Changes to Pre Check

Just a heads up. My daughter and Son in Law just returned from their Global Entry interview. They were told that the airlines will no longer issue Pre Check randomly. You'll have to have GE, Nexus or Pre-Check approval to get it.
My wife just checked in for a flight today and got Pre Check and the other two traveling with her that usually get Pre did not. My wife is the only one with GE.

I don't know what 'pre check' means. But on a recent trip to SXM, I encountered a 'TSA Pre (TM)' that was anything like what I expected. I have been a member of Global Entry for a few years now, and consequently TSA Pre. But this time, on March 19 while on the way to SXM, I was diverted to a 'Nude-O-Scope'. And the fellow who was running that device was rather hostile, asking why I had stuff in my pockets. Since I had expected to go through a metal detector, I hadn't bothered to remove my pill container, plastic comb, wallet and so forth from my pockets. This led the fellow to do the expected 'feel up'. That didn't bother me, but the delay did. I won't bother this audience with why I don't think they should bother with me: I am not a threat to the aircraft and they (The TSA) should know it. They should be paying attention to other passengers who they don't know are not a threat to the aircraft. So they wasted an opportunity.

Pre Check is TSA Pre.

We flew out of Boston on March 12 and had TSA pre. We don't have Global Entry. It was a breeze, no shoes off , didn't have to remove computer, left jackets on, only request was empty pockets.

Well according to a few sources the random free TSA pre ended in September...but we know it didn't. Soooo...it's definitely only for GE travelers....and those who are not <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

TSA Pre

Perhaps it ended for tickets purchased after September, not for flights after September? Just guessing....

Only people enrolled in an known traveler program (TSA Pre, GE, Nexus, and Sentri) will be eligible for TSA Precheck. They no longer let frequent flyers not enrolled be given the Precheck flag on boarding pass nor will anyone be redirected to the Precheck line based on behavior.

Keep in mind those in GE, Nexus, and Sentri that Precheck is not guaranteed, although you most likely will get it most of the time, it is not a guarantee and there could be a chance you may not get it on the occasional flight.

Or, you may not get it at all and be out the $100 registration fee. If you have ANYTHING on your record, including things like taking something through security that is not allowed, you most likely will be declined.

Only if you were formally written up and found guilty.

My husband and I both were given random pre check on JetBlue on March 23. Just saying.

Funny - we were all flying business class to SXm on AA in March - son(16) got pre check and the rest of us did not, three different reservations.

The airlines are the ones giving it and that is supposed to stop unless you have a number on file. Maybe all the systems haven't been changed yet but it's supposed to happen and already has in some cases.
My post wasn't for argument, just posting info that is happening. The link in a post above said the same.

I have done reservations where my group was all on the same itinerary and only 1 of us got TSA precheck (me). So in the long run it saved nothing as I had to wait a long time for everyone else to get through the security lines.

I've had a colostomy for 17 years and that nude-o-meter get's me felt up every time. I tell them what I have and the TSA agents are dumbfounded. Can you take it off, can you open it, what do we usually do?

Be glad your not behind me in security.

I have GE and didn't get TSA pre my last flight to SXM. Probably should check my profile in Delta. Info seems to disappear.

We are Global Entry But have noticed that anyone buying extra space on JB is almost always pre cleared to shorter comfy line leaving usa

Well I'm confused. Isn't global entry used to speed up "entering the US" and TSA PreCheck is for flying out? I would think it should be the same clearance - but......

Precheck is great after you go through customs returning to the USA for a connecting flight since you need to go through TSA again.
Having GE gets you through immigration and customs much faster and if you have PRE it's the best of both worlds.

Now I'm confused. You're not saying that the benefit of usually getting TSA Precheck with Global Entry is going away, are you?

Never mind, I just re-read your first post.

Just checked in for my Southwest Airlines flight for tomorrow morning & I got TSA Pre-check - I do not have Global entry & just made my reservations in February.

Yup, Since September only available for GE members...and everyone else <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

..except me!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> I haven't gotten pre-check in a long time. And coming home from SXM this time, I got the third degree in SJU. I must have made someone's 'naughty' list..

Makes no sense at all. But it's a government program.....

Have a fabulous trip!!

Exactly - I went that extra mile to get the "gold star" on my drivers license. Not even sure what that gets me, but there should be ONE clearing house for GE/PreCheck and the "gold star" should also mean something!!! Government at its finest!

Part of Global Entry benefits is TSA Pre-Check. Application and acceptance of GE requires the individual to complete a background questionnaire and visit a TSA facility for an interview by a TSA agent. Since a background check has been performed, the individual is deemed a lesser security risk and is subject to a less stringent TSA security check on domestic flights (TSA Pre-check). An application and processing is also required ($100) and your GE certification is good for 5 years. The TSA Pre-check benefit, however, can be suspended if conditions warrant. My Wife and I had had GE for two years. TSA Pre-check works for all our domestic flights, including US portions of international flights. It is not applicable in SXM since they have their own security protocol. For frequent travelers it is worth not having the added inconvenience. BTW the GE part includes scanning your fingerprints and taking a photo at the entry kiosks when returning to US airport for Customs and Immigration.

Returning from our last trip tp SXM ( boarding pass said PRE but there wasn't) . We cleared customs in Atlanta. My wife being a resident alien did the kiosks with me ( only 1 line for everybody) had the big X thru her coupon from the kiosk made us have to talk with an immigration agent. The total process took 15 to 20 minutes thru imigration , customs and rechecking our bags.

I was kinda in shock on this one.

SXM??? Wendell

For the record, the interview is not with a TSA agent but with a Customs agent.

Same experience at JFK. I think between getting off the plane to the curb, with checked luggage it was 26 or 27 minutes - we all got the X because my husband did his own, and my son "helped" me and pushes all the wrong buttons - helping!!

This might be part of the variability that people seem to be reporting regarding whether or not they get TSA Pre when you have Global Entry. You have to enter your Known Traveler Number into the information you give the airline for check-in and, depending on how you booked your trip (maybe through a place like Orbitz vs. directly with the airline), that information may not get all the way through to the airline. And, with some of the airline mergers, some of their computer systems aren't fully merged and information like this can get dropped. I'm pretty sure this happened to us once when we had a "mixed carrier trip" and didn't get TSA Pre on one leg.

I've noticed that some carriers save all traveler info in the profile EXCEPT for the known traveler number for traveler #2. Mine is always there but my wife's was blank (again)...easy to add but don't assume it's there

Even further for the record, the interview is with an ICE Agent (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />