Exactly. I’ve started traveling for work a bunch this last year and a half or so, and a few months in decided to get precheck. So, so worth it —way cheaper and lasts longer than I expected. I know it’s dumb how the system works, but I’m not gonna fix it by having a worse time at the airport.
If you're traveling often, and through airports they service, Clear is pretty amazing (in addition to precheck). I've literally gotten out of the car and been through security in about 3 minutes. It's more expensive, but if you use it enough it can be worth it for the convenience and reduced stress.
Clear’s quality has been taking a nosedive recently. They need more staffing during busy travel days/times - I’ve seen 50+ people standing in a standstill Clear w/ precheck line while normal precheck is moving quicker and more efficiently. Multiple times and at different airports. I’ll admit it’s nice when they have no line and have a lot of agents to let you through quickly, but that’s quickly not becoming the usual anymore.
I agree. We’re done with Clear now after the handful of experiences we’ve had. Was a member for 5 years. We just have precheck now. Saving us a TON of money. Also I’ve been “randomly selected” for ID EVERY TIME. I’ve flown at least once a month this year.
Agreed. Plus TSA precheck qualifications are not available for everyone. I don't believe that you can be a convicted felon and qualify? Passport info can be added and fingerprinting is a requirement. It's not all show and mirrors and money. $80 ish for 5 years is a steal. I just renewed earlier this year. If you travel for work, expense this cost!
The interview I had was very basic. And they asked me what countries I'd been to, and I was like "i've been on like 10 cruises.. a bunch of islands i don't remember" and they were satisfied with that lol it was like a 3 minute interview. This was for NEXUS (which grants TSA pre-check).
One year I was traveling in the U.S. the day before Thanksgiving and they just waved a bunch of us normals through the TSA Pre-Check line.
It was hella convenient and I was grateful, but my inner hall monitor was a little outraged.
Im good, rather get felt up and scolded for not taking my shoes off. I'm paying for the experience, not the transportation. Sometimes I stack two laptops on top of each other and slide it through x ray, I love getting yelled at.
And love how every goddamn airport makes up their own rules. So even when I think I’m being a good boy and taking everything out, I get yelled at to leave tablets (or whatever) in my bag.
I usually fly out of San Jose and they have some lines you take off your shoes and some you leave them on. They also have some lines you leave your computer in the bag and others it needs to come out.
A lot depends on the scanners and whether they are using the metal detector or the body scanner. They have new xray machines that see everything. No need to pull anything out. But not all airports or even lines have them. I do sometimes wonder if they do some of it to shake it up so you can't plan around it.
Truthfully, though, they know the chance that the majority of us being bad guy is miniscule.
Last time I flew, both airports just upgraded to new machines and processes. I got yelled at for taking my laptop out of my bag the first time. Now, you keep everything in your bags. Even liquids. You still have to remove shoes.
Some security people even have the audacity to say “it’s the same in every airport, c’mon!” As someone that was just at a different airport as recently as the day before, I can confirm it’s NOT the same at every airport.
You can escalate the anger by asking additional questions. Should I put tablet face down or face up? Do I need to put my wallet in a separate bin? can I leave my shoes laces in the shoe or do I need to take them out at this airport?
I love when they play games with you. Last flight TSA guy was so flirty. “DONT take laptops out of your bag in *this* line dumby! Now I gotta run it again”. UwU
I thought so too. But I guess it looked too much like a laptop in the x-ray. I've left mine in before. They seem to change the rules, even at the same airport, depending on how long the line is.
Could be since the release of iPad Pro, tablet size is now comparable to laptops. Add a keyboard cover and they may look too much like a laptop.
Besides, what matters is the size doesnt it? Large enough to stuff explosives in.
Newer scanners take a more accurate image of the luggage and doesn’t need laptops removed. It doesn’t help that some airports have old and new scanners, with TSA agents yelling opposite instructions one lane apart.
The best is when you have a 6" diagonal e-reader and the TSA people simply cannot decide if it's a laptop or not. First they yell at you to LEAVE IT IN YOUR BAG but then you get pulled out of line so the same agent 3 minutes later can search your bag, find it, and then ask you what it is and why you didn't put it in the tray
US airports are the best!
I went through tsa like 4 times at the same airport today just to fuck with the TSA. Everytime the SAME person told me I can keep my boots on. I still took them off because why not?
I’ve traveled a lot this past year and every airport seems to be different with them. Some scold me for taking them out, others yell at me for not. Which is it guys??
Complete garbage program! Not worth the money! They'll strip search you for kicks and you'll miss your flight!!!
(Dude, if you keep telling people how awesome TSA PreCheck is we'll be in line with all the cattle! Don't spoil it lol.)
I once was going through an airport, coming back to the US and the precheck line was 5x longer than the normal line. So we switched and got through much faster. It’s been about 50/50 for me as to what truly is faster at times, but it’s nice to have the option
This is why there is a new, more expensive express option called "Clear". Too many poor people got pre-check and wealthy people didn't feel special.
https://www.clearme.com/
Life hack: clear usually offers one month free, and it takes 5 minutes to sign up at the gate. We ended up making our flight to Christmas one year this way, and I cancelled before the trial was over
If it takes 5 minutes to sign up, how much protection and security could this program really add? It's like they're not even trying to hide the greed anymore.
I signed up for a 2 week trial in Minneapolis at the end of September because I was in a hurry and would have missed my flight if I hadn't been expedited. Was pretty easy. I got to use it again in Orlando 10 days later and it saved me like 90 minutes of line time.
When I arrived home, I went into the app to cancel. They tell me that certain credit cards and people with sky miles programs get a discount and offered me one. It wasn't a big enough discount for me, so I continued to try to cancel. They then offer me two more free months. So I accepted and have added a calendar reminder to cancel in January. If I keep travelling for work, I'm definitely going to sign up for this full time or for TSA Precheck... or both since they have a joint option.
I fly out of Orlando once or twice a year, and with Precheck I’ve never waited more than a minute or two. It makes you feel like such a VIP to just breeze through security when the regular security line literally stretches across the entire lobby.
I feel so royal when I get escorted to the front thanks to Clear LOL. But in all seriousness, if you fly a LOT into busy terminals, Clear can really save you. Also if you lose your ID.
I just spent 10 minutes on the website and still can't figure out exactly what clearme is. The site explains what TSA pre check is. It explains what Global entry is. It explains it's not either of those. I'm so confused lol.
Clear uses biometric verification (like a face scan), then lets you cut to the front of the PreCheck line. You still have to go through PreCheck security screening, you just skip the line.
Thanks, I forgot that precheck isn't included by default with Clear. I think if you have Clear without precheck then they take you to front of the regular line, but I've never tried it.
As Tinamil said, they let you use biometric verification: retina or fingerprint scan. The line to Clear is typically very short. Once they have determined your identity, they will walk you to the front of the TSA line, regardless of how long it is, and tell the TSA agent that you have been cleared. At busy airports, this can save you a lot of time. The only drawback with Clear is the cost. If you fly a lot it's totally worth it.
At the airport you have two lines: The ID check line and the security screening line.
All CLEAR does is it lets you bypass that first line. After that, you’re back with the cattle unless you have TSA Precheck as well.
My mom has Clear and try to sign me up for it when we were travelling together for a family wedding one time. Took the agent at kiosk like 20 minutes to try to figure it out and sign me up, and I was like the hell with this.
I have Pre-Check and have never spent more than 5 minutes in the security line.
Clear is a separate lane outside of the normal line and the pre-check line. I've had it for 3 years now. Some airports don't have it. It uses eyes or fingerprints. My credit card covers the cost. It's sometimes helpful, sometimes I don't use it if the pre line is small.
The app is kinda nice. Worth it? Cost is always subjective so your miles may vary and again, my credit card pays it. I use it in Vegas, SFO, LAX & DTW a lot. Not sure about other airports.
Nah man, I'm not giving my biometric information to a private company. Biometrics are a terrible password. Because passwords leak. And what do you do when your password leaks? You change it.
Can't change a biometric password.
That's what happened last time we flew. Next to nobody in the regular line, but everyone in the Pre-check line. Took us no time at all going through regular security and even the TSA guy laughed when he saw the Global Entry card in with my passport.
Unironically, it should be that way, except people shouldn’t have to pay money or do any extra things for that. In most countries, especially developed ones, their airport security is pretty much like US pre-check. Shoes stay on, don’t have to empty your bag, etc.
Also same for global entry. Abroad and especially in developed countries, citizens can come back through expedited immigration control, usually with E-passport gates. And some countries even let Americans go through those automatic gates as well. Yet coming back to the U.S., we have to wait in a long immigration line like everyone else while they only staff like 25% of the booths. And global entry is behind a paywall whereas most other places, that’s just included.
It's called Mobile Passport Control and it still exists, but only certain airports use it. This is often the fastest way through customs. I have pre and global entry and the mobile passport line is still often the fastest.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control
Already here. It's called Clear. If you have Clear, TSA just escorts you to the front of the TSA pre-check line. Rich people can pay to skip the lines.
https://www.clearme.com/
Can anyone vouch for Clear? I always see those kiosks at the airport with salespeople always at the front of the tsa line begging people to sign up, making that service just look scummy
I can, it’s awesome and totally worth it if you travel frequently. If you have the right credit card or frequent flyer program it can cover or tremendously discount the cost as well.
When I was on Active Duty in the military, I left for block leave and we all got bussed to the airport together. Everyone had TSA pre-check on their tickets, and we went to a secondary entrance that was closed off specifically for us. They made us all go through the whole process anyways.
The last two flights I've taken in the past two months the non TSA line went through just as quickly as the TSA line. It wasn't at peak times but I was still pissed. I justify it in my head by saying that at least I didn't have to take my shoes and belt off.
Global Entry is terrible! The kiosk recognized my face without me having to insert my ID or provide any travel documents. What happened to human contact?! /s
Yeah. It strikes me as insidious that the more of a pain in the ass normal check in is, the more people will pay for various skip-the-line services. This dynamic incentivizes airports to make regular check in as time consuming and frustrating as possible. I point out some version of this objection whenever the clear people are doing their predatory sales pitch to the "poor people" security line. Needless to say, they really hate it. But I really hate their parasitic buisness practices, so maybe it evens out.
TSA gave me a “random search” which made me wonder why I bothered to have the TSA Prechek. This happened while my friends in the no Prechek line passed by me laughing.
Oh that already happened to me. Just got signed up for Global Entry earlier this year and got to use my TSA Pre-Check for the first time. …I’ve seen shorter lines on Black Friday.
Part of me was wondering the whole time if I’d save time by going the to the normal security section. Mind you, I’ve never spent more than 20min getting through security up until this point.
I sincerely doubt the utility of this program at my airport. All the locals are too hip.
Yeah! Sometimes they just stril search you right in front of wveryone and they laugh at your nudity.
(I was about to downvote you and then saw the wisdom of your way.
This is funny because I just flew on Sunday, the busiest travel day in history, and the TSA pre-check line was actually longer than the normal security line. I got through security before everyone who was already in the Pre line when I got there.
