Used to getting TSA Precheck? Not so fast...

[subtchr]

I've seen several articles that say being selected for TSA Precheck either as a frequent flyer or at random may be coming to an end, or at least severely restricted. HERE is one.

I travel often for work and leisure, and for a while I was getting Precheck 70-80% of the time. That has started to drop off, so I'm about to bite the bullet and pay the $85.

Anyone else?

 

[supersnoop]

American Express's Platinum card covered the $100 Global Entry fee for me, and that gets you pre-check. With the other benefits, the annual fee is more than worth it, at least for one year.

 

[SarahInMN]

We have Global Entry - totally worth it for us. I would say the 85$ for precheck is worth it. Honestly between Global Entry/precheck and airline status, traveling is so much easier relatively speaking.

Bottom line spring for pre check!

 

[conniehar90]

I fly Southwest at least twice a month. I received an email from them back in early May that stated I was now eligible for TSA Precheck. Since I received that email I have gotten Pre-check exactly ONE time out of around 20 legs! I don't know why they even sent me the email!

 

[DebbieB]

I've been pretty lucky getting it on Southwest and American almost every time. I'm considering forking out the $85 for 5 years if it's no longer available randomly. I'll have an American trip in 2 weeks to Dallas, we'll see.

 

[nkereina]

I travel for work about once a month and have NEVER gotten pre-check! I've been sent through the pre-check line by TSA agents, but it's never been specified on my boarding pass where I could proceed on my own to that line.

 

[bumbershoot]

I travel for work about once a month and have NEVER gotten pre-check! I've been sent through the pre-check line by TSA agents, but it's never been specified on my boarding pass where I could proceed on my own to that line.

That's sort of odd! You make sure that your frequent flyer number is entered every time you do online checkin? It should trigger Pre at least some of those times, since I assume you have status with at least one airline.


OP, my brother, who is crazy-smart and thinks a LOT about a LOT of things, and pays close attention, believes that TSA *wants* everyone to buy Pre, *wants* everyone to be directed to Pre, etc, so that eventually everyone gets it and we can all go back to the way security used to be, without them actually admitting how silly it's all been. I think my brother might have a good point.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Lately at my home airport (ATL) the precheck line is SO long I generally skip it. I have Global Entry so it's very rare I don't get it, but since they are giving it to anyone without opening additional lanes it's just too clogged up. There is no time savings by the time you stand in the long line for checking ID and then wait while the 'newbies" take off their shoes, take out their laptop, get yelled at, put everything back etc... LOL

If they want everyone in Pre then they have to open more then two lanes at the busiest airport in the US!

 

[nkereina]

That's sort of odd! You make sure that your frequent flyer number is entered every time you do online checkin? It should trigger Pre at least some of those times, since I assume you have status with at least one airline.

I thought it was odd too! I primarily fly Southwest but since I have to fly other airlines at times I'm not A List yet. I do have a lot of rapid reward points though, and I always make sure it's entered when checking in. Maybe Southwest doesn't trigger it or something? I'll be trying it again next week though! lol

 

[supersnoop]

I thought it was odd too! I primarily fly Southwest but since I have to fly other airlines at times I'm not A List yet. I do have a lot of rapid reward points though, and I always make sure it's entered when checking in. Maybe Southwest doesn't trigger it or something? I'll be trying it again next week though! lol

It's always worked for me on Southwest. However, my wife recently added Global Entry and she didn't get Precheck on the two southwest flights she's taken since then. I'm not sure if it just takes a while to recognize it, or if there's something set up wrong in her account.

 

[n2mm]

My husband and I signed up this spring for tsa precheck. I had my KTN within 24 hours. My husbands took a week. It was the best $$ we have spent. While $80 per person, it is for 5 years so really it's $17 a year. Since getting the number we have gotten precheck on the last 6 flights. Completely worth it. We traveled with our granddaughters to mco in August and it as nice that 12 and under can go with you. All three girls even had precheck printed on their return home tickets. I've gotten precheck on southwest, united, and JetBlue since signing up and that also includes flying in and out of Dulles, bwi, Reagan and of course MCO. Well worth it to us!

