TSA's Expanded PreCheck Program Set to Change Airport Security

[jmbklj]

Flew out of Orlando this morning, got all excited when I saw a TSA Pre-Check line there. But for the first time going through a TSA Pre-Check line, I was randomly deselected for Pre-Check bliss. Then I had to move over to a regular line!

There were 3 of us in the Pre-Check line. The 2 men in front of me were allowed to use the Pre-Check line.

So it is possible to be randomly deselected and this was the first time for me.

[kyshel]

Flew out of Orlando this morning, got all excited when I saw a TSA Pre-Check line there. But for the first time going through a TSA Pre-Check line, I was randomly deselected for Pre-Check bliss. Then I had to move over to a regular line!

There were 3 of us in the Pre-Check line. The 2 men in front of me were allowed to use the Pre-Check line.

So it is possible to be randomly deselected and this was the first time for me.

That's a bummer, but, yep, they can do that--says so on the website--no guarantee. I like your choice of "bliss", BTW.

[[email protected]]

I signed up for pre-check and supposedly when you purchase your airline tickets there is some secret code on the ticket/boarding pass that says you can use the pre-check line and I am a global entry card holder so this is also supposed to designate pre-check on your ticket. All the airlines I use have my global entry number and I am signed up on their sites - AA and United, however, every time I have purchased a ticket, the check in guy scans it and says there is no pre check indicated on the ticket. So....... how exactly is this supposed to work - anyone know?

[kyshel]

I signed up for pre-check and supposedly when you purchase your airline tickets there is some secret code on the ticket/boarding pass that says you can use the pre-check line and I am a global entry card holder so this is also supposed to designate pre-check on your ticket. All the airlines I use have my global entry number and I am signed up on their sites - AA and United, however, every time I have purchased a ticket, the check in guy scans it and says there is no pre check indicated on the ticket. So....... how exactly is this supposed to work - anyone know?

So you are already registered you GE with each airline? Do you have to put the GE number in each time you purchase a ticket? I do when I list for a flight--every time. I don't know how it works in your case. I'd take a look at flyertalk or email TSA.gov or each airline for details. Keep in mind, you cannot use Precheck when your domestic leg is attached to an international leg (wow--that sounds really weird!)
It was very strange when my husband was in uniform once but had not put in his GE number as Trusted Traveler. He had his ID, as well as his boarding pass, but had to be identified as GE/Precheck prior. I got to go thru PC and he had to go thru reg line. The scanner knows that difference when you start thru the lanes. We've had no issues since then...
Let us know what you find out, please.

[jmbklj]

Hi Denise,
I believe they are 2 separate programs. GE is for international travel. TSA Pre-Check is for domestic travel, and I thought the enrollment for the 2 programs was separate.

I don't have GE. I think I was one of the early ones enrolled in TSA Pre-Check when Delta piloted the program in 1 or 2 locations. In their case, they automatically enrolled some of their frequent flyers, after explaining the program to them, unless they opted out.

When & where & how did you sign up for Pre-Check?

Also for the airlines in question, go on their websites, look at the data stored in your profile of your account. Look for a reference that says your secure passenger data is saved. Look at what data is saved. For example on the Delta site, it says.....

In order to comply with the Transportation Security Administration's Secure Flight Program, Delta is now collecting additional data for all passengers. This Secure Flight Passenger Data is for use by the Transportation Security Administration only. Learn More.
Please make sure your full name is entered exactly as it appears on your government issued identification (example:Jane Elizabeth Doe.)

Maybe others can shed more light on this topic for you. All I know - Pre-Check is great, as long as you are not occasionally "deselected" as I was recently. But as kyshel mentioned, the program clearly states that you can & will be randomly deselected, just to keep everyone on their toes. I'll be using an airport again tomorrow with Pre-Check and according the to the odds, I would guess I won't be deselected twice in one week, but we'll see. If I am, it could be that something got messed up when Delta did their major website overhaul very recently where there have been lots of bugs that need fixing.

[jmbklj]

The other thing I can tell you.....if you have Pre-Check, when your boarding pass is scanned, you'll hear 3 glorious beeps. You want to hear 3 beeps!

For example, that can handy if you're flying through an airport and you aren't aware they have PC there, when your boarding pass is scanned in a regular line and you hear the 3 beeps; they'll tell you to go through to the PC line.

Again, I can only speak for my Delta experience. In their case, at most airports, I go through their Sky Priority TSA lanes for frequent flyers and if I hear 3 beeps, I'm sent over to the PC non-line.

For this first time this week, at Orlando there was a separate Sky Priority line and a separate PC line - that was a first. I would expect as PC grows, we'll see more of the later setup with separate lines upfront.

[jmbklj]

A couple of resources for TSA Pre-Check info:

$100 to Fly Through the Airport - WSJ.com

TSA FAQs: http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-pre✓™/tsa-pre✓™-faqs

Also below is a link for an article that I stumbled upon that was interesting and confirmed my suspicions of one downfall for those participants like myself who were enrolled by an airline. As what happened to me recently, I can't use PC when I fly an airline other than Delta. If I've been cleared by TSA for this program, I'm the same type of risk on any and all airlines!

TSA has relied on airlines to nominate PreCheck candidates from among their best customers. Because not all airlines participate, and some consider frequent-flier information secret, a passenger qualifying under one airline can’t use PreCheck if flying another carrier. Agency officials said they don’t have the technical capability now to create a clearinghouse that might resolve the roadblock.

“The system should be based on risk and efficiency, not customer loyalty,” said Geoff Freeman, executive vice president at the U.S. Travel Association, a Washington-based trade group.

This is one reason why TSA PC doesn't have as many screenings going thru it as it could. At least for now, it causes less efficient use of TSA staff (if that's possible) because they're usually standing around waiting for PC people to come. There is usually no line at all. I'm sure that will change over time.

The article also talks about GE members who report experiences similar to Denise's - that they haven't been allowed to use PC for several trips & wonder why.

A computer glitch that rejected Global Entry members for minor misspellings was discovered and corrected this summer, TSA’s Hofsass said. Global Entry members have to make sure they enter their identification numbers on each flight, he said.

TSA Limited by Airlines in Trying to Speed U.S. Airport Checks - Businessweek

[jmbklj]

All I know - Pre-Check is great, as long as you are not occasionally "deselected" as I was recently. But as kyshel mentioned, the program clearly states that you can & will be randomly deselected, just to keep everyone on their toes. I'll be using an airport again tomorrow with Pre-Check and according the to the odds, I would guess I won't be deselected twice in one week, but we'll see.

I'm happy to report that I did get the 3 beeps the second time I went thru Pre-Check this week! So I wasn't deselected & buzzed thru with no one else in the Pre-Check line.

[kyshel]

I'm happy to report that I did get the 3 beeps the second time I went thru Pre-Check this week! So I wasn't deselected & buzzed thru with no one else in the Pre-Check line.

Great news! It is such a treat. I really like it when it's winter and you don't have to "strip" for the conveyor. Some airports can be so chilly!
I've never paid attention to the beeps, but you can bet I'll have my ears perked up for the Japan/China trip. I only have one leg where PC will apply (CVG) so I have that on a separate record locator. Return legs are transit, and they don't have PC airside.

[[email protected]]

I did discover that the name on your passport, boarding pass and GE ID all have to have the same identical name. The global entry wanted my real middle name which I never use and my passport has my maiden name so nothing matches up. I went back onto my airline profiles and changed my middle name to my real middle name and saved that but now probably will not match up with my passport - so will probably never get to use pre-check even for domestic flights. So weird - The airlines all have my GE number so you would think the stars would all align - oh well.......