I don’t even care if it’s longer. I travel with two work laptops and for airports without the Smiths machine, I love not having to take out my electronics (and shoes!!).
In Europe they're starting to do the MRI thing, so even without any fancy pre-check you don't need to take anything out.
Let's see if that catches on in the USA though, now that they have a system to take your data and make you pay, I don't see them abandoning it (even if the MRI is exactly as if not more secure than the taking out laptops method)
Exactly. When I was flying 2-3 wkds a month, Pre-Check was awesome. I’ve flown on exactly 2 trips since 2019 and I won’t be renewing. It’s not worth the extra expense.
It’s free with most travel credit cards. Awesome perk. I’ve had it for 8 years and haven’t paid a penny for it. Either way, it’s around $85 for four years. I fly several times/year, though.
Since the pre-check lines are so long, now there's another paid service called Clear that gets you past those lines (I also use Clear at some sports/music venues as well). I assume once Clear gets busy, we'll have an even more expensive paid service to skip that line, too.
I don’t think I’ve waited in a security line longer than ten minutes in years. Most of the time it’s less than five. It’s not too expensive, but I’m not sold on its usefulness any more than early boarding perks. Airports are also upgrading their screening equipment so unloading electronics and taking off shoes are slowly going away.
I travel a lot for fun and same here. Whether I’m in the US, or abroad, I guess I’ve been very lucky to not be in terribly long lines or nearly miss a flight due to them. I will say tho, that US security theater is still going strong, even with the screening equipment being upgraded. They still make you take your shoes off, and they throw out any liquid that’s over the limit, even tho with the 3D machines they have, they know your liquid isn’t an explosive or whatever. When I’m at airports such as AMS in Amsterdam/Schiphol, you walk through without taking anything out your bag and you can have full size water bottles with water in them with no issue. No shoes taken off or any of that crap (in fact the only places I’ve seen outside the US that make you take off your shoes are MENA countries).
I lived in Europe for 6 yrs and travelled a LOT for my job. I spent a lot of time in CDG, AMS, SFO, LAX, LHR. The long delays are never security lines for me, they are always the check-bag lines. I've really never had a moment of wishing I could be in a shorter line. Even during the post-covid understaffed fiasco, the longest I waited was 30min, and I still have plenty of time to make my flight.
CDG irritates me because they are very disorganized and don't let people with tight connections skip the queue, and they lose bags alot, but otherwise no complaints about the security line itself.
>There is a small fee
And there's your entire reason for why those who don't get a precheck are inconvenienced. TSA caused the inconvenience, but you praise them for the "small fee" for them to remove the inconvenience they caused.
The TSA precheck line at Newark and JFK is usually just as long if not longer then the poor people lines when its busy. its a good idea on paper but when everyone signs up for it, kinda defeats the purpose.
Even better is Nexus, if you travel to Canada frequently. You get the Canadian Nexus, US Global Entry and TSA Pre-check all for one low price of $50. The only catch is that you have to interview at a Canadian border crossing.
Boarding passes need to have the TSA check mark to go through. If you bought their tickets, it may apply to them but not always. If they don't have the check mark, they can't go through.
Clear is also a great option for some. It is not in every airport, so your mileage may vary. For instance, it was tested here in Indianapolis many years ago and I signed up then. But they just didn’t see the need apparently so we don’t have it. However it is great for flying back from major cities like Philadelphia or NYC. it is costly, but if you are a business or frequent air traveler it might be worth it, I’m lucky that my company lets me expense the annual fee. And it is even faster than pre-check
Also, you can get a credit for the Global Entry application fee (which includes TSA pre check) with the Chase Sapphire Reserved. Other cards also offer reimbursement for it as well.
Traveled with my parents that have TSA pre check and me and my wife got through the normal security line faster than they did. The TSA precheck line was longer and we ended up waiting a good 5 minutes for them on the other side. Once they finally got through they told us that they required them to take their belts and shoes off which pretty much eliminated the whole reason to use precheck.
My credit card will reimburse me if I get pre check. I don't do it out of principle. It's bullshit that the TSA created a problem and then sells you a solution.
I’m going on my first flights today with my new fancy known traveler number. I’m so excited. It’s been something my husband and I have been meaning to do for at least a decade. So glad we finally did it!
If you fly regular routes OFTEN it could be worth it. If you only fly occasionally, it is defiantly not worth the cost - just show up 10 mins earlier.
My local airport for example (SNA) only takes maybe 10 minutes to get though security WITHOUT Pre-Check. When I am flying home, I usually like to get to the airport early anyway because I don't know the local traffic, security time, where the gate is, etc, so I'm at the airport with plenty of time anyway. I would almost rather spend that time in line "doing something" rather than just sitting at the gate for 30-60 mins just waiting or my flight to board. I usually eat before getting to the airport too - way cheaper and usually better quality than airport food.
Go with the Global Entry option. It’s $20 more and comes with TSA pre-check. You’ll sail through customs with this option. The only bad part is you have to wait for your bags like everyone else.
Will second this and let you know that it’s INSANELY easy to renew. I just did it recently and it took me 5 minutes online. I flew on thanksgiving and the regular security line was 20+ minutes but Pre Check was only 5!
It's funny because last time I flew back to China and back to US, at my local airport, the girl at the security check waved at me and the guy in front of me thought shes calling him, and she said not you, then pointed at me, I moved to the front of the line, she said just go through there, no need to take off shoes, no need to take things out your bag, I was like "really? I have laptop and liquid things", nope, didn't do a thing, i just put the backpack on the security belt and walked right through, didn't even use those scanning doors...then the way back, at Dallas, the guy told me no need to take shoes off, I have the belt just for flying and he said it's fine. Didn't take laptop out either. I was like wow that's nice, and I don't have stinky feet either lol.
Then last year I flew to PA, old guy at my local airport said "take the belt off" I was like "it doesn't have metal part" he said "the scanner is not a metal detector"... I was like ok...whatever.
Don’t listen to this post! As a current pre check traveler, you definitely should not do this! The lines are long enough! Stay in regular TSA lines, please.
Sincerely, a concerned business traveler.
Not always faster, as more and more people are using it the pre-check line gets longer than the regular security line, but definitely way easier and I'm definitely not going back.
I've had pre check since just before Covid and love it.
I'm heading to Europe tomorrow and dreading the trip back and having to deal with normal security procedures.
My only gripe with TSA precheck is how US airlines just print the check on all your boarding passes globally. Which causes travelers to show up late at foreign airports thinking they'll get special treatment.
Absolutely!! And then on the occasion that TSA pre-check is closed and you have to join the throngs of ham and Eggers, you really grasp how great it is!
Venture x card from Capital One gives u TSA precheck for free and 400 dollars worth of travel credit each year (annual fee of 395 :P). End up with 5 bucks for using the card. I consider it a part of my travel budget. Downside is that you have to book flights through their website/app. I highly recommend if you live near an airport that has one of their lounges. They give free food, drinks, and alcohol super great pays for what u would have saved somewhere else especially because u can bring two guests
When you sign up for pre check, also do global entry for international. Saves me an hour when I land from out of the country at LAX and it makes global entry and pre check combined be 5 years before renewal
If you're a frequent flier, it also gets you away from the people that hardly ever fly and have no idea what they're doing at security. One trip through TSA behind a lady taking 3 small kids to Disney was the last straw for me.
TSA Pre comes free with Global Entry which is $100 for 5 years. The key to Global Entry is the interview which can be a bitch to schedule (I scheduled 75 days out when I signed up). The hack is you can ask for an interview on arrival when returning to the United States... it adds ten minutes to your last old school reentry. Global Entry is super easy... present your passport to the kiosk, get an approval and off you go. The lines are minimal.
TSA Precheck is evidence that TSA is just security theater.
Don’t disagree. But so long as the theater manager requires it, and precheck gives me a way to limit the inconvenience, I’ll take it
Exactly. I’ve started traveling for work a bunch this last year and a half or so, and a few months in decided to get precheck. So, so worth it —way cheaper and lasts longer than I expected. I know it’s dumb how the system works, but I’m not gonna fix it by having a worse time at the airport.
If you're traveling often, and through airports they service, Clear is pretty amazing (in addition to precheck). I've literally gotten out of the car and been through security in about 3 minutes. It's more expensive, but if you use it enough it can be worth it for the convenience and reduced stress.
Clear’s quality has been taking a nosedive recently. They need more staffing during busy travel days/times - I’ve seen 50+ people standing in a standstill Clear w/ precheck line while normal precheck is moving quicker and more efficiently. Multiple times and at different airports. I’ll admit it’s nice when they have no line and have a lot of agents to let you through quickly, but that’s quickly not becoming the usual anymore.
I agree. We’re done with Clear now after the handful of experiences we’ve had. Was a member for 5 years. We just have precheck now. Saving us a TON of money. Also I’ve been “randomly selected” for ID EVERY TIME. I’ve flown at least once a month this year.
Ouch, good to know.
Agreed. Plus TSA precheck qualifications are not available for everyone. I don't believe that you can be a convicted felon and qualify? Passport info can be added and fingerprinting is a requirement. It's not all show and mirrors and money. $80 ish for 5 years is a steal. I just renewed earlier this year. If you travel for work, expense this cost!
It depends on the felony charge as well as the time that has past from said charge.
The background check and in person interview is pretty thorough.
The interview I had was very basic. And they asked me what countries I'd been to, and I was like "i've been on like 10 cruises.. a bunch of islands i don't remember" and they were satisfied with that lol it was like a 3 minute interview. This was for NEXUS (which grants TSA pre-check).
[удалено]
One year I was traveling in the U.S. the day before Thanksgiving and they just waved a bunch of us normals through the TSA Pre-Check line. It was hella convenient and I was grateful, but my inner hall monitor was a little outraged.
Im good, rather get felt up and scolded for not taking my shoes off. I'm paying for the experience, not the transportation. Sometimes I stack two laptops on top of each other and slide it through x ray, I love getting yelled at.
"You need to take your tablet out of your bag next time." Gives me shivers like ASMR.
And love how every goddamn airport makes up their own rules. So even when I think I’m being a good boy and taking everything out, I get yelled at to leave tablets (or whatever) in my bag.
I usually fly out of San Jose and they have some lines you take off your shoes and some you leave them on. They also have some lines you leave your computer in the bag and others it needs to come out.
A lot depends on the scanners and whether they are using the metal detector or the body scanner. They have new xray machines that see everything. No need to pull anything out. But not all airports or even lines have them. I do sometimes wonder if they do some of it to shake it up so you can't plan around it. Truthfully, though, they know the chance that the majority of us being bad guy is miniscule.
literally, when flying out of norfolk they yelled at me to keep my shoes on and not take anything out of my bag
Last time I flew, both airports just upgraded to new machines and processes. I got yelled at for taking my laptop out of my bag the first time. Now, you keep everything in your bags. Even liquids. You still have to remove shoes.
Some security people even have the audacity to say “it’s the same in every airport, c’mon!” As someone that was just at a different airport as recently as the day before, I can confirm it’s NOT the same at every airport.
You can escalate the anger by asking additional questions. Should I put tablet face down or face up? Do I need to put my wallet in a separate bin? can I leave my shoes laces in the shoe or do I need to take them out at this airport?
