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If you’re following me on Twitter or Instagram then you know I was in San Francisco last week to attend a European travel conference. I flew up on American Airlines and I noticed that in both airports there were travelers in the TSA PreCheck line that had no clue what they were doing or how they got there. I later learned that the airlines and TSA are giving the special pre-clearance security to a bunch of travelers who aren’t frequent fliers or PreCheck members.
I actually noticed this same trend the week before when I took my dad to Vegas for his birthday and he was given the privilege himself and he’s neither a frequent traveler nor signed up to PreCheck. He’s 85 and not a security threat, but in San Francisco there were a couple of travelers in front of me in their late twenties who wouldn’t stop high-fiving each other for not having to take their shoes off or laptops or liquids out. I asked if they were PreCheck members or frequent travelers and they both said no. Then just a few minutes ago a friend of mine posted this photo above from LAX saying “And today I have never appreciated this more. Thank you TSA, I heart you and my 5 min security line while the airport is a messsss this AM.”
I’m not sure if what’s going on with PreCheck is good or bad—but what do you think?
If they are circumventing previous security measures in random cases now, I guess that proves that the previous security measures were just a lie/security theater.
We just flew out of Portland, OR this morning. Everyone was sent through the pre-check line. Shoes, jackets, and belts on and nothing taken out of bags. It was 6am, no lines yet.
When we fly to Europe we seem to go thru security so much quicker both arriving and leaving,maybe we should look at there’s or beef up at different times just to keep the bad guys of base
I applied and paid for Global Entry. It’s great coming back into the country but I have found it to be useless in terms of expediting security in the U.S. For one thing I don’t know how I would prove I have it when I travel domestically unless I took my passport with me. They give you a card when you get approved but I was given a stern lecture that that card could only be used when in car driving from the US to Canada! Maybe this isn’t a program for blondes……..
I haven’t actually used it yet, but at the Global Entry screening they told me to use the PASS ID # from the card when booking my ticket and then when the boarding pass is printed out, it will have that number or other indication that you can use the TSA Pre-Check line. There is usually a person at that line who will let you in if that number is on your boarding pass. You shouldn’t need your passport. I have travel plans next month and I was kind of excited about getting to use the pre-check line but it doesn’t sound like it will be that much better based on the comments to this article
I’m a bit sad that I’ve paid for a service being overloaded with those who haven’t paid for the same thing.
I’m dark haired, dark eyed, with an olive complexion. Though I am Hispanic, I am frequently mistaken for being of Middle Eastern descent. Doubt I will ever get anything but a pat-down and an “excuse me Miss, could you step over here, please?” when it comes to airport security. Happens EVERY TIME. Random, my a$$. And please, don’t regale me with “but I’m white and always get pulled for security screenings!” There’s probably a reason you’re being targeted, too, and you just don’t realize it.
Just flew out of LAX last night (Delta). My husband and I have Global Entry, but my daughter who had a flight to another city did not. She made it through the regular line about 15 minutes ahead of us from the TSA pre-check line. There was a huge family with strollers, etc in the line ahead of us. By the way, both flights my husband still had to remove his belt and take all the change out of his pockets.
Still, it’s nice to not have to remove shoes, laptops, etc.
Who wears belts while flying? Or lace up shoes? And who still carries change?
If this becomes a developing trend what good are they? Taxpayers are just paying for another bloated, ineffective service!
It could be that TSA is overwhelmed with travelers, or they are doing more passenger profiling, or alternating security protocols a bit to keep people unsure TSA inspections.
TSA doesn’t know what it’s doing. SURPRISE. I paid $100 for “Global Entry” which offers expedited re-entry into U.S. With that comes Pre-Check. That has saved me many times now…particularly at busy airports. But it appears TSA now is using Pre-Check line as a relief valve during busy travel periods. I suppose that’s OK, but it makes the pre-check less valuable to travelers. And now…I’ve come to count on Pre-check to claim some of my time back from the MESS that is the TSA checkpoint. Maybe I should just learn to fly and get a job as an airline pilot. Then I can zip through the line. HA. Kidding.
After 12 years of security theater it sounds as if it could be a step back toward sanity in air travel security.
I like TSA precheck Delta asked me and I applied online. It really saved time at LAX
I noticed the same thing in my last two flights. Finally the TSA agent was telling people they did not have to remove shoes and take computers out. It was if I was in the regular line. I fly almost every week and I have to say, it was a bit frustrating. With all things travel I just roll with it.
Dallas Love Filed TSA precheck one still has to take the laptop and liquids out, but can keep shoes and belts on. I will never understand why there isnt one rule for all airports.