TSA Pre-Check

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JGoodish

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JGoodish
Is it worth getting approved for TSA Pre-Check without Global Entry? I never fly internationally, and there is perhaps only a slim chance that I will do so in the next few years. I have a passport, but it is expired, so I can't do GE unless I get it renewed. Do I lose anything except customs by going with standalone pre-check?

I'm not necessarily a frequent flyer (just a few trips a year, all through airports and airlines with pre-check), but anything that would reduce the hassle would be welcomed.


Thanks,
JKG
 
Yes...it is well worth it even just for domestic a few times a year. I just did it after business associates hammered me for months to sign up. I have fly by with my airline rewards so security lines were rarely a problem for me, but the not having to strip down, take your shoes off and dump your bags is wonderful.

My "interview" took all of 5 minutes for my appointment and had my number in a week.

If you have an American Express, they will refund you the $85 precessing fee! So for me it was FREE!
 
My opinion is that it's a scam, and I fly 95% internationally. But before you read my input, please note that YMMV depending on your home airport. Home for me is ORD, so that is what I'm basing my opinion and experience off of. I am in MIA, LAX, JFK, and IAH a handful of times each year, but probably not more than three times each.

Do you fly business? If you do, many times (more than not, better than half) the ticket will come out TSA pre-check anyway. And if you don't fly business, what I would do is look at the average wait time in your 1st class/business lanes compared to the standard. If they're pretty even (no more than 5 minutes difference), then pre check wouldn't really save you much.

Something interesting...if you read the fine print with pre-check, even if you pass, you don't always get it anyway. It's random. So you go and get approved, fly any class you want, you're still not guaranteed that you're going to get a pre-check approval on your boarding pass.

Global Entry doesn't work for me because it's been passed up. Now at all the better int'l airports, there are electronic CBP machines identical to the Global Entry machines, so no more standing in line between hundreds of people. Now what are you saving? Your time at customs after you get your bag? I had to put my bag through the scanner once last year. It took 45 seconds.

When I add all this up, Global Entry and Pre-Check aren't worth the money, time, or hassle to apply because they don't save me anything or provide any benefit.
 
An $85 tax to slightly reduce government interference with my travel activities. I have a pre-check approval but it still irritates me.
 
Traveling aboard it would do a thing.
 
Definitely worth it. I travel 130,000 - 150,000 miles a year mostly with Delta and I love the quick entry back to the states.

Pre check is nice as well.
 
United signed me up for TSA Pre a couple of years ago. No appointment, no fee, just automatically comes out on my boarding passes regardless of the airline I'm on. It saves me a ton of time. It's like the 1980s all over again. :)
 
I have been automatically getting TSA Pre-check on my boarding pass about 80% of the time without doing or paying anything. It seems like this started a little over a year ago. The only thing I can think of is that I am a rewards member on both Southwest and United and I have taken a fair number of airline flights in the past few years.
 
I travel pretty much every week and pre-check is really, really nice. I can't imagine going back to schlupping it with the ordinary people :D

Errr, I mean it's awful, don't do it, it would get really crowded. No, you don't want to drop your luggage on the conveyor belt and walk through a metal detector in 2 seconds, pick your stuff up and be on your way. No, you like taking all your electronics out of your bags, putting your quart sized baggie of liquids in a tray, removing your belt, shoes, jacket and every piece of lint out of your pockets, then bending over for a BCS before you get that extra dose of radiation we're going to find out in about 25 years jacks up the cancer rate by 5%*. Yup, keep right on doing that and leave the pre-check line alone.

Do you always get pre-check? No, you don't, although the ONLY time in 2 years that I didn't get it was two flights booked one way.

It is worth doing without Global Entry? Yes. If you have a choice, should you do both? Sure, why not, it doesn't hurt, even if it doesn't help, it's the same background check. I've rarely had more than a 5 minute wait at customs anyway, so Global Entry hasn't helped that much.

*Ok, there's no BCS and we don't know about the cancer rate. Yet. So sue me.
 
Everskyward said:
I have been automatically getting TSA Pre-check on my boarding pass about 80% of the time without doing or paying anything. It seems like this started a little over a year ago. The only thing I can think of is that I am a rewards member on both Southwest and United and I have taken a fair number of airline flights in the past few years.
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The TSA pre check site explains the more they know about you the more likely you are to get selected. While those who went through registration are of course the highest chance of getting it, those who are on more ff programs and fly more often are right up there in the same probability.

I'm surprised at those who find it an advantage. Hasn't saved me more than five minutes. I do travel very light so the amount of stuff I need to take out is minuscule.
 
My wife and I did Precheck, but no through Global Entry. I think ours expires in 5 years. We'll probably go with GE next time even though we only travel internationally every couple years.

Having pre-check is nice. Flying my own plane some day will be nicer.
 
denverpilot said:
Isn't it nice that bypassing security is a for-profit venture? LOL.
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Who cares? I'd pay many times that to keep my shoes, belt, and jacket on, and not have to fumble with liquids or go through the scanner.
 
TheTraveler said:
...huh?
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Outside of the US no one cares, or even knows what TSA is, and traveling in the US it's not that much of a difference. Heck I've short cut the lines before when I was running late, never had a problem.
 
Stewartb said:
An $85 tax to slightly reduce government interference with my travel activities. I have a pre-check approval but it still irritates me.
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It's for your saaaaaaafetyyyyy...
 
Apparently they thought my two gunmetal Vokey sand wedges were a threat because they weren't in my golf bag when I got home from my last trip! Thieving bastards.
 
I have pre-check and global entry, both are definitely worth it IMO. Come back on an international flight and get to customs just behind a 747 full of amateur travelers, you will want global entry.
 
Alexb2000 said:
I have pre-check and global entry, both are definitely worth it IMO. Come back on an international flight and get to customs just behind a 747 full of amateur travelers, you will want global entry.
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Do you have the automated CBP machines at your home airport?
 
And, even if you gave the auto-entry machines, the Global a Entry travelers (at DFW, anyway) get to bypass the luggage line completely, which can be a very big difference.
 
Shawn said:
If you have an American Express, they will refund you the $85 precessing fee! So for me it was FREE!
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I've heard this, but AmEx only seems to advertise this as a benefit with AmEx Platinum. Will they do it for other levels as well?

It appears that United will allow members of its loyalty program to apply for precheck selection regardless of status in the program, but most airlines don't appear to make such an offer. I suspect that if I flew more frequently on one particular airline, I may be "selected" for precheck through the loyalty program, but as it stands my yearly trips are split between SWA, United, USAir, and Delta, and so far I've never been "selected."

If applying through the TSA and using a KTN during booking would improve my chances, it might become worth it. If AmEx would pay for it, perhaps a no-brainer.


JKG
 
Did my global entry interview with customs this week. According to the cbp officer, the TSA internal program allows your spouse to tag along through the 'pre' line. With global entry, each traveler needs his own number.

I get 'pre' through my airline status 9/10 fllights already. I did GlobalEntry mostly to get through ATL inbound without missing my connection. Arrive at customs behind some korean flight and you would pay $500 to go to the GE kiosk.

The other day I saw that they are still hawking CLEAR at the airport in Orlando. Makes no sense.

At $85 its a no brainer.

Off to bed, 6:20am departure tomorrow. And yes, I have 'pre' despite booking a one-way yesterday.
 
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ggroves said:
Who cares? I'd pay many times that to keep my shoes, belt, and jacket on, and not have to fumble with liquids or go through the scanner.
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You could just demand the Security Theater be defunded and save us all lots more than $85.
 
I finally caved and did it a few months ago. I was vehemently against the idea of paying the government for the right to not be molested and finger banged by a fat dude with no logical career aspects. One can only take so many pastrami grease stains on their butthole before deciding enough is enough.

Add to it - you can pay $85 and still not get Pre Check, which is quite the racket.

But then my work offered to pay for it for me, so I jumped. Actually, it is quite nice. In addition to avoiding being gate-raped, I also don't have to worry about taking my laptop out of its case, nor do I have to worry about some low-life digging through my **** because I forgot to take the Ziploc bag out of my carry on.
 
JGoodish said:
I've heard this, but AmEx only seems to advertise this as a benefit with AmEx Platinum. Will they do it for other levels as well?
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From AMX web site...looks like no for personal AMX. I am Corporate Plat and all my employes that got refunded are Corporate Gold

"The application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre
tsa-dark.png
is available to American Express Gold Corporate Card Members, Consumer Platinum Card® Members, Corporate Platinum Card Members, and Business Platinum Card Members."

And even if it wasn't covered by AMX, I have no problem with a one time $85 application fee. It is not a recurring or annual fee.
 
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To get TSA prescreen 100% of the time, you have to go to your carrier's website and become a member. You fill out a tab with your passport number and in no time you are approved, obviously you need to be a valued customer. I fly American or United around 100K/yr. total and love TSA pre-check, shorter lines, no computer removing from bag, leave jacket and shoes on. Did I say shorter lines.

I travel quite a bit overseas thru Mia and Global entry is the only way to go. I simply pass by all the long lines at the electronic CBP machines identical to the Global Entry machines and go to the Globe entry machine, get my ticket and go the same custom line as the airline pilots, same thing happens with getting my luggage for a connecting flight.

I can get off the plane and go thru custom in less than 5 minutes, longest was 15. I use to get quizzed ever so often from airline pilots but they are use to global entry, not happy about it but we are the paying customer.
 