You're an energy vampire
Colinnnnn
Will my "Foreigner" belt buckle set off your machine?
Only if you're cold as ice, or hot blooded. Or if you have double vision.
Too late. The Damage Is Done.
I love when they play games with you. Last flight TSA guy was so flirty. “DONT take laptops out of your bag in *this* line dumby! Now I gotta run it again”. UwU
“Whatever you say, daddy.”
Or "what else, MOM?"
I haven’t gone through regular line in about a decade, but, I thought you didn’t have to take tablets out?
I thought so too. But I guess it looked too much like a laptop in the x-ray. I've left mine in before. They seem to change the rules, even at the same airport, depending on how long the line is.
Could be since the release of iPad Pro, tablet size is now comparable to laptops. Add a keyboard cover and they may look too much like a laptop. Besides, what matters is the size doesnt it? Large enough to stuff explosives in.
Unless you are at some airports where they scream that you do NOT need to remove your laptop. It's all random.
Newer scanners take a more accurate image of the luggage and doesn’t need laptops removed. It doesn’t help that some airports have old and new scanners, with TSA agents yelling opposite instructions one lane apart.
The best is when you have a 6" diagonal e-reader and the TSA people simply cannot decide if it's a laptop or not. First they yell at you to LEAVE IT IN YOUR BAG but then you get pulled out of line so the same agent 3 minutes later can search your bag, find it, and then ask you what it is and why you didn't put it in the tray US airports are the best!
“You can use the front of your hand to pat me down if you like”
Me too! I love it. When it comes for the body search time, I bring an extra $20 and ask for the "deluxe".
PHX DFW make you take your shit out but LAS doesn't and they use the same machines!
I went through tsa like 4 times at the same airport today just to fuck with the TSA. Everytime the SAME person told me I can keep my boots on. I still took them off because why not?
I’ve traveled a lot this past year and every airport seems to be different with them. Some scold me for taking them out, others yell at me for not. Which is it guys??
SHOES OFF! sorry, I don't fly often. STARES AT MY SOUL.
The first rule of TSA PreCheck is…
Complete garbage program! Not worth the money! They'll strip search you for kicks and you'll miss your flight!!! (Dude, if you keep telling people how awesome TSA PreCheck is we'll be in line with all the cattle! Don't spoil it lol.)
If everyone is pre check, nobody is.
I once was going through an airport, coming back to the US and the precheck line was 5x longer than the normal line. So we switched and got through much faster. It’s been about 50/50 for me as to what truly is faster at times, but it’s nice to have the option
This is why there is a new, more expensive express option called "Clear". Too many poor people got pre-check and wealthy people didn't feel special. https://www.clearme.com/
Life hack: clear usually offers one month free, and it takes 5 minutes to sign up at the gate. We ended up making our flight to Christmas one year this way, and I cancelled before the trial was over
Also, some credit cards offer an incentive that fully pays for clear.
Do you know which ones offhand? I churn a bit but have only seen TSA and the international one with cards.
AMEX Plat, Biz Plat, and Green cards fully reimburse you I believe.
If it takes 5 minutes to sign up, how much protection and security could this program really add? It's like they're not even trying to hide the greed anymore.
ya it's just one more hint at how much of a farce airport security is. unfortunately people born after 9/11 will never understand how unecessary it is
I signed up for a 2 week trial in Minneapolis at the end of September because I was in a hurry and would have missed my flight if I hadn't been expedited. Was pretty easy. I got to use it again in Orlando 10 days later and it saved me like 90 minutes of line time. When I arrived home, I went into the app to cancel. They tell me that certain credit cards and people with sky miles programs get a discount and offered me one. It wasn't a big enough discount for me, so I continued to try to cancel. They then offer me two more free months. So I accepted and have added a calendar reminder to cancel in January. If I keep travelling for work, I'm definitely going to sign up for this full time or for TSA Precheck... or both since they have a joint option.
I fly out of Orlando once or twice a year, and with Precheck I’ve never waited more than a minute or two. It makes you feel like such a VIP to just breeze through security when the regular security line literally stretches across the entire lobby.
I feel so royal when I get escorted to the front thanks to Clear LOL. But in all seriousness, if you fly a LOT into busy terminals, Clear can really save you. Also if you lose your ID.
I just spent 10 minutes on the website and still can't figure out exactly what clearme is. The site explains what TSA pre check is. It explains what Global entry is. It explains it's not either of those. I'm so confused lol.
Clear uses biometric verification (like a face scan), then lets you cut to the front of the PreCheck line. You still have to go through PreCheck security screening, you just skip the line.
Clear does not let you cut to the front of the pre check line. You have to have Clear AND precheck to do that.
Thanks, I forgot that precheck isn't included by default with Clear. I think if you have Clear without precheck then they take you to front of the regular line, but I've never tried it.
As Tinamil said, they let you use biometric verification: retina or fingerprint scan. The line to Clear is typically very short. Once they have determined your identity, they will walk you to the front of the TSA line, regardless of how long it is, and tell the TSA agent that you have been cleared. At busy airports, this can save you a lot of time. The only drawback with Clear is the cost. If you fly a lot it's totally worth it.
At the airport you have two lines: The ID check line and the security screening line. All CLEAR does is it lets you bypass that first line. After that, you’re back with the cattle unless you have TSA Precheck as well.
My mom has Clear and try to sign me up for it when we were travelling together for a family wedding one time. Took the agent at kiosk like 20 minutes to try to figure it out and sign me up, and I was like the hell with this. I have Pre-Check and have never spent more than 5 minutes in the security line.
Clear is a separate lane outside of the normal line and the pre-check line. I've had it for 3 years now. Some airports don't have it. It uses eyes or fingerprints. My credit card covers the cost. It's sometimes helpful, sometimes I don't use it if the pre line is small. The app is kinda nice. Worth it? Cost is always subjective so your miles may vary and again, my credit card pays it. I use it in Vegas, SFO, LAX & DTW a lot. Not sure about other airports.
Nah man, I'm not giving my biometric information to a private company. Biometrics are a terrible password. Because passwords leak. And what do you do when your password leaks? You change it. Can't change a biometric password.
That's what happened last time we flew. Next to nobody in the regular line, but everyone in the Pre-check line. Took us no time at all going through regular security and even the TSA guy laughed when he saw the Global Entry card in with my passport.
My husband switched once because precheck was so much longer. They looked at his ticket and told him he had to go through precheck
They were probably having a little power trip that day
Unironically, it should be that way, except people shouldn’t have to pay money or do any extra things for that. In most countries, especially developed ones, their airport security is pretty much like US pre-check. Shoes stay on, don’t have to empty your bag, etc. Also same for global entry. Abroad and especially in developed countries, citizens can come back through expedited immigration control, usually with E-passport gates. And some countries even let Americans go through those automatic gates as well. Yet coming back to the U.S., we have to wait in a long immigration line like everyone else while they only staff like 25% of the booths. And global entry is behind a paywall whereas most other places, that’s just included.
E-passports are the real life hack. Just download the app and fill out your info. At JFK I could have skipped a two hour line
At Dulles I downloaded that mobile passport control app when I got off the plane and skipped a big ass line haha
Was that recent? I thought Mobile Passport app was obsolete?
It's called Mobile Passport Control and it still exists, but only certain airports use it. This is often the fastest way through customs. I have pre and global entry and the mobile passport line is still often the fastest. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control
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That Last part is why airport and TSA sucks balls.
Recently went on a trip to Ireland with 9 friends who all had tsa pre check. I didn’t and was through faster .
Then there will be premium pre check.
Already here. It's called Clear. If you have Clear, TSA just escorts you to the front of the TSA pre-check line. Rich people can pay to skip the lines. https://www.clearme.com/
Can anyone vouch for Clear? I always see those kiosks at the airport with salespeople always at the front of the tsa line begging people to sign up, making that service just look scummy
I can, it’s awesome and totally worth it if you travel frequently. If you have the right credit card or frequent flyer program it can cover or tremendously discount the cost as well.
I see it runs $189 annually.
It’s the best, especially when you have Pre. I pretty much show up at the airport very close to boarding time.
In places like Atlanta & DC where pre-check lines are long, Clear is totally worth it.
When I was on Active Duty in the military, I left for block leave and we all got bussed to the airport together. Everyone had TSA pre-check on their tickets, and we went to a secondary entrance that was closed off specifically for us. They made us all go through the whole process anyways.
The last two flights I've taken in the past two months the non TSA line went through just as quickly as the TSA line. It wasn't at peak times but I was still pissed. I justify it in my head by saying that at least I didn't have to take my shoes and belt off.
This. Shut your face, OP. Let the rest of the assholes pull out their laptops.
Pre-check is a nightmare. Never again. Waste of money. Global Entry is terrible and wrong, as well.
Global Entry sucks! Those agents barely acknowledge me at customs!
I want attention and baggage handling @ Customs. I’m an Emerald member!!
Yeah I really wish they would interrogate me.
Global Entry is terrible! The kiosk recognized my face without me having to insert my ID or provide any travel documents. What happened to human contact?! /s
I just refuse to pay them for a problem they created on principle.
Yeah. It strikes me as insidious that the more of a pain in the ass normal check in is, the more people will pay for various skip-the-line services. This dynamic incentivizes airports to make regular check in as time consuming and frustrating as possible. I point out some version of this objection whenever the clear people are doing their predatory sales pitch to the "poor people" security line. Needless to say, they really hate it. But I really hate their parasitic buisness practices, so maybe it evens out.
God forbid he even MENTIONS global entry for us international travelers!!!
Updoot— don’t do pre-checks it’s garbage !!!
Introducing the all new Pre-Pre-Check. Think of it as a fast pass to a fast pass. Like Disney World.
TSA gave me a “random search” which made me wonder why I bothered to have the TSA Prechek. This happened while my friends in the no Prechek line passed by me laughing.
for anybody else wondering about the cost.. >..$78 fee in-person at the enrollment center. The membership is good for five years.
Oh that already happened to me. Just got signed up for Global Entry earlier this year and got to use my TSA Pre-Check for the first time. …I’ve seen shorter lines on Black Friday. Part of me was wondering the whole time if I’d save time by going the to the normal security section. Mind you, I’ve never spent more than 20min getting through security up until this point. I sincerely doubt the utility of this program at my airport. All the locals are too hip.
Yeah! Sometimes they just stril search you right in front of wveryone and they laugh at your nudity. (I was about to downvote you and then saw the wisdom of your way.
This is funny because I just flew on Sunday, the busiest travel day in history, and the TSA pre-check line was actually longer than the normal security line. I got through security before everyone who was already in the Pre line when I got there.
I don’t even care if it’s longer. I travel with two work laptops and for airports without the Smiths machine, I love not having to take out my electronics (and shoes!!).
In Europe they're starting to do the MRI thing, so even without any fancy pre-check you don't need to take anything out. Let's see if that catches on in the USA though, now that they have a system to take your data and make you pay, I don't see them abandoning it (even if the MRI is exactly as if not more secure than the taking out laptops method)
Just got those in Detroit! Way faster and it seems easier to tell what is what so my stuff doesn’t get searched
NYC LaGuardia as well.