 

[n2mm]

Just wanted to mention that I had to call SW to add my information because I was holding existing tickets and only they could add the information. I was able to add the info into my profile myself, but the agent did double check everything. Also your profile name has to be exactly as it is listed on you KTN account.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've seen several articles that say being selected for TSA Precheck either as a frequent flyer or at random may be coming to an end, or at least severely restricted. HERE is one.

I travel often for work and leisure, and for a while I was getting Precheck 70-80% of the time. That has started to drop off, so I'm about to bite the bullet and pay the $85.

Anyone else?

American Express's Platinum card covered the $100 Global Entry fee for me, and that gets you pre-check. With the other benefits, the annual fee is more than worth it, at least for one year.

That's what we did. Got GE last year and have been fortunate enough to get Pre-check 100% of the time. In addition, GE helps when returning from a foreign trip. Considering the small difference I'd suggest anybody thinking of paying $85 for pre-check, go the extra $15 and get GE.

 

[Plaid Princess]

I have Global Entry as well... worth every penny!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I would spend $85 a YEAR if I had to - the fact that its for 5 years is just a bonus. Has saved hours.
The article is GREAT news - keep the ignorant out of our lines!

 

[tjmw2727]

Signed up Monday - took maybe 5 minutes! I have been getting it pretty consistently with my status and I knew I wanted to do this - finally they opened a place to sign up in driving distance so I went ahead and made the appointment. Waiting patiently for my KTN so I can add it to my flights in the next 3 months.

 

[bookgirl]

I fly Southwest at least twice a month. I received an email from them back in early May that stated I was now eligible for TSA Precheck. Since I received that email I have gotten Pre-check exactly ONE time out of around 20 legs! I don't know why they even sent me the email!

I got that same email, if you click the link it takes you to the TSA site where you pay for the precheck. (the $85).

I fly 3 or 4 times a year, but totally not worth it for me.

My mom is 71 she ALWAYS gets precheck. She always says she'll go through with me but I'm like just go through and I'll meet you on the other side.

 

[tjmw2727]

I got that same email, if you click the link it takes you to the TSA site where you pay for the precheck. (the $85).

I fly 3 or 4 times a year, but totally not worth it for me.

My mom is 71 she ALWAYS gets precheck. She always says she'll go through with me but I'm like just go through and I'll meet you on the other side.

I think its worth it, even if you fly 3 times a year! $85 for pre check and its good for 5 years so that's 17 a year, if you only fly 3 times a year that is an additional 2.83 a leg - or less than 6 a flight! I think most people would pay an extra 6 per r/t for pre -check if given the option.

 

[bookgirl]

I actually do get precheck about half the time now, but I'm really fond of early morning flights and the TSA pre check isn't open at my airport then.

I'm just not bugged too much by the lines.

However I am open to changing my mind and if it starts to bug me then I probably will go ahead and precheck.

 

[n2mm]

Signed up Monday - took maybe 5 minutes! I have been getting it pretty consistently with my status and I knew I wanted to do this - finally they opened a place to sign up in driving distance so I went ahead and made the appointment. Waiting patiently for my KTN so I can add it to my flights in the next 3 months.

You can go online and check for your number before you get your letter in the mail. I logged on the next day after applying and was already approved and got my KTN. Then you need to update your airline profiles.

As for those who get it randomly, that perk is ending. They are issuing it less and less. I was getting it 100% of the time because of my usg clearance before I retired. My husband got it on Jetblue, but not united and southwest. We fly about 4 trips a year, so decided that $17 a year for each of us was well worth it to sign up. We fly out of busy airports from the Washington, D.C. Area. We flew home from mco last night and we walked right through the security checkin and the regular line was very long.