Flying with 14YO daughter and her friend tomorrow, friend does not have TSA Precheck

[Anonymous]

The obvious answer is that the two 14-year olds go through security together. My 14- and 10- year olds travel together on their own, it feels easier when there are two together.

[Anonymous]

Update, if anyone is looking for one. We all went through regular security together. I was chastened by the critical DCUM comments. Lines were very short at BWI and I was treated as a Precheck passenger even in the regular security line.

Honestly, it’s such a crapshoot if you are traveling with freezer blocks/meds/syringes/a medical device. Sometimes there is no issue, sometimes there is. This time there was not, thankfully.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for updating, OP.

I'm genuinely curious to those of you who said you don't send 14 year olds alone through security think might happen in line. It never crossed my mind that standing in a line could be dangerous. WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter and her friends are both 14. The friend does not have TSA Precheck on her boarding pass. I'm trying to avoid going through regular security because of some medical issues that always slow things down. Can I send the friend through regular security unaccompanied? Will she need to present ID?

Good grief, if you've got medical issues, stay home!

Um, what? Do you realize how insane you sound? You think that people with medical issues should stay home?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were traveling back to DC from Europe and had a layover in Detroit. I took our 2 younger kids thru one security lane and my husband took our (tall, but very timid) older child (13) thru a parallel line. Once I made it thru, we stepped to the end of the other lane to wait for my husband. I saw him still gathering the bags, iPads, shoes, etc...but didn't see my older child. We looked all over the small security area in a panic, but it was like said child just vanished. I was in tears and my husband was searching for a pic to show the agents so they could help us search.

Several minutes later, child comes out from a back room with 2 security agents who said they saw something "suspicious" on the scanner and needed to search child in private security area. The "suspicious" item turned out to be a retainer case that was in the pocket of a hooded sweatshirt (child was wearing the actual retainer so only the plastic case was in the pocket). It was busy and chaotic in the security area, and I guess my husband was so focused on getting all of our stuff off the belt and repacked, that he didn't notice our child had been taken away by TSA. Our child is a timid, rule follower and was too afraid to alert us or to challenge the agents, and as a result quickly complied when asked to step into the private screening area.

I asked the agents what happened, why child was taken from the main area, and what went on in the private screening area, but both were dismissive and combative...one of them started completely ignoring me. I became livid and berated both agents to tears. When their supervisor showed up, they were reamed again for not following protocol and searching a minor without parental knowledge or consent.

One of the 2 agents said that they assumed child was at least 18 and not actually a child. Granted child is a little tall for 13, but in no way looks like an 18 yr old. The supervisor pointed this out to both agents and asked why they didn't confirm age with the child before taking them from the area, but both just kept saying they thought child was an adult and wanted to do the screening in private.

At the supervisor's insistence, we filed a formal complaint against both agents with TSA before leaving the airport that day. Not sure what ultimately happened to the 2 agents (doubt they were fired due to staffing shortages), but they were led away from the security area by the responding supervisor and 2 other Admin level supervisors while we were still there filing the complaint.

So given my experience, I'd try to get the pre-check added to the friend's boarding pass, but if you can't do that then it may be a good idea to just arrive a bit earlier so all of you can go thru the standard line together, but I wouldn't let them do it alone.

Good lesson for everyone. This is shocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for updating, OP.

I'm genuinely curious to those of you who said you don't send 14 year olds alone through security think might happen in line. It never crossed my mind that standing in a line could be dangerous. WTF?

It’s not. DCUM moms have their panties in a wad and never let their snowflakes out of their sight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for updating, OP.

I'm genuinely curious to those of you who said you don't send 14 year olds alone through security think might happen in line. It never crossed my mind that standing in a line could be dangerous. WTF?

It’s not. DCUM moms have their panties in a wad and never let their snowflakes out of their sight.

To me, it was never an issue of safety, but of etiquette.

[Anonymous]

You all go together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful comments (and not so much for the unhelpful, judgy ones, but that is DCUM). Your points are well taken. For those wondering, the issue is a medical condition that almost always results in additional screening. Precheck is easier and less embarrassing. It's not just me being a diva.

Except it kind of is you being a diva. You can absolutely go through regular security with her. It’s just “Easier and less embarrassing” for you. What about your guest? Maybe consider what’s easier and less embarrassing for her?

Trashing someone with a physical disability is so terrible. It’s hard to understand how you could post something this nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful comments (and not so much for the unhelpful, judgy ones, but that is DCUM). Your points are well taken. For those wondering, the issue is a medical condition that almost always results in additional screening. Precheck is easier and less embarrassing. It's not just me being a diva.

You are a diva. Have said why this child is traveling with you? Did you invite her? I can’t believe you are even considering this, except I know people like you so yes I can.

The OP has a medical condition and maybe a serious disability, and she’s trying to juggle having physical problems with being a good parent. You’re a total monster for heaping problems on her. Your existence makes the world worse.