AA changes in TSA preckeck

Just recieved this from AA about the changes being made.

"This month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is making changes to the TSA Pre✓® Trusted Traveler Program that will impact which travelers receive expedited screening. If you're not already a member of one of the Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry or the TSA Pre✓® Application Program, you will probably see a decline in how often you receive expedited screening, even if you've previously "opted-in" through a frequent flyer program.

The best way to increase your chances of receiving TSA Pre✓® on a regular basis is to register for a Trusted Traveler Program with the Department of Homeland Security at dhs.gov/tt. Once you receive your Known Traveler Number (KTN) from TSA, be sure you update your AAdvantage profile.

To add your KTN to your AAdvantage profile:
Login to your account on aa.com and select My Account from the AAdvantage menu
Within My Account, go to the Information and Password tab
Add your Customs and Border Protection 9-digit PASS ID to your secure traveler information
For more information on TSA Pre✓®, visit tsa.gov/tsa-precheck."

Hmmm, I guess this means more value added for people that have registered for either program. I wonder what prompted the changes?

I don't have the faintest idea and I have no idea how they happen on TSA pre-check when they do it. However, to ME, personally, the concept of paying extra and getting PSA pre-check, which I think is what Jet Blue does, among others, is ludicruous. Just because someone pays money, why should they be granted less security screening? To me, it would seem that if a terrorist could stand a better chance of getting a bomb on a plane by paying $10 or $20, I would think they would do that.... I agree with the concept of the trusted traveler program, but paying money without more, to get out of security screenings is crazy..

My last trip to SXM on 2 of the legs PER check was stamped on my boarding pass and I went through the expedited line. I never signed up for it and no one could give me an answer why my boarding pass was stamped with it.

SXM??? Wendell

We have used Global Entry almost since its inception. It is my understanding that the airlines do not determine who gets TSA Pre check, but rather the TSA does.

The interview process for Global Entry is quite comprehensive. You are interviewed in person. Then I believe they also do a security check on each individual, checking credit reports, etc.

The airlines tie into the TSA's data to determine who gets Pre-check or not. The records are linked by the Known Traveler ID which we were assigned when we completed our Global Entry interview.

I have had this happen as well but only domestically, never on an international flight. I am of the opinion that much of the airport security operation is smoke and mirrors designed to make you feel safe without doing anything. I know of someone who got a box cutter through three security checks (unintentionally) before it was caught at the fourth. A new employee put it in the wrong box for our convention supplies (carry on vs. mailed ahead) so it was a truly innocent mistake, but one can do far from innocent things with it.

Carol's point on paying more for less security is right on target.

Last year in Miami, Global Pass made the difference between us making our flight and missing it. Customs was a zoo, and we skated right through. That alone was worth the money we paid. For anyone who has to deal with customs, I would highly recommend it.

Before we signed up for Global Entry we got pre-check on most domestic and international flights.

Harry--I'm not talking about Global Entry. I'm talking about paying the airline a fee to get pre-check, without there being ANY additional screening at all. Jet Blue does it, I know, in Orlando. Not sure what airlines do it where..

You must be vetted to get a pre-check including an interview.

Carol, We fly Jet Blue all the time and very often get the boarding pass with "pre check" we never paid an additional fee. Maybe they just like our faces! We don't look to dangerous do we? Looks can be fooling.

In BOS when flying on JB there are two security lines to check ID's...one for the economy passengers and one for the "even more room" passengers (called "even more speed" security but it only pertains to document checking). Obviously the latter is shorter...but...after that if you do not have pre-check on your boarding pass you still go through the regular scanner (laptops out etc) pre-check goes to the right and has expedited screening.

So...you can pay for extra room and not have TSA pre-check on your boarding pass

As was mentioned the airlines do not choose who gets TSA pre-check (different from the ID/boarding pass check point)

We get pre-check when we fly first class, which is paying for pre-check. We never bothered with Global Entry as we fly out of a commuter airport on RJs. If there are more then 10 people in line it's crowded. Most of the TSA agents know us from our restaurant

My tennis buddy flies (AA) from BOS to LAX frequently, does not have GE and flies economy. She always gets TSA pre-check on her boarding pass....so just because you paid for First Class doesn't mean you also "paid" for TSA pre-check.

