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It is just a hit and miss when getting a Seat Request card (online or Kiosk) that nonrevs get a TSA pre-check? I find that since my 1st one in LAX last October, it's not every time. Just last week out of FLL, no. And the line was long there and the pre-check was empty. :huh:
It's hit and miss that *anyone* gets precheck now. Nonrevs are no different than anyone else in this, from what I can tell. My mom as well as my father-in-law have both gotten it a couple times, but I don't think they did every time, either. They were all flying nonrev on my benefits.
We have GE and it automatically gives us Precheck option because we can use the GE # as our trusted traveler designation on our nonrev listings. One we set up the GE as TT for PreCk we have never been denied use of that lane.
Some people may poo-poo the idea of paying $100 for 5 yrs, but it gets us everything we need for swift ins and outs of airports--particularly entry to the US. It's been an excellent option for both domestic and international travel.. We'll renew next year, using our Amex Platinum card bennies and pay nothing...Priceless!!
Depending what airport you're departing, just get in any security line and there's a decent chance TSA will send half of you to the precheck line anyway. The best thing about this practice is it defeats the entire point of having precheck, which is quickly becoming a joke. Some places are great, some......not so much.
Good luck!
I have never seen anyone else in Precheck lanes w/out 3 beeps. That's ATL, CVG, JFK, DTW so far. ATL they have to precheck your Precheck docs ) to let you go down to the Precheck conveyors. If you don't beep 3X, you are banished to the other lanes! Maybe it's different in those pot-smoking states out west? hehe
Colorado here. Haven't seen/experienced that yet, but I've heard similar stories out on the Internet about TSA doing that (not sure where)
I have seen precheck in SLC almost as long as normal line, I was shocked to see so many people in precheck, must have had 30 people in the line.
But did they have the Precheck precheck?? I've seen 15-20 people in that lane at ATL, only to be turned away because they didn't really have PC--they just saw the short line! That's why ATL scans BPs before letting them get too far [and turn around]Quote:
Originally Posted by offroader
The time I saw that many people in precheck there was a TSA agent at the beginning of the line checking boarding passes and directing the people with precheck to the precheck line. I am sure it was still quicker just surprised its between 8 and 10 the internthere were so many people in that line.
Just a note, in SLC if the international terminal is open (around 7am-10am) it is normally quicker, especially if going to D or E gates, adds time if walking to C or B gates. Also, terminal 1 is normally quicker at anytime, again add time if having to go to D or E gates.
But wouldn't the PC longer line still move faster without removing shoes; belts; emptying pockets; removing laptops and other electronic media ?Quote:
Originally Posted by offroader
Yes, it still was faster but not by much. And as you mentioned precheck would be much more convenient.
There are so many stupid people in those lanes. The signs tell you what to take out or not. I see people w/bins of all their crap and I tell them it isn't necessary and they respond, "just trying to be efficient". I've replied, "you aren't helping by doing that!". Then I go around them. Maybe they'll get it eventually? Maybe not...
I've been more concerned about the combination of belt and shoes setting off the metal detector even when flying out of Europe or someplace that doesn't require shoes to be removed. Could be that others have a similar fear.
They don't have precheck in EU. I've been flying from EU for 13 yrs multiple times/yr and might have taken off my shoes maybe 5-6 times. If they have a "similar fear", they should go thru the regular lanes. If they don't know what the rules are, don't use PC.
Right, I know that they don't have precheck in EU, and I agree that they should go with the flow a bit more. But what I'm saying is that when I didn't have to take my shoes off, I had a fear of it causing a problem. Their "trying to be efficient" could mean "I'm afraid that my shoes will set off the alarm, so it'll be less of a holdup if I just do it now" - not that I agree with that logic, just a potential line of thinking.
If that's your way of thinking, then let everyone else go in front of you, while you remove your belt and shoes, even if not requested by security. I have no problem with that, but don't impede others' access to the scanner while you decide "does it stay or does it go now?"...
What gets me the most is the uneducated people who having entered the PC line get to the point of placing the carry-on baggage
on the conveyor belt and then begin to disrobe of the items that were formerly checked; laptops out and open; change keys in tray;
belts off; shoes off and other electronics and devices out on display. Then realizing that was not the correct procedure for the PC
line hold up everything getting things back to where they should have been. Now in the mean time someone has elected to go
around this roadblock and the conveyor TSA has a question on whose item that is that needs to be scanned further because of
who knows what. Thus the savvy traveler is held up because his carry-on is stuck behind that subject needing further attention
until ownership is established and the log jam cleared.
Some airports have the luxury of a secondary check point to weed out questionable travelers and carry-on baggage speeding the
primary security lane.
Really how do you get into the GE or PC lane without knowing the drill ?
And should not all badged Airline employees and retirees with photo ID be automatically permitted to use the PC lane since they
know the drill or at least the rudimentary function.
Random selection of passengers is not the best idea for the PC lane.
What is - is picking out the savvy passengers that are a quick study for using the PC lane i.e. Frequent Flyers who are not already
on the GE or PC list !
Ive just been using the employee lines at airports, never had a problem
The last I checked the employee TSA check point at MSP was for active uniformed employees and crew members going on duty.
I did however pass one time but was advised that the lane was for active on duty employees - but strangely they let me pass.
Dress code has its privileges perhaps they thought I was a management person - no uniform required !
The traffic thru this check point is miniscule and really how dumb to not utilize it more to speed everything for everyone.
There is no reason at all for employees and retirees to purchase a GE or PC status when their history and profile is all ready on file !
Your're right on about that "... when their history and profile is all ready on file !"
I'm a MSP native, flew from there a couple weeks ago. Seems like they moved the employee line to the same area as precheck, but if you're not cleared for precheck you don't get the full treatment - they're only equipped with a metal detector, but you still have to take off your shoes, belt, etc. And it does have its own xray, so they will know. That said, I've had very hit and miss experiences with MSP security. Sometimes they're great, let my wife and I through with no problems. One time they were ok with me using the employee line, but for whatever reason they wouldn't let me use my badge as my ID - and insisted on a government issued ID. I was a little pissed at that. Had a similar experience in DEN, and later asked a supervisor for clarification (I was training that week, didn't want to make temporary listings for flights so I could get a BP). He said that technically a badge alone should get you through, though if you're flying they do want a boarding pass. Never had problems that week, probably because I didn't have a carry-on suitcase :)Quote:
Originally Posted by R.M.Anderson