TSA Pre Check: Your experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get pre-check. We got it as a family for the first time flying from Sky Harborn, (Phoenix) on a direct flight to DCA Oct 11. We had a toddler with us. I didn't even know about it until we got to security and were told we had pre-check status. It was nice not taking stuff out of bags or taking shoes off. Howeve, they still insisted on opening my toddlers sealed yogurt. Which they did NOT do on the flight out from DCA. I don't have USAir status althoguh I have about 100k miles...

You can apply for global entry, which is $100 for 5 years and includes easy re-entry to the US if you travel internationally, or you can do domestic pre-check, which I think is $85 for 5 years. I've done Global Entry - you apply online and then have to go out to Dulles for a short interview. It was totally worth it for me as I travel both domestically and internationally on a regular basis. I think the pre-check only you can apply for at any airport. My DH now has GE as well, which is helpful when we travel together. I am going to sign my kids up next.

Apply for precheck: http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/application-program

Global entry: http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about

But the TSA website says nobody is ever guaranteed precheck, even if you are part of one of these programs or a frequent flyer or whatever.

[Anonymous]

You can do the GE interview at the Reagan Building downtown, if you don't want to go to Dulles. My son (14) had has interview there on a Saturday morning.

All of our family has GE. We always (until now when I jinx it) get TSA Precheck. And GE on the return flights to the US is amazing.

[Anonymous]

^^had HIS interview

[Anonymous]

Almost never got pre-check until I made sure my number was in all my frequent flyer profiles.
Now I also usually double check when I do online check-in and re-enter it if needed.

When I know the number is in the record, I nearly always get pre-check.

Flew r/t this week and got it both ways. Probably saved 10 minutes each time.

[Anonymous]

My experience same as pp. I have GE and only time I did not get precheck was when my asst mistyped my trusted traveler number into my ff profile. I travel almost weekly and always get it.

[Anonymous]

Your KTN must be in your FF account and when you make your reservation you must be logged in to your account. Can't add it after the fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your KTN must be in your FF account and when you make your reservation you must be logged in to your account. Can't add it after the fact.

Not true. You can add and re check in to a flight.