TravelTalkOnline

TSA Precheck

Posted By: JimCandD

TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 12:04 PM

We traveled to SXM the later part of June and when we got to the airport and printed our boarding passes they had TSA Precheck printed on them. It was nice having a shorter line at the security places, but I am wondering why we had this on our passes. We never applied for it since we only fly a couple of times a year but it showed up. I looked at the precheck site and it says you have to apply for it. Not complaining, but does anyone know why this happened without us applying for it?
Posted By: Eric_Hill

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 12:06 PM

It is completely random.
Posted By: pony600

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 12:09 PM

We had it too in April. Also did not apply for it.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 12:16 PM

There are some criteria:

Quote
Passengers with a Known Traveler Number
Passengers who have been issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN) by TSA or CBP have generally undergone a vetting process or background check as part of their employment or via a DHS Trusted Traveler program. Since TSA knows more about these passengers they are more likely to be eligible for TSA PreCheck screening more often than passengers the agency knows less about.

TSA Initiatives

TSA has implemented several initiatives to allow more passengers to experience TSA PreCheck.

Managed Inclusion combines the use of multiple layers of security to indirectly conduct a real-time assessment of passengers at select airports. This initiative will operate at designated checkpoints at different times, depending on passenger volume and other variables.

Risk Assessments are conducted using TSA’s Secure Flight system to identify travelers who may be eligible for TSA PreCheck screening using information already collected and provided to TSA by the airlines. This program is used on a flight-by-flight basis and does not require passengers to enroll in a DHS Trusted Traveler program. If a passenger is eligible for TSA PreCheck for a particular flight, a TSA PreCheck indicator will be embedded in the barcode of the boarding pass so that when scanned at the checkpoint, the passenger may be referred to a TSA PreCheck lane.

Passengers who are deemed eligible for TSA PreCheck via one of these two TSA initiatives will receive TSA PreCheck screening on a flight-by-flight basis and should not expect it each time they fly.


(quote edited to remove checkmark and add "check" to "preCheck" 'cuz it wouldn't translate to this post)
Posted By: Leagle49

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 12:18 PM

If you have not applied for it, you may still get it randomly and not very often. If you do apply and are approved, you will get it most of the time.
Posted By: TravelHat

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 12:33 PM

If you do get it please do not hold up the line by taking off your shoes and belt or taking electronics/laptops out of your bag or emptying your pockets. Just put anything that will trip the metal detector in a bin and move on.
Posted By: ProfLangue

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 01:10 PM

Quote
Leagle49 said:
If you have not applied for it, you may still get it randomly and not very often. If you do apply and are approved, you will get it most of the time.


For whatever reason, I've gotten it - randomly (never applied) - the last 3 or 4 times I've flown. They must like me <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
I hope this holds true this Sat., on my way to St. M!
Posted By: mscottc

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 01:27 PM

Donna and I have been lucky enough to get it on all of our flights since it has started. This includes a few trips to SXM as well as some domestic flights. I'm not going to complain.
Posted By: DonLinda

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 02:25 PM

Sometimes, the TSA PreCheck line is not as well equipped (hardware nor personnel) to let qualified passengers through quickly. The last two times, once in MIA and once in ATL, going through with a titanium knee and card ID which I am supposed to show for it, I had to wait in another line for a thorough pat down because they did not have the full body scanner. It would have been just about as fast to go through the regular lines.
Posted By: Cats2

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 02:29 PM

This past June when leaving SXM I had the dreaded 4 "SSSS" on my boarding pass. My husband had gotten it last year so I was not caught off guard by knowing the process. Security called me up a table by the gateway. They went through everything I had and female Security frisked me. Then they let me go to the plane. I was the 1st person on the plane even before the 1st class folks. It was great, never been #1 to board. Hope it happens again next year.
Posted By: jle4psu

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 04:24 PM

I too have been fortunate to get the TSA precheck for all my flights for at least the past year...didn't apply but I'm happy to see that on my tickets!!!
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 04:33 PM

I read that the random TSP Pre-check is supposed to stop sometime in July for people not vetted for Pre or GE.
Posted By: bksm

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 06:22 PM

Quote
Cats2 said:
This past June when leaving SXM I had the dreaded 4 "SSSS" on my boarding pass. My husband had gotten it last year so I was not caught off guard by knowing the process. Security called me up a table by the gateway. They went through everything I had and female Security frisked me. Then they let me go to the plane. I was the 1st person on the plane even before the 1st class folks. It was great, never been #1 to board. Hope it happens again next year.


How were you able to board prior to first class? I've never heard a gate agent call out that anyone unduly frisked by security may board first. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: rusticchisler

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 06:22 PM

Had to take a flight last week and TSA agent seemed agitated and confused, couldn't differentiate between those who had PRE and those who did not, when I asked why I had to go through the paces even though I had PRE he just barked at me and told me listen to orders.
Posted By: DnCnVA

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 07:11 PM

We've had TSA precheck since 2013, though never applied for it. Wife has travelled 5-6 times with it, me 1-2 times since. But this past trip to SXM we didn't have it, so probably TSA dropped us as mentioned above. We'll probably apply since it's usually a good timesaver.
Posted By: JimCandD

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 07:24 PM

We didn't have a clue what it was until the TSA agent told us to go into a certain line and not to take off our shoes. From then on we looked for it and the lines were much shorter. Like I said before we don't travel that much so for us it wouldn't be worth paying the money and when we book we always allow plenty of time. I guess the best part of the whole thing is that we didn't have to take off our shoes. My feet are further down there than when I was little and the old body doesn't bend quite like it used to. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I would rather spend time at the gate instead of in line. Maybe I would even shop in one of the airport stores. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: candj

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 07:26 PM

The TSA Precheck program is free, other than your time and travel costs to the interview. The Global Entry program costs $100 per person, in addition to your time and travel costs to the interview.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 07:36 PM

Quote
The TSA Precheck program is free, other than your time and travel costs to the interview.


TSA PreCheckis not free. It costs $85 to apply...occasional random assignment is free....GE costs $15 more ans gets you through lines at both ends...

Quote

Had to take a flight last week and TSA agent seemed agitated and confused, couldn't differentiate between those who had PRE and those who did not,


It says "TSA PreCheck" right on your boarding pass and you go into the PreCheck line from the start. No clue why the agent couldn't read the boarding pass ...unless you just went into the regular line and then all bets are off
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 08:10 PM

There is no PRE Check in SXM but it helps for your connections after customs.
Posted By: PattyM

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 08:17 PM

This same thing happened to me ..the sssss's ... she went through every single thing in my carry on, my purse .. she found 2 lighters and confisgated one and said I was only allowed 1 on the plane and frisked me .. I was the very last person on the plane and I did announce while boarding that everyone could feel safe now they found and confiscated my lighter.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 08:22 PM

Quote
SXMScubaman said:
There is no PRE Check in SXM but it helps for your connections after customs.


Correct...there is no PreCheck in any foreign country that does not have US Immigration in residence like Aruba and Dublin. Not even sure if it exists there....

I should also add that we have never had PreCheck printed on our connecting flight boarding passes from SXM...and we have GE and have ALWAYS had it printed on every domestic flight boarding passes..
Posted By: Sun4MnM

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 08:26 PM

We had it for our flights down to SXM, but not on our return last month. And also had it last week on our flight to MCO, but again not on our return. Thought it was perhaps related to checking in on-line prior, but that's not the case based on our recent flight to Florida. So appears to be a random thing. In any case, it sure makes life easier!
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 08:42 PM

Quote
boucharda said:
Quote
SXMScubaman said:
There is no PRE Check in SXM but it helps for your connections after customs.


Correct...there is no PreCheck in any foreign country that does not have US Immigration in residence like Aruba and Dublin. Not even sure if it exists there....

I should also add that we have never had PreCheck printed on our connecting flight boarding passes from SXM...and we have GE and have ALWAYS had it printed on every domestic flight boarding passes..

We have GE and had Pre on all our boarding passes returning from SXM both this last year and a year ago last May.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 09:00 PM

Interesting <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

We have been doing the N/S JB return for the last 2 years so I haven't been subject to PreCheck from SXM
Posted By: rusticchisler

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 09:28 PM

Quote
boucharda said:
Quote
The TSA Precheck program is free, other than your time and travel costs to the interview.


