If you MUST fly Commercial

I still need to apply for Global Entry. But, you are right, Pre check is great. So is riding in 1st (thanks, United).
 
We were first on Delta for a short-trip, totally worth it. Couldn't get the upgrade on the way back on United so we did Economy Plus and paid for the DirecTV... watched the football game while the pilots navigated a nasty t-storm. Wasn't terrible.

Flew on Alaska last month... not bad either. Favorite airlines are still Southwest and Delta though.
 
Ill be flying Delta from KVPS to KGFK in November. Only part Im looking forward to is the people watching. Oh and hoping that this will be the trip Im seated next to the attractive blonde conveniently my age.
 
Seanaldinho said:
Oh and hoping that this will be the trip Im seated next to the attractive blonde conveniently my age.
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The attractive blonde is like a unicorn, doesn't really exist in airline travel.

This is what works for me:
- Settle on one airline. Buy that airlines top credit card. For Delta, that is the 'reserve' card, it is pricey but the fee covers access to the clubs for one year. The key with the pricey card is that every dollar you spend buys you miles towards your frequent flyer status (delta counts the 'MQMs' separate from regular miles). By paying anything that doesn't have a credit card penalty through the card, you end up 1/2 way to 'Gold' status. Gold is where you start to see complimentary upgrades, and you have the option to change flights without penalty.
- Get Global Entry, unless the airline gives 'TSA Pre' to you as a goodie.
- Travel with carry-on only.
 
What is involved in getting the Global Entry? It says a thorough background check and interview. How long does it take?
 
John221us said:
What is involved in getting the Global Entry? It says a thorough background check and interview. How long does it take?
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I applied online, paid the hundred bucks and scheduled my in-person interview for, maybe, two weeks later, something like that. Very efficiently and courteously conducted (the guy with whom I spoke had clearly never taken the rude bureaucrat course), card arrived a couple of weeks later, maybe faster.

My wife just did it, and it was equally easy.
 
SCCutler said:
I applied online, paid the hundred bucks and scheduled my in-person interview for, maybe, two weeks later, something like that. Very efficiently and courteously conducted (the guy with whom I spoke had clearly never taken the rude bureaucrat course), card arrived a couple of weeks later, maybe faster.

My wife just did it, and it was equally easy.
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Thanks, it sounds worthwhile.
 
I did global entry - I use the card as my TSA id. I've used it going to Mexico and back over the border at Calexico - VERY easy. NO hassle from CBP. Even though technically its not for that - they take it as such practically. Came back from London 3 weeks ago - in and out on the street 12 minutes after getting off the plane. Finally - something the government has done right.

Think using the Card would help me getting stopped by CBP randomly for flying 'out of California VFR?' :D
 
John221us said:
Thanks, it sounds worthwhile.
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Once you have it, make sure your Global Entry number is linked to your frequent flyer profile and make sure that whichever way you buy the tickets, your FF number is part of the reservation. Only if your Global Entry number is linked to the ticket via this two-step process, it will print the 'TSA-Pre' on the boarding pass. Some of the 'Pre' locations will accept the Global Entry card without the notation on the boarding pass, some dont.
 
weilke said:
Once you have it, make sure your Global Entry number is linked to your frequent flyer profile and make sure that whichever way you buy the tickets, your FF number is part of the reservation. Only if your Global Entry number is linked to the ticket via this two-step process, it will print the 'TSA-Pre' on the boarding pass. Some of the 'Pre' locations will accept the Global Entry card without the notation on the boarding pass, some dont.
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They're all supposed to...
 
Hello everyone

After numerous trips abroad over the years, I am finally going to apply.

Did you declare speeding tickets when the form asked about criminal offenses? I do have speeding tix however in the past 5 yrs (or more) I have had exactly one - doing 38 in a 25.

How do you link your FF accounts to the GE card?
 
I don't think I could ACCOUNT for all the speeding tickets I've gotten in the last five years.

WTF does speeding on the highway have to do with one's ability to check in and out quickly at an airline terminal? Perhaps if you aren't speeding on a regular basis, you should drive faster to the airport vs. be granted a special check in pass so you can catch your flight in time?
 
If I applied for something to make commercial easier I'd have a harder time griping and saying how much better GA is! :D
 
Sac Arrow said:
WTF does speeding on the highway have to do with one's ability to check in and out quickly at an airline terminal?
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Getting a lot of speeding tickets says quite a bit about your willingness to follow rules. Programs like Pre-Check bypass some steps during check-in because they've established whether the traveller can be trusted to follow rules. The speeding *itself* doesn't matter, but getting tickets documents a history of ignoring rules. They don't like people who ignore rules, even the stoooopid ones.

Was randomly selected for Pre-Check last trip, it was very nice. Kept coat, belt, and shoes on, just went through ordinary metal detector.

Ron Wanttaja
 
woodstock said:
Did you declare speeding tickets when the form asked about criminal offenses? I do have speeding tix however in the past 5 yrs (or more) I have had exactly one - doing 38 in a 25.
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Depends on if it was a criminal ticket. Lots of variance from one state to another, and one city/county to another. Generally, they are non-criminal.
How do you link your FF accounts to the GE card?
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Log into your Frequent Flyer account, usually in your profile there's a box for "Known Traveler" number. That's your GE number.

Love it. Love love love it.
 
Gosh, I don't know what you guys are talking about - I just go thru the known crewmember portal then I'm on my way ! :D
 
What's the point of cutting the line if everybody gets to cut the line?
 
Captain said:
What's the point of cutting the line if everybody gets to cut the line?
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It is not so much cutting the line, it is the more straightforward screening that is the main benefit. Keep your sweater on, don't drag the laptop out etc.

Some of the smaller airports without a 'Pre' line now offer expedited screening for 'Pre' qualified passengers and crews. You get a 'expedited' card that allows you to go through the magnetometer, still have to take the laptop and liquids out.
 
Well, that was fast.

Thursday the Govt has just re-opened. I filed online that afternoon.
Friday I got the email that I was conditionally approved and the first open slot was Sunday at 5 PM.

I have been home close to an hour. All done.

I figured this would be much more involved - and I was worried if speeding tickets would count against you - in the past decade I've gotten the one (38 in a 25) and possibly one other, but I doubt it - the one is probably it.. In my early 20s I had a few though and I wasn't sure if that would even matter. He said it all looked good though, so they did check.
 
woodstock said:
Well, that was fast.

Thursday the Govt has just re-opened. I filed online that afternoon.
Friday I got the email that I was conditionally approved and the first open slot was Sunday at 5 PM.

I have been home close to an hour. All done.

I figured this would be much more involved - and I was worried if speeding tickets would count against you - in the past decade I've gotten the one (38 in a 25) and possibly one other, but I doubt it - the one is probably it.. In my early 20s I had a few though and I wasn't sure if that would even matter. He said it all looked good though, so they did check.
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If they looked at my speeding record, they would incarcerate me in solitary.
 
Sac Arrow said:
If they looked at my speeding record, they would incarcerate me in solitary.
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How does that work with your medical? What really happens when you have to notify the FAA of speeding tickets?
 
weilke said:
The attractive blonde is like a unicorn, doesn't really exist in airline travel.
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I met my husband on a flight from Frankfurt to London. I was blonde then (light brown now).
 
I have taken four Southwest flights in the past couple weeks. For the first two the screening was normal. Last Sunday in Denver I noticed they looked at my boarding pass and sent me to one of two lines. I wasn't really paying attention but when I got to the place where you put everything on the conveyor there were no bins. I was looking around for bins and the TSA guy said, "You don't need a bin, just put everything on the belt and don't need to take off your shoes or jacket. I had a computer and liquids in my bag but I shrugged and did what he said but I was a little shocked. Then today in Newark the same thing happened only the TSA person actually told me they were looking at my boarding pass to see if "pre-check" was on it... and it was. The screeners were a little confused this time about whether my jacket qualified as a "light" jacket so I had to take it off but that's the only thing I had to do. I never applied for this nor am I an A-list member. I have a frequent flyer number but I don't fly enough to qualify. I'm a little puzzled by this but if continues to happen I will be happy. :)
 
SCCutler said:
I applied online, paid the hundred bucks and scheduled my in-person interview for, maybe, two weeks later, something like that. Very efficiently and courteously conducted (the guy with whom I spoke had clearly never taken the rude bureaucrat course), card arrived a couple of weeks later, maybe faster.

My wife just did it, and it was equally easy.
Click to expand...

I applied for the Global Entry last week and received the provisional approval yesterday, but the soonest it would let schedule an interview was January 27th (for SF, anyway).
 
I just used my skymiles to book roundtrip to Denver, first class both ways! I also requested a window seat as well as to sit next to a cute single blonde chick, late 20's early 30's will do just fine. :) C'mon U.S. Airways, hook me UP!
 
John221us said:
I applied for the Global Entry last week and received the provisional approval yesterday, but the soonest it would let schedule an interview was January 27th (for SF, anyway).
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Check every couple of days. The calendar is updated for cancellations and reschedules every day at 0900.
My first appt was four months out. I ended getting in four days later.
 
PilotAlan said:
Check every couple of days. The calendar is updated for cancellations and reschedules every day at 0900.
My first appt was four months out. I ended getting in four days later.
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^^^^^ this.

Alternatively, see if there is an enrollment center at OAK or SJC... in some cities, they have enrollment centers downtown. You can do the interview at any GE enrollment center.
 
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