TSA precheck

[supersnoop]

now, i'm confused

thought if you applied, paid the $85 and were approved you would automatically receive precheck for 5 years.

any idea if it can be added to existing, pre-booked flights?

Sometimes the metal detector beeps at you and you get additional screening. If you sign up, pay the money, are approved, and all your flight information matches your profile, you will always have pre-check on your boarding pass.

 

[keishashadow]

After waking up and seeing the sad events this morning, thinking precheck is even better idea for us.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I'm a million mile gold premium flyer on United. For the past two years I've been getting pre on all my flights, domestic and international, as does all family members checking in with me. I've never applied for anything. I keep waiting for it to go away but I just got it on a flight back from Orlando last week for three of us. I would be willing to make the application if it stopped. But since I rarely fly anything but United i won't as long as it continues.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

After waking up and seeing the sad events this morning, thinking precheck is even better idea for us.

I'm not sure how Pre-Check is relevant to terrorist attacks.

 

[cw21726]

I'm not sure how Pre-Check is relevant to terrorist attacks.

Lines could be longer. I see how it how it could be beneficial.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm not sure how Pre-Check is relevant to terrorist attacks.

seriously?

every time there's an event the level is raised = security being ramped up = longer waits.

it's all over the news, security is heightened and long lines today, Miami is especially being pro-active.

 

[Starwind]

Sometimes the metal detector beeps at you and you get additional screening. If you sign up, pay the money, are approved, and all your flight information matches your profile, you will always have pre-check on your boarding pass.

This is NOT true.

If one has gone through the process and gotten approval for the PreCheck program (or are Pre-check eligible due to participation in another program, such as NEXUS or Global Entry) AND one's KTN is properly on the reservation, then:

You are eligible to be selected for PreCheck for any given flight. HOWEVER, while it is commonly accepted that most of the time you will/should receive the PreCheck notation on the boarding pass and thus be eligible to use the PreCheck line, it **is not guaranteed** you will be selected for any given flight. [not being selected should be the exception not the rule, but it is certainly a possibility; this is very clear in both the TSA material about the program and when you do your interview they notify you]. Only TSA knows the criteria they use to select the people each flight who get PreCheck.

In addition, as others have noted, only certain airports and airlines participate in the program.

Further, the PreCheck line at any given airport may have specific hours it is open or otherwise be closed for some reason. For example maybe the line doesn't open until 7 am but you are there at 6 needing to clear security.

SW

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not sure how Pre-Check is relevant to terrorist attacks.

Others have already posted why it can be relevant but just for real life validation here's information on my local airport: "Passengers may notice an increase in airport police at KCI. Officials say the airport will be beefing up airport police presence in the wake of the bombings in Brussels. Airport officials say they've been in contact with the federal government and other law enforcement officials."

This will lead to increased scrutiny thus longer security lines (though like I have mentioned the security is never an issue at my local airport by longer it probably would be an extra 10 to 15 minutes but other airports are def.not like mine).

This is also very relevant to me as I will be flying out in about 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[supersnoop]

This is NOT true.

If one has gone through the process and gotten approval for the PreCheck program (or are Pre-check eligible due to participation in another program, such as NEXUS or Global Entry) AND one's KTN is properly on the reservation, then:

You are eligible to be selected for PreCheck for any given flight. HOWEVER, while it is commonly accepted that most of the time you will/should receive the PreCheck notation on the boarding pass and thus be eligible to use the PreCheck line, it **is not guaranteed** you will be selected for any given flight. [not being selected should be the exception not the rule, but it is certainly a possibility; this is very clear in both the TSA material about the program and when you do your interview they notify you]. Only TSA knows the criteria they use to select the people each flight who get PreCheck.

In addition, as others have noted, only certain airports and airlines participate in the program.

Further, the PreCheck line at any given airport may have specific hours it is open or otherwise be closed for some reason. For example maybe the line doesn't open until 7 am but you are there at 6 needing to clear security.

SW

There's a difference between printed policy and actual practice. Hours and availability have nothing to do with whether or not the notation is printed on your boarding pass. If it's not printed, then there's a darn good reason. It's not random.

 

[scili]

My husband and I got Global Entry around 1 1/2 years ago. In the 15 flights that we have collectively been on, there was only one time where one of us (i.e., me) didn't have TSA Precheck on the boarding pass. That was at our AA flight leaving MCO last September. For the times where our young kids (both under 12) flew with us on the same reservation, it's been 50/50 where they also had TSA Precheck on their boarding passes.

 

[FCDub]

There's a difference between printed policy and actual practice. Hours and availability have nothing to do with whether or not the notation is printed on your boarding pass. If it's not printed, then there's a darn good reason. It's not random.

To say it's guaranteed 100% of the time is just not true, and they even tell you that when you sign up.

 

[bellanotte10]

To say it's guaranteed 100% of the time is just not true, and they even tell you that when you sign up.

Yup. I just signed up for Precheck in September. Fourth time I used it (last month), it didn't come up on my boarding pass. Told Delta, delta said It happens, because like they said when you apply, its not guaranteed 100% of the time. And the Pre-Check line was definitely open because no one was in that line, but there were people going through it so it wasn't closed.

