TSA PreCheck help please :)

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I did a search through the forums and seems like there is no clear cut answer to this and that's fine. I'm looking for experiences if you don't mind sharing with me.

I checked myself and my Mom in for a SWA flight tomorrow and noticed she has the TSA PRE on her boarding pass. I understand it's random (neither of us paid for the "service") and who really knows how they assign it and I giggled thinking of all the SWA flights I've taken and this is her VERY first and she gets it

Anyway - clearly with just two of us traveling together it doesn't help really as we don't want to be split up. I read that for children traveling with parents or guardians under 12 they will let them go through with the parent with TSA PRE but do they make exceptions for adults traveling together. To be clear, I'm not asking for an exception, just curious if anyone has checked in and they say to just go together? I read on one post two other family members were allowed to go through, however the husband and another older child were not. Seems random - again that's fine, just curious.

Is it SWA that makes this decision if so or the TSA agents?

Hope this makes sense so I know what to expect when we travel together tomorrow. If anything it will make my Mom feel like a rockstar knowing she got the golden star

Thanks in advance,
Heather

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I am enlisted in a program called Global Entry, and as a result, I also am enrolled in the PreCheck program. My husband is not. He is not allowed into the PreCheck line with me like the kids are. They don't make exceptions for adults like they do for children, unless the adult is independently selected by the TSA to go into the PreCheck line at the airport (this did happen to us at MCO on our way home from Disney a couple of weeks ago).

FWIW, I would totally split up and let your Mom go through PreCheck without you. When my husband and I fly together, we split up. I just take all the carryons so that he doesn't have to deal with anything in the regular line. She can just wait for you just past the screening area.

ETA: The decision as to who goes through the PreCheck line is made by the TSA...it has nothing to do with the airline.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I am enlisted in a program called Global Entry, and as a result, I also am enrolled in the PreCheck program. My husband is not. He is not allowed into the PreCheck line with me like the kids are. They don't make exceptions for adults like they do for children, unless the adult is independently selected by the TSA to go into the PreCheck line at the airport (this did happen to us at MCO on our way home from Disney a couple of weeks ago).

FWIW, I would totally split up and let your Mom go through PreCheck without you. When my husband and I fly together, we split up. I just take all the carryons so that he doesn't have to deal with anything in the regular line. She can just wait for you just past the screening area.

ETA: The decision as to who goes through the PreCheck line is made by the TSA...it has nothing to do with the airline.

Thank you!! Make sense and just as I expected. Thanks for the suggestion on splitting up and we will see how it goes.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[Best Aunt]

If it would be overwhelming for your Mom to take all the carry-ons, you could at least give her one carry-on and put the stuff in it that you would have to pull out in the regular line (like the zip-loc baggie full of liquids).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why don't you just go through the regular line together? You don't have to go through the Pre line, even if you have it.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

If it would be overwhelming for your Mom to take all the carry-ons, you could at least give her one carry-on and put the stuff in it that you would have to pull out in the regular line (like the zip-loc baggie full of liquids).

Why don't you just go through the regular line together? You don't have to go through the Pre line, even if you have it.

Agreed on both and very likely we will just go through the regular line ~ no problem!

Thanks everyone,
Heather

 

[cel_disney]

I typically have pre-check and my DH does not. I take the kids and carryons thru and he goes alone in the regular line.

If your kids are between the ages of 3.5 and 12, I would send them with your mom (over 12 isnt allowed, younger than 3.5 seems like they might need 'mom') and give them the carryons with computers and liquids that have to be pulled out and you take one that doesnt have to be opened.

Its true you can all wait in line but its faster to split, no one will be whining about the line except yourself, and the kids will be excited about going in the special line with grandma as an extra adventure on your trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I typically have pre-check and my DH does not. I take the kids and carryons thru and he goes alone in the regular line.

If your kids are between the ages of 3.5 and 12, I would send them with your mom (over 12 isnt allowed, younger than 3.5 seems like they might need 'mom') and give them the carryons with computers and liquids that have to be pulled out and you take one that doesnt have to be opened.

Its true you can all wait in line but its faster to split, no one will be whining about the line except yourself, and the kids will be excited about going in the special line with grandma as an extra adventure on your trip.

OP is not traveling with children.

I don't see the point of splitting up. Even if the TSA Pre line is faster (and it isn't always), someone is going to be kept waiting. You might as well stay together.

 

[disneygal55]

During our last trip to WDW on SW my DH and I were selected for pre-screen status. When we were returning my DH's boarding pass showed that he was pre-screened but my boarding pass wasn't. When we inquired at check-in, we were told that it was completely random so we both went through the regular line.

 

[figment_jii]

Last month part of my family (all adults) had TSA pre-check (I did not). The TSA agents were very clear that only the passengers with the pre-check logo wold be allowed into the pre-check line. In truth, we didn't even notice it until we were showing our boarding pass to TSA agent at the start of the line and she direct me one place and the rest of my family to the other line. That's when I learned about TSA pre-check.