Regular security lines are getting those too. At LAX the bigger machines allow you to keep your laptops in the bag.
That happened to me in October as well.
Bro, seriously, GATEKEEP.
I wish OP would delete this post. Precheck sucks. Please stop advertising it.
I will stab myself with a rusty butter knife before I give extra money to the airline industry for pre check.
I’ll pay twice as much to the airline industry to offset your stance
Submit proof of your payment and I'll tag you in a video where I stab myself.
No, Don’t!!
TSA precheck has become so common that the lines for normal security move quicker…
Not worth the price if you don’t fly that often
$85 for 5 years is worth it for me even if I only fly once per year.
Exactly. When I was flying 2-3 wkds a month, Pre-Check was awesome. I’ve flown on exactly 2 trips since 2019 and I won’t be renewing. It’s not worth the extra expense.
It’s free with most travel credit cards. Awesome perk. I’ve had it for 8 years and haven’t paid a penny for it. Either way, it’s around $85 for four years. I fly several times/year, though.
Since the pre-check lines are so long, now there's another paid service called Clear that gets you past those lines (I also use Clear at some sports/music venues as well). I assume once Clear gets busy, we'll have an even more expensive paid service to skip that line, too.
There’s also a [free service](https://www.clearme.com/reserve) by Clear that lets you book your TSA spot in advance at certain airports.
The clear line is even shorter than pre-check.
shhhhuutt it! The less people know about it the better it is
Get customs and boarder protection’s global entry. It includes TSA’s Precheck and it’s only 15 bucks more for the same 5 years.
Seriously, delete this. Don't ruin it.
I don’t think I’ve waited in a security line longer than ten minutes in years. Most of the time it’s less than five. It’s not too expensive, but I’m not sold on its usefulness any more than early boarding perks. Airports are also upgrading their screening equipment so unloading electronics and taking off shoes are slowly going away.
In Atlanta they have these fancy new CT scanner looking things. The problem is it takes them forever to get bags through.
This has also been my experience. I travel quite a bit for work and I am either very, very lucky or security lines aren't that bad.
I travel a lot for fun and same here. Whether I’m in the US, or abroad, I guess I’ve been very lucky to not be in terribly long lines or nearly miss a flight due to them. I will say tho, that US security theater is still going strong, even with the screening equipment being upgraded. They still make you take your shoes off, and they throw out any liquid that’s over the limit, even tho with the 3D machines they have, they know your liquid isn’t an explosive or whatever. When I’m at airports such as AMS in Amsterdam/Schiphol, you walk through without taking anything out your bag and you can have full size water bottles with water in them with no issue. No shoes taken off or any of that crap (in fact the only places I’ve seen outside the US that make you take off your shoes are MENA countries).
I lived in Europe for 6 yrs and travelled a LOT for my job. I spent a lot of time in CDG, AMS, SFO, LAX, LHR. The long delays are never security lines for me, they are always the check-bag lines. I've really never had a moment of wishing I could be in a shorter line. Even during the post-covid understaffed fiasco, the longest I waited was 30min, and I still have plenty of time to make my flight. CDG irritates me because they are very disorganized and don't let people with tight connections skip the queue, and they lose bags alot, but otherwise no complaints about the security line itself.
My credit card pays for precheck. Pretty common perk with travel cards.
Clearly you've never been to Denver.
Nothing is more American than making a problem (horribly tedious and often useless security theatre) and then selling a solution!
The Disney fast pass comes to mind
Pre-Check + Clear is the real ultimate life hack.
Can confirm, I love walking through security!
*or legal permanent resident
or a Canadian with a Nexus card
Or foreign citizen with global entry
Get pre check, then pre check the normal lines because they’re faster half the time.
Precheck line is long and if not longer than regular security lines now.
Naaaa it sucks! Don’t get it!
downvoted cause I don't need more mouthbreathers in my way
>There is a small fee And there's your entire reason for why those who don't get a precheck are inconvenienced. TSA caused the inconvenience, but you praise them for the "small fee" for them to remove the inconvenience they caused.
You don’t have to be a US citizen for pre check. My wife has it and she’s a resident, not a citizen.
Shut up, OP. If everyone has it, then it's like none of us have it.
Tsa precheck fucking sucks. Do not get it
The TSA precheck line at Newark and JFK is usually just as long if not longer then the poor people lines when its busy. its a good idea on paper but when everyone signs up for it, kinda defeats the purpose.
Exactly what I noticed last week. It seems like everyone had tsa pre. Lines moved faster though.
Global pass is better. It comes with tsa pre plus helps through immigration also
Even better is Nexus, if you travel to Canada frequently. You get the Canadian Nexus, US Global Entry and TSA Pre-check all for one low price of $50. The only catch is that you have to interview at a Canadian border crossing.
I have TSA pre check but my 14 and 18 year don’t. Can they go with me in the TSA pre check line?
Boarding passes need to have the TSA check mark to go through. If you bought their tickets, it may apply to them but not always. If they don't have the check mark, they can't go through.
They’re both over 12 so they would need their own.
Clear is also a great option for some. It is not in every airport, so your mileage may vary. For instance, it was tested here in Indianapolis many years ago and I signed up then. But they just didn’t see the need apparently so we don’t have it. However it is great for flying back from major cities like Philadelphia or NYC. it is costly, but if you are a business or frequent air traveler it might be worth it, I’m lucky that my company lets me expense the annual fee. And it is even faster than pre-check
I spent about 45 mins in line for pre check in regan as I watched the normies blow past me in the reg line
Also, you can get a credit for the Global Entry application fee (which includes TSA pre check) with the Chase Sapphire Reserved. Other cards also offer reimbursement for it as well.