 

[ashleyrm]

One thing I haven't seen commented on here. I've had TSApre for quite awhile. DH did not have it until recently. At some airports, I would try to go through the regular line with him but they would insist that I had to go through TSApre line. The only time I haven't gotten to use TSApre since I paid is when I've gotten to certain airports for very early morning flights and there are no TSApre lines open yet. Very frustrating after one is used to not having to take off shoes, take out computer, liquids, etc. I cannot imagine using MCO without having TSApre. All of my family members have it now (DH, "kids" 27 and 30, and their SOs). It's well worth the $85.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I have decided to apply for TSA precheck after seeing several news reports about absurdly long security lines at major airports. However, my late August trip on Southwest has already been booked for some weeks. I gather that I should call Southwest with my KTN and ask them to apply it to my existing reservation, and they may or may not do it. Their website suggests that they won't, but a PP here reported success. It's also my understanding that the KTN can be added to a Southwest online account, although that will not have any effect on already-booked flights. Is that more or less accurate? I've been reading through so many Southwest and TSA help files that I'm not sure what's what.

 

[ashleyrm]

I have decided to apply for TSA precheck after seeing several news reports about absurdly long security lines at major airports. However, my late August trip on Southwest has already been booked for some weeks. I gather that I should call Southwest with my KTN and ask them to apply it to my existing reservation, and they may or may not do it. Their website suggests that they won't, but a PP here reported success. It's also my understanding that the KTN can be added to a Southwest online account, although that will not have any effect on already-booked flights. Is that more or less accurate? I've been reading through so many Southwest and TSA help files that I'm not sure what's what.

I've added KTNs to existing flights for both myself and family members with Southwest with no problems. If it's done too close to travel time they may need to resend the ticket through the TSA pre process.

The only time I had an issue was when I gave SW an incorrect number. Luckily we figured out the problem after I had done the 24 hour check in and they ran it through again and it came out with Pre check.

 

[rwdavis2]

I have decided to apply for TSA precheck after seeing several news reports about absurdly long security lines at major airports. However, my late August trip on Southwest has already been booked for some weeks. I gather that I should call Southwest with my KTN and ask them to apply it to my existing reservation, and they may or may not do it. Their website suggests that they won't, but a PP here reported success. It's also my understanding that the KTN can be added to a Southwest online account, although that will not have any effect on already-booked flights. Is that more or less accurate? I've been reading through so many Southwest and TSA help files that I'm not sure what's what.

You can add it to your Southwest account on line. It should work on existing flights. We had booked flights on United last fall and then applied for pre-check at the beginning of April. We had our KTNs in 1 day, added them to our United accounts and had pre-check for the flight at the end of April. It was well worth the expense.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I've added KTNs to existing flights for both myself and family members with Southwest with no problems. If it's done too close to travel time they may need to resend the ticket through the TSA pre process.

The only time I had an issue was when I gave SW an incorrect number. Luckily we figured out the problem after I had done the 24 hour check in and they ran it through again and it came out with Pre check.

That is good to know. It seems that Southwest has updated its operating procedures without updating the corresponding help files on its website, which wouldn't be too surprising. My enrollment appointment is this Saturday afternoon; hopefully by next week I'll have a KTN.

 

[rwdavis2]

That is good to know. It seems that Southwest has updated its operating procedures without updating the corresponding help files on its website, which wouldn't be too surprising. My enrollment appointment is this Saturday afternoon; hopefully by next week I'll have a KTN.

Good luck. It takes about 5 minutes.

 

[Pooh2]

I have decided to apply for TSA precheck after seeing several news reports about absurdly long security lines at major airports. However, my late August trip on Southwest has already been booked for some weeks. I gather that I should call Southwest with my KTN and ask them to apply it to my existing reservation, and they may or may not do it. Their website suggests that they won't, but a PP here reported success. It's also my understanding that the KTN can be added to a Southwest online account, although that will not have any effect on already-booked flights. Is that more or less accurate? I've been reading through so many Southwest and TSA help files that I'm not sure what's what.

I got precheck after making a reservation with Jetblue. I called to ask them to add it to my reservations, I was told that as long as we had added it to our jetblue account, we would be all set. She said to call back if it does not show up when we do online check in and they will redo something or other. Here's hoping it goes well!

 

[n2mm]

I got precheck after making a reservation with Jetblue. I called to ask them to add it to my reservations, I was told that as long as we had added it to our jetblue account, we would be all set. She said to call back if it does not show up when we do online check in and they will redo something or other. Here's hoping it goes well!

When I got my KTN I was holding reservations at Jetblue and SW for an upcoming trip. I updated both profiles easily to add the KTN. Then for Jetblue I pulled up the reservation and did a manage trip and was allowed to update that existing ticket and added the KTN to the upcoming trip. As for SW, while I could add it to my profile I did have to call SW and they added it to my upcoming flight. I think that the TSA website actually tells you how to add the number to your existing profiles and already booked flights. For SW, they do tell you to call and add to existing flights, but no guarantee that it will go through. When I took that flight I got precheck on both our tickets, so guess it worked.