . . international (Europe, Asia, Central/South America) on Delta Airlines
. . . international (Asia) on Korean Airlines
. . . domestic on Delta Airlines
. . . domestic on Southwest Airlines *
. . . domestic on Spirit Airlines *

* I/we usually do Delta (hang over from my Northwest days), but end up
on Southwest or Spirit due to daughters flying with us. Kids can't or won't
pay for Delta and want cheaper no-frills flights.

 

[dioxide45]

It sounds like the boarding pass is printing with PreCheck on it, but when the agent scans the pass it isn't showing up as eligible? That sound like a problem with SWA boarding pass?

 

[sam_gordon]

1) Pay?
2) What payment?
3) We do TSA-Pre-Check and have not paid a penny . . . ever.
4) As for your issues, we have not had such even when flying
. . . international (Europe, Asia, Central/South America) on Delta Airlines
. . . international (Asia) on Korean Airlines
. . . domestic on Delta Airlines
. . . domestic on Southwest Airlines *
. . . domestic on Spirit Airlines *

* I/we usually do Delta (hang over from my Northwest days), but end up
on Southwest or Spirit due to daughters flying with us. Kids can't or won't
pay for Delta and want cheaper no-frills flights.

1) Regarding payment, look at the links in post #5 above.
2) Just because something doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen for anyone else.

I am curious on whether when TSA scans the BP, the scanner indicates 'Pre Check' or not. If not, it really wouldn't be difficult to use an editor program at home to add the logo. hmmm...

 

[bumbershoot]

That is odd. If he gives his KTN to UA, it should always be there.

it's possible it's only alaska. But even with them, it's in his account, t just doesn't get to the boarding pass without being manually typed (or when I'm doing it copy/pasted) in during online checkin.

 

[LisaS]

Also, I wasn't aware that one can "pay" for TSA pre-check?? That would seem to defeat the purpose of it, if anyone can get it simply by paying extra. I thought it was designated to certain flyers who, for whatever reason, pose less of a perceived risk by TSA, thereby allowing them a quicker and easier trip through security. (and I'm genuinely curious about this, not trying to be snooty!!.... do you pay to get a full background check or something similar? I've just never heard of that option).

Yes, when you apply they do a background check and you also have to go for an in person interview and get finger printed. You are not guaranteed to be accepted however and don't get your money back if you are turned down. I believe this is how the program started, as something you pay for and apply for, but later was offered to some frequent fliers either as a courtesy by the airlines or as a marketing move by the TSA when initial enrollment wasn't as high as expected and they figured once you experienced it, you would be willing to pay for the privilege if that was the only way to keep that perk.

My DH flies a lot for work and was getting TSA Pre most of the time and enjoyed the convenience. We figured it was unlikely I would also get it on all of our trips together and he didn't like the idea of giving up the TSA Pre perk on those trips! Fortunately for us Boston is one of the locations that conducts interviews for the Global Entry program and it is just over an hour away if we drive in on the weekend so we applied for GE and set up a Sunday afternoon appointment in Boston. It was worth $100 each to us to make it much more likely we both get TSA Pre when we travel together over the next five years.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

1) Pay? 2) What payment? 3) We do TSA-Pre-Check and have not paid a penny . . . ever. 4) As for your issues, we have not had such even when flying . . . international (Europe, Asia, Central/South America) on Delta Airlines . . . international (Asia) on Korean Airlines . . . domestic on Delta Airlines . . . domestic on Southwest Airlines * . . . domestic on Spirit Airlines * * I/we usually do Delta (hang over from my Northwest days), but end up on Southwest or Spirit due to daughters flying with us. Kids can't or won't pay for Delta and want cheaper no-frills flights.

Not sure why you are so sure everyone else is wrong and you are right?

 

[shoes99]

It sounds like the boarding pass is printing with PreCheck on it, but when the agent scans the pass it isn't showing up as eligible? That sound like a problem with SWA boarding pass?

I had printed my boarding pass at the hotel, it has TSA-Precheck on the pass. I got to the pre-check line and it wouldn't scan. My choice was to go to the regular line, or reprint the pass using the airline kiosk. I reprinted the pass and it worked fine. This was on United, not SW.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Not sure why you are so sure everyone else is wrong and you are right?

I believe that poster is confused. There is no way he and his wife are getting TSA Pre on every flight on different airlines if they have not gone through the TSA Pre or Global Entry process.

 

[Judyat]

What exactly is the TSA pre process? We often get TSA pre but have never gone through any special process to get it.

 

[jsilvers]

What exactly is the TSA pre process? We often get TSA pre but have never gone through any special process to get it.

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

 

[Judyat]

Interesting. My husband and I have never done this but we still get TSA pre almost every time. There was one time when I got it but my husband didn't. Other than that we fly quite often and it's always there.