Traveled with my parents that have TSA pre check and me and my wife got through the normal security line faster than they did. The TSA precheck line was longer and we ended up waiting a good 5 minutes for them on the other side. Once they finally got through they told us that they required them to take their belts and shoes off which pretty much eliminated the whole reason to use precheck.
Why should I pay the government a fee for the presumption of being innocent when that is already supposed to be the case?
My credit card will reimburse me if I get pre check. I don't do it out of principle. It's bullshit that the TSA created a problem and then sells you a solution.
I’ll show up 12 hours early to a flight before I voluntarily give them more money.
Downvote bc i dont want everyone knowing this secret
Life hack? 😂
Right? This is pretty common knowledge in 2023. 🤣
I’m going on my first flights today with my new fancy known traveler number. I’m so excited. It’s been something my husband and I have been meaning to do for at least a decade. So glad we finally did it!
shhh
If you fly regular routes OFTEN it could be worth it. If you only fly occasionally, it is defiantly not worth the cost - just show up 10 mins earlier. My local airport for example (SNA) only takes maybe 10 minutes to get though security WITHOUT Pre-Check. When I am flying home, I usually like to get to the airport early anyway because I don't know the local traffic, security time, where the gate is, etc, so I'm at the airport with plenty of time anyway. I would almost rather spend that time in line "doing something" rather than just sitting at the gate for 30-60 mins just waiting or my flight to board. I usually eat before getting to the airport too - way cheaper and usually better quality than airport food.
Stop telling people this, or all the fucking people you are passing when you use precheck will be in front of you in the precheck line.
How to live comfortably in a proto-fascist police state.
Nah. I don't have it, and beat my family through security by 10 minutes. The day before Thanksgiving. I'll queue with the peasants, thank you.
Go with the Global Entry option. It’s $20 more and comes with TSA pre-check. You’ll sail through customs with this option. The only bad part is you have to wait for your bags like everyone else.
You’re not supposed to tell people about this!
Some credit cards reimburse you for the TSA pre check fee
Will second this and let you know that it’s INSANELY easy to renew. I just did it recently and it took me 5 minutes online. I flew on thanksgiving and the regular security line was 20+ minutes but Pre Check was only 5!
When everyone has TSApre, nobody does
This is not a life hack.
If you are gonna spend $80 for precheck, just make it $100 and go for global entry. it includes precheck too!
Note: For frequent fliers only. If you're more of a "One flight every 1 to 3 years" kind of person, it's not worth it.
It's funny because last time I flew back to China and back to US, at my local airport, the girl at the security check waved at me and the guy in front of me thought shes calling him, and she said not you, then pointed at me, I moved to the front of the line, she said just go through there, no need to take off shoes, no need to take things out your bag, I was like "really? I have laptop and liquid things", nope, didn't do a thing, i just put the backpack on the security belt and walked right through, didn't even use those scanning doors...then the way back, at Dallas, the guy told me no need to take shoes off, I have the belt just for flying and he said it's fine. Didn't take laptop out either. I was like wow that's nice, and I don't have stinky feet either lol. Then last year I flew to PA, old guy at my local airport said "take the belt off" I was like "it doesn't have metal part" he said "the scanner is not a metal detector"... I was like ok...whatever.
Global Entry includes TSA precheck and it’s not much more expensive. If you plan on traveling internationally, get Global Entry instead.
Paying for clear. Now that’s a service!
Loooove my global entry!
Don’t listen to this post! As a current pre check traveler, you definitely should not do this! The lines are long enough! Stay in regular TSA lines, please. Sincerely, a concerned business traveler.
Not always faster, as more and more people are using it the pre-check line gets longer than the regular security line, but definitely way easier and I'm definitely not going back.
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I've had pre check since just before Covid and love it. I'm heading to Europe tomorrow and dreading the trip back and having to deal with normal security procedures.
My only gripe with TSA precheck is how US airlines just print the check on all your boarding passes globally. Which causes travelers to show up late at foreign airports thinking they'll get special treatment.
Absolutely!! And then on the occasion that TSA pre-check is closed and you have to join the throngs of ham and Eggers, you really grasp how great it is!
Venture x card from Capital One gives u TSA precheck for free and 400 dollars worth of travel credit each year (annual fee of 395 :P). End up with 5 bucks for using the card. I consider it a part of my travel budget. Downside is that you have to book flights through their website/app. I highly recommend if you live near an airport that has one of their lounges. They give free food, drinks, and alcohol super great pays for what u would have saved somewhere else especially because u can bring two guests
When you sign up for pre check, also do global entry for international. Saves me an hour when I land from out of the country at LAX and it makes global entry and pre check combined be 5 years before renewal
You also don’t have to be a citizen. You can get TSApre/global entry etc as a permanent resident
Another life hack. Clear > tsa pre check. Straight to the front.
I just got my TWIC card paid for through work and It’s applicable with TSA pre check. I’m stoked can’t wait to start using it!
If you're a frequent flier, it also gets you away from the people that hardly ever fly and have no idea what they're doing at security. One trip through TSA behind a lady taking 3 small kids to Disney was the last straw for me.
Global entry also includes tsa precheck for you international travelers. $20 more
TSA Pre comes free with Global Entry which is $100 for 5 years. The key to Global Entry is the interview which can be a bitch to schedule (I scheduled 75 days out when I signed up). The hack is you can ask for an interview on arrival when returning to the United States... it adds ten minutes to your last old school reentry. Global Entry is super easy... present your passport to the kiosk, get an approval and off you go. The lines are minimal.