TSA PreCheckis not free. It costs $85 to apply...occasional random assignment is free....GE costs $15 more ans gets you through lines at both ends...

Quote

Had to take a flight last week and TSA agent seemed agitated and confused, couldn't differentiate between those who had PRE and those who did not,


It says "TSA PreCheck" right on your boarding pass and you go into the PreCheck line from the start. No clue why the agent couldn't read the boarding pass ...unless you just went into the regular line and then all bets are off
Went to TSA PRE line and the agitated agent merged us into the regular line. The whole damned thing should be run by the military and it should be strictly done by trained observers with German shepherds and automatic weapons!
Posted By: JimandBeth

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 09:49 PM

we have had Precheck printed on our return boarding passes many times which we have always found funny since there is no TSA in SXM. It does help on the connecting flights in US.
Posted By: WayneH

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 10:00 PM

Not knowing to whom I should reply I will simply revert back to the OP. Leaving Key West last year I had the TSA Precheck on my boarding pass for both legs of my trip, Key West and Miami. In Key West I couldn't use it as I was told that they weren't set up for that. It worked in Miami, though. Just goes to show that not every airport accepts the Precheck, USA as well as other countries.

Wayne <><
Posted By: JimCandD

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 10:49 PM

Us old people have a hard time standing in line! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: JimCandD

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 10:55 PM

It worked for us in Miami, but the line for immigration went around the baggage carosels with nobody telling the people where the line was. It took a while to find the end of the line and then it was so long it took quite a while to get through and re-check our baggage.
Posted By: gotaluvit

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 10:58 PM

The word as of a few months ago was that TSA was going to significantly reduce the likelihood of getting Pre-check for those not enrolled in in Tsa Pre or Global Entry. I have no way of knowing what that means but we are GE and get Pre every time.
Posted By: kim

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/06/2015 11:16 PM

We flew down in June out of JFK. Did not have TSAPrecheck but paid the extra 10.00 bucks through JetBlue to "go to the front of thel line". We were told to leave shoes and belts on and everything else was normal. Didn't even have to declare the lotions in the little bag
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/07/2015 12:31 AM

Quote
boucharda said:
Interesting <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

We have been doing the N/S JB return for the last 2 years so I haven't been subject to PreCheck from SXM


Correct. If you read any of my previous posts I said SXM doesn't have precheck but I got it printed on all my boarding passes anyway for my connecting flight.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/07/2015 12:37 AM

Quote
WayneH said:
Not knowing to whom I should reply I will simply revert back to the OP. Leaving Key West last year I had the TSA Precheck on my boarding pass for both legs of my trip, Key West and Miami. In Key West I couldn't use it as I was told that they weren't set up for that. It worked in Miami, though. Just goes to show that not every airport accepts the Precheck, USA as well as other countries.

Wayne <><


Just returned from Alaska fishing. Flew out of Dillingham and had Precheck. It's a small regional airport. Their pre line is the same as regular but they give you a card when you go through the screening and you can leave shoes on. It was a modified precheck of sorts.
Posted By: Sun4MnM

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/07/2015 06:15 AM

Flew home from JAX to SAT this evening and asked the TSA gate agent...said the TSA Precheck was random. Have GE too, and still only got the TSA Precheck on departing flights...not on return flights.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/07/2015 11:29 AM

I did read your posts and that's why I said it was "interesting" that you had it printed in SXM for the connections. I did not know that since I have been using N/S from SXM for a couple of years

I was being educated and not questioning your posts... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Cats2

Re: TSA Precheck - 07/07/2015 11:50 AM

At the desk they called out my name and one other lady's name. We went to the desk and were directed to go to the Security table by the gateway entrance. They checked our carry on's and frisked us. The 2 security guard told us that they do random checks like this every flight and not to be alarmed. They told us we could not go back to our seats but wait at the gateway. When the 1st class call went out the Security folks told us to go ahead and board. We were the first to get on the plane. Since they had already search our carry on's we were not allowed to go back to waiting area they let us go straight to the plane as soon as other 1st class was called. This happen to my husband last June so I knew what to expect when I saw the 4 "SSSS" on my boarding pass.
© 2024 TravelTalkOnline