Fitzee said:
To get TSA prescreen 100% of the time, you have to go to your carrier's website and become a member. You fill out a tab with your passport number and in no time you are approved, obviously you need to be a valued customer. I fly American or United around 100K/yr. total and love TSA pre-check, shorter lines, no computer removing from bag, leave jacket and shoes on. Did I say shorter lines.

I travel quite a bit overseas thru Mia and Global entry is the only way to go. I simply pass by all the long lines at the electronic CBP machines identical to the Global Entry machines and go to the Globe entry machine, get my ticket and go the same custom line as the airline pilots, same thing happens with getting my luggage for a connecting flight.

I can get off the plane and go thru custom in less than 5 minutes, longest was 15. I use to get quizzed ever so often from airline pilots but they are use to global entry, not happy about it but we are the paying customer.
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+1

I forgot that point about adding your Global Entry to your frequent flyer info. I have yet to not get a pre-check with that in my record.
 
I think it's more accurate that you need to link your TT# to a frequent flyer number at whatever airlines you use. It isn't about being "valued", it's about giving them a mechanism to coordinate your information. Works great for me.
 
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I've gotten off a 10 hour flight from Europe to find a 2 hour line at DFW customs. NOTHING will ruin your day like that. I could have sold Global Entry to those poor saps for $1000 at that point. Stand in one of those lines after a 14 hour day and the politics, taking a stand, etc. don't seem very important.

You've been warned!:)
 
Alexb2000 said:
I've gotten off a 10 hour flight from Europe to find a 2 hour line at DFW customs. NOTHING will ruin your day like that. I could have sold Global Entry to those poor saps for $1000 at that point. Stand in one of those lines after a 14 hour day and the politics, taking a stand, etc. don't seem very important.

You've been warned!:)
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Imagine the conversation we had when returning from Mexico, I had Global Entry, my wife did not (had not gotten the Round Tuit yet). Wait was about 45 minutes, amused, I was not.
 
JGoodish said:
I've heard this, but AmEx only seems to advertise this as a benefit with AmEx Platinum. Will they do it for other levels as well?

It appears that United will allow members of its loyalty program to apply for precheck selection regardless of status in the program, but most airlines don't appear to make such an offer. I suspect that if I flew more frequently on one particular airline, I may be "selected" for precheck through the loyalty program, but as it stands my yearly trips are split between SWA, United, USAir, and Delta, and so far I've never been "selected."

If applying through the TSA and using a KTN during booking would improve my chances, it might become worth it. If AmEx would pay for it, perhaps a no-brainer.


JKG
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United paid the $100 fee for me to get GE.

Shawn said:
From AMX web site...looks like no for personal AMX. I am Corporate Plat and all my employes that got refunded are Corporate Gold

"The application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre
tsa-dark.png
is available to American Express Gold Corporate Card Members, Consumer Platinum Card® Members, Corporate Platinum Card Members, and Business Platinum Card Members."

And even if it wasn't covered by AMX, I have no problem with a one time $85 application fee. It is not a recurring or annual fee.
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Every 5 years.

SCCutler said:
Imagine the conversation we had when returning from Mexico, I had Global Entry, my wife did not (had not gotten the Round Tuit yet). Wait was about 45 minutes, amused, I was not.
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That's why I had my wife sign up for GE last year. I knew that if I had it and she didn't when we came back from Cozumel through IAH that there wouldn't be any benefit to me. She really liked the speed up in getting through. Too bad IAH didn't have TSA Pre once we cleared customs.
 
SCCutler said:
Imagine the conversation we had when returning from Mexico, I had Global Entry, my wife did not (had not gotten the Round Tuit yet). Wait was about 45 minutes, amused, I was not.
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Did you tell her to grab a cab when she got through?




:) I'm not that brave either.
 
Alexb2000 said:
Did you tell her to grab a cab when she got through?




:) I'm not that brave either.
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Yep! Me neither.

Actually, I did not have to say much of anything, and when our later trip to Australia came around, all was in-hand.
 
denverpilot said:
You could just demand the Security Theater be defunded and save us all lots more than $85.
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Always amused at the quaintness of the notion that government will shrink and taxes will go down. That ship has sailed....
 
denverpilot said:
Aren't all customers valued?
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Sure, just a different levels. If I'm a frequent flier on an airline, and send most of my business their way, I expect to be valued more. It would be very socialist to expect everyone be valued the same. Pay more, use more, get more. Nothing wrong with that model.
 
denverpilot said:
Aren't all customers valued?
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No, customer's money is valued. Those who show a willingness to come back have more money to spend and are therefore more valued.

It like whipping every customer unless they become loyal, then whipping them only a little.
 
I have PreCheck and it works well (I guess until more people catch on to the idea and the lines get longer). My wife doesn't have PreCheck yet but when we book with my KT number her boarding passes are so marked. There was one time we got PreCheck boarding passes even without the KT number, I'm not sure how that happened (but we were flying first class on one of the legs though I'm not sure why that should matter).
 
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