I would personally let your Mom use the pre-check line because it means she doesn't have to remove her shoes at screening (at most airports, not all) and that line tends to be shorter than the regular one, at least it has when I've flown. Just pick a meeting point beyond security so you can meet up easily.

I agree with the advice that you hold onto the 3-1-1 bag or any other items that might require extra work at screening (e.g., laptops). The only caution I'd have is that you may have to have the correct number of bags before going through screening (meaning you can't have two carry-ons and she has none). Last month, the TSA agent made sure we each had only one carry-on and one personal bag when we got in line (I was carrying two of the personal bags at the time and she said that I could not have two, so another member in party that didn't have one had to carry the camera case in the line).

 

[jtowntoflorida]

OP is not traveling with children.

I don't see the point of splitting up. Even if the TSA Pre line is faster (and it isn't always), someone is going to be kept waiting. You might as well stay together.

Because going through the regular line is a pain compared to PreCheck, especially with an older person who may not be as agile with getting shoes on and off quickly, etc. or someone who isn't familair with all the rules that apply in the regular line.

When we split up, I am typically with my kids and so we usually go and get a snack and my husband just meets with us when he winds his way through the regular line. When you're traveling with other people, PreCheck is no different than a FP when you think about it...it's not about eliminating the wait, it's about improving the quality/location of that wait.

 

[Best Aunt]

Not sure how old Mom is, but aren't people over a certain age allowed to keep their shoes and jacket on? (I'm running late and I don't have time to look it up for you.)

 

[figment_jii]

Not sure how old Mom is, but aren't people over a certain age allowed to keep their shoes and jacket on? (I'm running late and I don't have time to look it up for you.)

Yes, passengers 75 years and older can leave on shoes and light jackets according to TSA.
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/screening-passengers-75-and-older

According to the PreCheck information page, anyone who uses PreCheck does not have to remove belt, shoes, light outerwear/jacket, and 3-1-1 compliant bag and laptop from carry-on. So two of the four things are the same for passengers 75 and older, but one about belts and 3-1-1 bag is different.
http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/what-tsa-precheck

 

[tjmw2727]

You can both use the regular line if you prefer to stay together - if she is a nervous flier or not familiar with the procedures this may be the best bet so you can assist her if necessary.

Otherwise definitely send her through the pre-check line so she won't have to bother with taking of her shoes and light jacket or take the 3-1-1 bag out of her carry on.

I have to split with my kids as I have pre check and they don't (older teens don't qualify to accompany me!). Honestly there have been times when my pre-check line was not much quicker than the regular line and once it actually took me longer.

 

[leebee]

Pre-check is easier! You don't have to do anything but put your bag on the conveyor and walk through. It may or may not be faster, depending on line lengths, but is sure is easier!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Pre-check is easier! You don't have to do anything but put your bag on the conveyor and walk through. It may or may not be faster, depending on line lengths, but is sure is easier!

I don't think anyone who posted on this thread is disputing this.

 

[jessa07]

It's a mixed bag. I have been allowed to go through by myself without the PreCheck printed on my boarding pass. My adult autistic brother has been allowed to go through with my mom when they have traveled together. It's dependent on the whim of the agent at your airport.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Thanks everyone for sharing your information and your experiences! I thought I would report back since we just returned home yesterday.

I never doubted the TSA PRE was for the person selected, only - but this was the case and I confirmed it. We made the decision to stay together since she preferred to stay with me and would have to wait on me anyway. At RDU, she was given a blank yellow card when she advised the TSA agent she was staying with me. She went through the regular line with me but did not have to take off her shoes or anything else and basically was treated as if she was going through the TSA PRE line. She is 69, btw

Coming home through MCO, she also received another TSA PRE on her boarding pass. You all know what a nightmare MCO is for TSA and it was the worst I've seen in a long time, yesterday. Again, we made the decision to stick together and I got to chatting briefly with a TSA agent. I made a reference to the fact she was the lucky one and I wasn't, and he advised they were trying a new process in MCO for "expedited screening". I'm not kidding when I tell you it took 30 minutes to even get past where you enter the snake line to go through the screening. I was really getting nervous we wouldn't make our flight in 2 hours. I was also asked to bring a piece of paper with me so they could track their times and was to hand it to the agent at the metal detectors (much like at WDW when you get the red plastic card to track the wait times). They must have known how backed up it was getting or perhaps it was part of their "expedited screening" but suddenly it felt like the gates opened, people were moving up quickly.

Once we reached the area to go through the screening, we were advised everyone leave shoes on, there were no bins to put your things in and they just said to leave it all in the bags with the exception of if you had two laptops or something like that - one was fine, but if you had more than one to take them out. I've never gone through like that before, maybe you guys have, - but I'm sharing nonetheless

Thanks again,
Heather