Practical Travel Safety Issues - PreCheck Coming to MCO, So What Happens to Clear?

I guess this was bound to eventually happen. PreCheck is on its way to MCO in less than a week: http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/travel_tips/airport/pre-check.jsp

So I'm wondering, what does this do to Clear? I'm guessing they can stay in operation for non-DL flyers. But do Clear users get the PreCheck experience, or do they continue to feed into the regular line?

Clear's arrangement just seems to be a jump to the front of the queue.

PreCheck is a different kind of screening, but in some places you stand in the regular queue until the TDC determines you are cleared for PreCheck. (LLL)

As much as I wish Clear would be gone from MCO and we'd get proper Elite lines, I would think Clear could still offer the chance to skip the general queue, and get to the TDC sooner, but not offer PreCheck. That would still be based on the individuals credentials, meaning Clear folks might jump in front of PreCheck folks, into the PreCheck lane if they had both Clear AND PreCheck eligibility.

MCO is the worst security check point I see on a regular basis in the US, so I'm hopeful it gets better.

I guess this was bound to eventually happen. PreCheck is on its way to MCO in less than a week: http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/travel_tips/airport/pre-check.jsp

So I'm wondering, what does this do to Clear? I'm guessing they can stay in operation for non-DL flyers. But do Clear users get the PreCheck experience, or do they continue to feed into the regular line?

Does anyone know or can suggest a place to learn if this is this only going to apply to Delta passengers or to people flying aboard other airlines as well?

Clear's arrangement just seems to be a jump to the front of the queue.

PreCheck is a different kind of screening, but in some places you stand in the regular queue until the TDC determines you are cleared for PreCheck. (LLL)

As much as I wish Clear would be gone from MCO and we'd get proper Elite lines, I would think Clear could still offer the chance to skip the general queue, and get to the TDC sooner, but not offer PreCheck. That would still be based on the individuals credentials, meaning Clear folks might jump in front of PreCheck folks, into the PreCheck lane if they had both Clear AND PreCheck eligibility.

The last time I used Clear, there were no TDCs. Clear employees would, erm, clear you, then help carry your bags to the front of the screening line.

What happens at MCO today? Do the Clear employees act as TDCs and walk you to the head of the screening line like they used to, or do they first escort you to the TDC and then to the screening lane?

AFAIK, the Clear card is not acceptable ID stand-alone when presenting to the TDC.

I'd be more than happy for Clear to simply die a second time. You give them money and personal data, including biometrics, in exchange for cutting part of the line. It gives no trusted traveler status and you get no benefits other than a shorter wait for your groping.

I just moved to Orlando and will be flying out of MCO for the first time in just over a month. I will be flying F on Delta and want to know if this "new" security line will be for F passengers and frequent fliers or just those who go through the requested process? Also, is there no expedited line for F passengers at MCO...?

I just moved to Orlando and will be flying out of MCO for the first time in just over a month. I will be flying F on Delta and want to know if this "new" security line will be for F passengers and frequent fliers or just those who go through the requested process? Also, is there no expedited line for F passengers at MCO...?

No frequent flyer line at MCO. The airport manager has refused repeatedly over the years to block the airlines from implementing one.

You can pay for Clear, but it's pretty much a scam. They advertise it as a trusted traveler program, collect a significant amount of personal data to run a "background check", make you sign in with a biometric scan, then all they do is dump you at the head of the line and you still need to go through the standard TSA process.

There are currently two ways to become eligible for TSA PreCheck, the actual TSA trusted traveler program. One is to be a frequent flyer with a participating airline (DL and AA for know IIRC) who meets certain unpublicized criteria. The other is to join one of the CBP's Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry, NEXUS, or Sentri and tie your CBP number in with your frequent flyer account. This gets you a less involved checkpoint experience (laptops in bags, shoes on, etc.).

Living in Central Florida, we're in a better position than many to register for Global Entry. Both MCO and FSB both take appointments for the CBP interview, with FSB offering them over the weekend. Most folks have to try to fit in the interview during a layover at a major airport. And if you plan on flying internationally even once or twice, it is WELL worth the money IMO.

Thanks for the info, realjd! Although, I am rather bummed now... (Not a fan of terribly long lines or divulging superfluous info to "Big Brother.") I guess this is enough motivation for me to make enough money to fly private now.

Thanks for the info, realjd! Although, I am rather bummed now... (Not a fan of terribly long lines or divulging superfluous info to "Big Brother.") I guess this is enough motivation for me to make enough money to fly private now.

One thing they do have that usually helps immensely is the poorly marked Black Diamond lane, at least at the checkpoint for gates 60+. It's the left-most document checker line to the right of the hotel escalators, right next to the Clear booth.

MCO is a crazy busy airport and the lines look horrendous, but they tend to move quickly in my experience. I've rarely spent more than 15 minutes from entering the line to getting onto the tram to the airside.

One thing they do have that usually helps immensely is the poorly marked Black Diamond lane, at least at the checkpoint for gates 60+. It's the left-most document checker line to the right of the hotel escalators, right next to the Clear booth.

MCO is a crazy busy airport and the lines look horrendous, but they tend to move quickly in my experience. I've rarely spent more than 15 minutes from entering the line to getting onto the tram to the airside.

Thanks, again, for the info. Because of that, I made sure to switch to a later flight just to be on the safe side. I'm departing right after a long day of work and thought I could just breeze through. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle!

One thing they do have that usually helps immensely is the poorly marked Black Diamond lane, at least at the checkpoint for gates 60+. It's the left-most document checker line to the right of the hotel escalators, right next to the Clear booth.


It has been my experience that the Black Diamond lane on the other side of the airport, going to gates 1-59, is used by anybody, and everybody. The TDC doesn't care who uses it.

The only benefit may be that when folks leave the check in counter, they tend to fixate on the massive line that extends from the near side back towards them, and don't walk past it and get into the lines on the far side. I think it might save a few minutes, but once you hit the queue, they all move slowly.

I try to fly on flights that leave at 8:00am or earlier, and usually the wait time is 15 minutes or less, but recently had a 30 minute time early on a Sunday morning, and I did use the "expert traveler lane".:mad::td: