TSA precheck when some members of a group have it, and some don't.

[Anonymous]

I am traveling with a group of teenagers in a few weeks. Several of the members of the group have given me their precheck numbers, and several don't have them. I don't have one either.

Is there any way to use the precheck, and stay together? Does it provide some advantage in the regular line, that I don't know about?

My instinct is that I'd like the group to go through security together, and remain within sight of each other, and I'm thinking that means that if one of us doesn't have it, then none of us uses it. But am I wrong about that?

We're flying from DCA, if that makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

If anyone doesn't have precheck, that person can't use it.

[Anonymous]

The members without precheck cannot use the precheck lane.

You either have to split up, or you all go through the regular lane.

[Anonymous]

No, you can't keep a group like that together with people who don't have PreCheck. You can always go through regular security as a group -- in that, you can see each other.

[Anonymous]

I guess what I'm asking is whether there are any precheck accommodations that can happen in the main line. Is there even a reason to add it to the tickets, if the kids aren't using that line?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, you can't keep a group like that together with people who don't have PreCheck. You can always go through regular security as a group -- in that, you can see each other.

I'm confused. I can't keep the group together, or I can?

[Anonymous]

You can keep the group together - in the regular security screening line.

[Anonymous]

No reason to add it if you can't use it, which if you want everyone to go through the same security line you won't be able to do. The procedure in the regular lines is the same for everyone, whether they have pre-check or not.

Honestly, DCA is so small I would think it would be fine for those who have pre-check to just go through and wait at the other end for the rest of the group - you'll never be that far apart - but then again you know this group of teenagers best so if you think one or more might go rogue if briefly left to their own devices, kudos to you for planning ahead is what I say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess what I'm asking is whether there are any precheck accommodations that can happen in the main line. Is there even a reason to add it to the tickets, if the kids aren't using that line?

My experience is you don't have to take your shoes off if you have pre-check and use a regular line.

[Anonymous]

At DCA if precheck lanes are open, you won't get any benefit from being precheck in the normal lanes. I would still put the numbers in just in case there's a benefit in another airport, or you get separated for some reason.

Do you not have two adults such that one can go with the precheck group and one with the non-?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At DCA if precheck lanes are open, you won't get any benefit from being precheck in the normal lanes. I would still put the numbers in just in case there's a benefit in another airport, or you get separated for some reason.

Do you not have two adults such that one can go with the precheck group and one with the non-?

No, it's just me and a handful of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess what I'm asking is whether there are any precheck accommodations that can happen in the main line. Is there even a reason to add it to the tickets, if the kids aren't using that line?

No, there aren't any accommodations in line if several members of your group have precheck when most of you don't. Precheck will show up on the kids tickets for those who already have Precheck. You don't have to go through Precheck even if you have it on your ticket. You can still go through regular security. The only way for the group to stay together (as much as possible) is for everyone to go through the regular security checkpoint.

[Anonymous]

I've been in airports where they didn't allow Pre-Check customers in the regular security line, because it was too long (compared to the Pre-Check line). I don't think its a hard-and-fast rule, but something that I have seen on occasion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess what I'm asking is whether there are any precheck accommodations that can happen in the main line. Is there even a reason to add it to the tickets, if the kids aren't using that line?

My experience is you don't have to take your shoes off if you have pre-check and use a regular line.

This is the case during hours when the precheck lane is not open - I can't say whether it's true when it is (because you'd be crazy to have precheck and not use it!)

Bottom line: put the numbers on in case there's a benefit, bring everyone through the main line. To the extent that there is a benefit, the kids will need to hold their boarding passes through security to show at multiple steps, so you want paper boarding passes, not mobile ones.

[Anonymous]

My wife is the only one in our family with pre-check, but when we travel together on the same reservation all of our boarding passes have pre-check on them and we can all go through the pre-check line together.