TSA Pre Check and kids

[KrazeeK120]

We’ve previously driven to Disney, but now that our son is a little older, I think we will start flying.

The TSA website indicates that kids under 12 get expedited screening with an eligible parent. Is that accurate in people’s experience? I’ll pay for the 3 year old if I need to, but of course I’d like to save the money if I can.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We’ve previously driven to Disney, but now that our son is a little older, I think we will start flying.

The TSA website indicates that kids under 12 get expedited screening with an eligible parent. Is that accurate in people’s experience? I’ll pay for the 3 year old if I need to, but of course I’d like to save the money if I can.

You do not pay for children under 12. My daughter comes through with me and pre-check is listed on her boarding pass.

She is 8 years old.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yup, what @SaintsManiac said. Best $ you can spend if traveling out of busy airports, and especially MCO. Some airlines/credit card companies reimburse the cost.

 

[holden]

Yes. Our DD11 (12 next month) always comes through precheck with us. DD16 has precheck.

 

[bumbershoot]

The TSA website indicates that kids under 12 get expedited screening with an eligible parent. Is that accurate in people’s experience?

Yep. If precheck is on the parent’s boarding pass, the 12 and under child can go with them.

If you’re considering buying precheck, and if you’re anywhere near a Canadian border, consider NEXUS instead. $50, free for minors, and gives you expedited Canadian entry, global entry, and precheck (the pre comes with the GE). It’s a bit of a longer process and there aren’t interview facilities everywhere, but it’s the cheapest (unless you can get pre reimbursed through a credit card) and best option.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Yep. If precheck is on the parent’s boarding pass, the 12 and under child can go with them.

If you’re considering buying precheck, and if you’re anywhere near a Canadian border, consider NEXUS instead. $50, free for minors, and gives you expedited Canadian entry, global entry, and precheck (the pre comes with the GE). It’s a bit of a longer process and there aren’t interview facilities everywhere, but it’s the cheapest (unless you can get pre reimbursed through a credit card) and best option.

I’m not close to Canada (Central IL), but may be good info for others!

 

[Babsy]

How does precheck work?
I have always had it before, but not on our last flight out of MCO?
We were travelling first class and I have Nexus
Just ordering why I was told that we couldn’t have it at the checkin counter this Time?

Also, I’m Canadian, so would that make a difference?

 

[bumbershoot]

We were travelling first class and I have Nexus
Just ordering why I was told that we couldn’t have it at the checkin counter this Time?

At the checkin counter is too late to get it. Is it on your account on the airline you were using? If so it should have come through. With United I always had to enter the KTN manually, or Pre wouldn’t end up on the boarding pass. I’d forget to do that, no Pre, so I would redo checkin and enter the number and then Pre would be on the boarding pass. But this was all 24 hours out. Not at checkin.

Nexus gives you GE which gives you Pre, so unless there’s something complex that I’m not seeing, I don’t know that you being Canadian makes a difference.

I hope at least that the airline had expedited first class lanes!


But MCO is kind of awful, so if there’s going to be an oddity, that is the airport where it will happen.

 

[sponica]

At the checkin counter is too late to get it. Is it on your account on the airline you were using? If so it should have come through. With United I always had to enter the KTN manually, or Pre wouldn’t end up on the boarding pass. I’d forget to do that, no Pre, so I would redo checkin and enter the number and then Pre would be on the boarding pass. But this was all 24 hours out. Not at checkin.

Nexus gives you GE which gives you Pre, so unless there’s something complex that I’m not seeing, I don’t know that you being Canadian makes a difference.

I hope at least that the airline had expedited first class lanes!


But MCO is kind of awful, so if there’s going to be an oddity, that is the airport where it will happen.

It's also not guaranteed. TSA can choose not to grant you pre-check status for whatever reason.

Although whenever we've run into problems it was because someone (cough husband cough) typed the KTN number wrong so it didn't match the name on file...

 

[StarSeven7]

At the checkin counter is too late to get it. Is it on your account on the airline you were using? If so it should have come through. With United I always had to enter the KTN manually, or Pre wouldn’t end up on the boarding pass. I’d forget to do that, no Pre, so I would redo checkin and enter the number and then Pre would be on the boarding pass. But this was all 24 hours out. Not at checkin.

Nexus gives you GE which gives you Pre, so unless there’s something complex that I’m not seeing, I don’t know that you being Canadian makes a difference.

I hope at least that the airline had expedited first class lanes!


But MCO is kind of awful, so if there’s going to be an oddity, that is the airport where it will happen.

I'm curious about this too since we all have Nexus but I haven't signed up for Pre-check at all. Are you saying you just enter your Known Traveler Number when you check-in online and that will give you pre-check for that flight? And is the KTN just your Nexus number or is that a separate number on your Nexus card?

 

[bookbabe626]

I'm curious about this too since we all have Nexus but I haven't signed up for Pre-check at all. Are you saying you just enter your Known Traveler Number when you check-in online and that will give you pre-check for that flight? And is the KTN just your Nexus number or is that a separate number on your Nexus card?

The KTN and the Nexus number are different, but they’re both on the Nexus card.

 

[Toolulu22]

Have a KTN and luckily others in my travel party who have not had one have been given PreCheck status when they fly with me. This has held for both adults and children. Not sure if this is customary, or just luck so far!

 

[jhoannam]

No need to spend the money! My girls have used precheck with DH and I, and sometimes we have different reservations so they don’t get precheck but they are still allowed to go through with us.