Community Chat

[Suhse]

Who else has participated in this, and does it not make airport check in, so much faster and easier?

Most of my flying lately, has been regional and on Alaska Airlines. I'm usually selected for TSA Precheck, and it means going thru the much shorter, faster precheck line, not having to take anything off, basically, do nothing but put your carryon items on the belt and walk thru.

It's Great! My home airport is not a large hub, it's helpful there, but, even more so, of course, in larger airports.

I haven't paid to be in the program, I'm assuming Alaska selects participants, somewhat randomly. I fly often, but, not enough, or far enough, to make elite status, so, I'm not sure what their criteria is, or, if other airlines are doing the same thing.

Whatever, I'll happily take being selected. The only downside; the dirty looks you get from other flyers, who are not precheck and are bogged down in those lines. But, I can live with that

[esmeraldagooch]

I've had this 3 out of 4 times I have flown lately. Usually either my husband or I get this. No one cares if you walk past them.

[Chalcedony]

I've been a part of the program almost since it was introduced, and it's great. I do wish that TSA would recognize that, now that they've opened it up to more people, they need more checkpoints at the larger airports. The line at Dulles can sometimes be quite long. I also wish that those who are new to the program would review and understand the rules before getting to the checkpoint. It bogs the process down when people are standing around asking what to do. I guess I just got spoiled in the last three years.

[Financialgrl]

On 8/16/2014 Chalcedony said: I've been a part of the program almost since it was introduced, and it's great. I do wish that TSA would recognize that, now that they've opened it up to more people, they need more checkpoints at the larger airports. The line at Dulles can sometimes be quite long. I also wish that those who are new to the program would review and understand the rules before getting to the checkpoint. It bogs the process down when people are standing around asking what to do. I guess I just got spoiled in the last three years.

Use Dulles to fly a lot and usually with 2 friends. Last time we flew, 2 friends were TSA approved, I was not and I got thru the regular lines faster than they did. Sometimes it works great, other times, not as much.

[FrostyBabe]

I've had precheck for awhile and the majority of the time it works the way it's supposed to and is great. My home airport is quite small and has neither precheck or elite/priority lines but it's never taken me longer than 10 minutes to clear security there anyway. I've found it most useful at SRQ. Not a big airport, but one with vastly more leisure than business travelers and lots of wheelchairs. The regular security line there can be very slow and with precheck I'm through quickly. Large airports like BOS, DTW, LGA, etc seem to be hit or miss. If things get backed up, they just start funneling people everywhere and sometimes the regular lines are shorter.

[terrier3]

I got this on a flight out of Orlando...I felt like I hit the jackpot!

[Qwackertoo]

Last couple of flights . . . was selected for this . . . WONDERFUL.

But I did see a link on Southwest the other day where you can sign up for this but you had to pay a fee . . . seems like it was 80.00 . . . I backed out of the page after reading that . . . and that IF you were NOT approved you didn't get your 80.00 bucks or whatever the amount was back.

That said, I'll take my chances for the free pre-approved flights. I have to get there 1 1/2 hours or so depending on the airport early anyway, stand in line or sitting in the waiting area. Six of one. Half a dozen of the other.

[Madisson]

I've had the TSA precheck the last several times I've flown also. I don't know how they pick people for it. Maybe they do a background check on you. Who knows? I like it though. I hate taking off my shoes at the airport.

[muttmom]

I do not understand how random people are selected. Is it strictly by appearance? If so, we know looks are deceiving. A lovely mother with adorable child could be as dangerous as the man who speaks with a heavy accent.

[Chalcedony]

I too would like to know how people are being randomly selected. I got into the program using my Global Entry number, which required a background check, interview, and fingerprinting. If passengers are being granted PreCheck without the background check, it seems to defeat the purpose of the program.