TSA Precheck - website says it's for 17 and up but airport wouldn't let 13-year-old through

[Anonymous]

I've had this happen. They have to be ticketed on your reservation (not bought separately or with miles or whatever) and even then occasionally they won't get "TSA Pre" printed on their boarding pass. You'll know in advance if she will be allowed through because it will be on the boarding pass or it won't.

For this reason we went ahead and just got everyone in the familly Global Entry because unlike TSA Pre, the kids now get their own Global Entry free (until 18) and it includes their own KTN so they will always be allowed through even if they aren't on your reservation. It was a very easy process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rules are:
Kids under 12 can always go with a parent through TSA PreCheck if the parent has it.
Kids 12-17 can go with their parent through PreCheck if the parent has it and both parent and child are on the same reservation.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here! My husband and I have precheck, not global entry. Our kid travels with me as my companion on Southwest - or at least that happened this weekend...like I have a companion pass that someone can use for free for an entire calendar year. Maybe that's where the issue lies. Thank you! I'll investigate.

Note she has flown many times as a companion on SW and this has not been an issue before.

Ahh I think this may be because on the Companion Pass, a separate reservation is created for the companion- technically they aren't on the same reservation as you, although the reservations are "linked" in their system.

Yes Companion pass is considered a seperate reservation number and so she won't get Pre as long as she is your companion. See my post above about just getting Global Entry instead.

[Anonymous]

This has happened to me and my (then 13 year old) child too. I was sent back to the airline desk, which told me there was nothing they can do. There wasn't a lot of reason for it. We ended up getting the kids Global Entry for an upcoming overseas trip, which gives them TSA Pre as well and should take care of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How else would they get it on their boarding pass?

Our DC who is 5 years old has his own Global Entry membership and card. That gives him his own Pre-Check as a bonus. We did it because GE is such a huge time saver for overseas travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids always get pre check on their boarding pass because we do. How else would they get it on their boarding pass?

If they are ticketed on a separate reservation for any reason (different payments, bought at different times, lots of reasons) they will not get it on their boarding pass.

Those of us who use miles, companion passes, etc. often buy each person’s ticket individually. If you do this, as we do, you will likely need to get your child their own KTN (through Pre or GE) once they turn 13. If you always fly on one reservation number they are good usually until they turn 18.

[Anonymous]

My 14 year old went through with us no problem last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old went through with us no problem last week.

Because they were on your reservation. It helps to read the entire thread. OP's child was on a separate reservation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids always get pre check on their boarding pass because we do. How else would they get it on their boarding pass?

The algorithm randomly puts people with Pre through regular security lines.

[Anonymous]

I got my 14 year old her own precheck number because she sometimes travels without us for her sport and the friend she travels with has it.

I ended up having to get her a state ID card in order to get the precheck because her passport was expired and we were in a hurry.