What I am saying I agree with Carol, it's not fair because I paid more for my ticket I get pre-check, although I am not complains. In Madrid we walked past a huge crowd to the front of the line, they don't call it pre-check but it express boarding, my own term, only because of first class

There is an option, when flying from Orlando, at any rate, to pay an extra fee, which includes advance boarding and TSA pre check..

OK maybe it works differently in Orlando. I've never paid for it myself, but there appear to be only two lines in Orlando. In Orlando, if you pay the extra money, you get the TSA precheck line, with expedited screening, no taking off shoes, taking out laptops, etc.

I believe that all AA was trying to say was that, in the beginning, in order to introduce TSA PreCheck, the airlines were able to offer it to some of their frequent fliers.

I was getting it often enough that I thought I had it by default. The first time I did not get it, I applied for it as soon as I got home. It cost $85 for 5 years and if you fly a lot, it may be worth it to you. I know it helped me once get through a short SXM return connection. it is a government program, not an airline program.

There seems to be some confusion about expedited screening (Pre-Check) and priority access to the front of the TSA screening line. Changes by Homeland Security are ending a pilot program in which some US based airlines participated in Pre-Check acceptance prior to arrival at the airport. The pilot program allowed frequent flyers from these airlines to volunteer to participate in pre-check by authorizing additional pre-flight background assesment. The asessment was performed by TSA using information about a passenger's prior activity with the airline and other publicly available information. Homeland Security is ending this program because it is uncomfortable with the strength or reliability of the information available through this method. Now, Pre-Check designation prior to arrival at the airport will require enrolling in a program sponsored by TSA (e.g., Global Entry, DoD/military) where the individual undergoes a background investigation, finger-print authentication and an in-person screening interview. The priority access program is run by the airlines and allows those on a premium level of service to bypass the line to arrive at the level of screening TSA is offering at that time; some will be selected for full-screening where others will be allowed the expedited screening equivalent to pre-check. However, these assessments are made by TSA when you are in line and depend on a number of factors. People who stand in the regular TSA line may also be selected for the expedited screening. I hope this clears up some of the confusion..but it is a safety thing that we should be glad is changing.

Not always true. I recently retired, but before that I was a "frequent flyer" on AA.. Was platinum 7 years straight, Lifetime gold. When the TSA precheck came to ORD, AA sent me an email with an electronic sign up..I never was interviewed. Not sure how that will impact me now...I recived the same letter, time will tell.

Carol we paid it one time and didn't see any advantage. THEN next trip hubby wanted it again. He thought maybe the last time the delay was because of heavy volume. So I paid again and again we watched those who hadn't paid go thru TSA faster than we did. I asked why and TSA told me the airline only pays for one dedicated TSA agent. So you're right, it isn't worth it.

Maybe AA (as stated by previous poster) was paying for more than one agent and now will either pay for only one or for none thus becoming of no use?

There appears to be a lot of confusion about getting TSA Pre on your boarding pass which allows you to access the TSA Pre expedited line at airport security. There are are several Homeland Security programs that will dramatically increase your chances of seeing TSA Pre on your boarding pass, regardless of ANYTHING your airline might do. The two biggies are the TSA Pre and Global entry programs. Anyone on this forum wants Global Entry. You have to PAY Homeland Security for either but not the airline.

Outside of these programs, the airline can CHOOSE to assist in getting TSA Pre on your boarding pass and that is what some airlines are trying to charge you for. In the beginning they did so as a SERVICE more so for frequent flyers.

At the end of the day, the TSA Pre line (domestic) may or may not be shorter. I have never seen a case where the Global Entry line (international) was not much shorter.

Actually, that's not always the case. I just got my Global Entry on Friday. A month ago I applied on line (took about 10 minutes) and set up the interview for last Friday. The only question the agent asked me was if I had any questions. He explained to me the rules and how to activate it, took my picture and finger prints and I was out of there in literally 5 minutes. I was surprised because my wife got hers last year and she said the agent asked her a number of questions. They do however do a background security check.

I work as a volunteer at a Washington DC airport. Many people have been given the TSA Pre-Check validation in the last year without paying for a Trusted Traveler program. All of last year we were told that people were randomly selected to get it for free so that they could get used to it, see the value, and then join one of the Trusted Traveler programs once they cut back on giving it to people for free. This isn't a choice made by AA, but will become the norm for all airlines.