Premier line vs TSA Pre-Check line
Dec 17, 2014, 4:42 pm
#1
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Premier line vs TSA Pre-Check line
So I have a trip coming up tomorrow and I'm both TSA Pre-Check and Premier Access eligible, flying out of SEA. I have heard that the Pre-Check lines have become significantly longer as more people have started joining the program.
I don't really want the hassle of having to remove my shoes, etc. but I also don't want to have to wait too long in a line. Which would you choose and why? (Obviously it depends on the general length at the time I'm there)
I don't really want the hassle of having to remove my shoes, etc. but I also don't want to have to wait too long in a line. Which would you choose and why? (Obviously it depends on the general length at the time I'm there)
Last edited by JoshGlzBrk; Dec 17, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Dec 17, 2014, 5:38 pm
#3
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Earlier this year, my wife was in PreCheck, and I was in Premier at the D gate security checkpoint in SEA. Premier line was a little shorter, but neither was very long
Wife made it through 10 minutes ahead of me. The Premier line just gets you to the boarding pass/ID check a bit faster, after that, you're in with random people.
Always go PreCheck - not having to wait for the backscatter saves a lot of time, as as does having everyone ahead of you better prepared for travel.
Wife made it through 10 minutes ahead of me. The Premier line just gets you to the boarding pass/ID check a bit faster, after that, you're in with random people.
Always go PreCheck - not having to wait for the backscatter saves a lot of time, as as does having everyone ahead of you better prepared for travel.
Dec 17, 2014, 6:03 pm
#5
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No one is going to be able to provide anything but generalities, and mostly at another airport.
AS noted - go to the airport, see which line is shorter. Once you're in, watch the flow rate and calculate which appears to be faster. Don't wait too long, as switching would require a restart.
Keep in mind the ease of pre-check - shoes, magnetometer, etc., and think about whether that's more important than saving 2 minutes.
And don't forget the "normal" line. I've blown by my "preferred" co-workers on several Monday mornings, as there is a large number of "preferreds" going through a single lane and the normal lane has 2 or more TSA folks.
AS noted - go to the airport, see which line is shorter. Once you're in, watch the flow rate and calculate which appears to be faster. Don't wait too long, as switching would require a restart.
Keep in mind the ease of pre-check - shoes, magnetometer, etc., and think about whether that's more important than saving 2 minutes.
And don't forget the "normal" line. I've blown by my "preferred" co-workers on several Monday mornings, as there is a large number of "preferreds" going through a single lane and the normal lane has 2 or more TSA folks.
Dec 17, 2014, 7:57 pm
#6
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All ties go to Pre-Check. A properly operated PC line, and I stress "properly", ought to be able to move 3-4 pax through in the time that the other lines move 1. Shoes, jackets, laptops, 3-1-1 bags and the like all take time.
Dec 17, 2014, 9:45 pm
#8
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I would say pre-check without question. I would even wait a little longer to not be hassled by taking off shoes, liquids, jackets ect.
Additionally if you go through the Premier line they are probably going to try to funnel you to pre-check once they see you have it anyway. I dont know that I have ever seen a premier line be faster than the precheck line but YMMV.
Additionally if you go through the Premier line they are probably going to try to funnel you to pre-check once they see you have it anyway. I dont know that I have ever seen a premier line be faster than the precheck line but YMMV.
Dec 17, 2014, 10:00 pm
#9
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Dec 17, 2014, 10:16 pm
#10
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That's been my experience. I don't think I've ever waited more than 7 minutes in a Pre-Check line. It's almost always a short line of experienced travelers who fly right through.
Dec 17, 2014, 10:34 pm
#11
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Using my home airport of RDU as a basis, the line to check IDs is typically longer for PC than for premium/priority access, but once you get past that point, PC blows the other line away. PC has been around long enough that even the PC "lottery winners" seem to understand they don't have to remove shoes, laptops, etc., so things tend to go pretty smoothly once the IDs have been cleared. YMMV, but I would stick with PC.
Dec 18, 2014, 6:39 am
#13
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I agree with most comments above, almost always take precheck. Had my first bad experience with precheck a few days ago flying out of LAS, but the average experience is way better. Had first timers in the precheck line, which slowed things down, still think it was faster just not use to it being slow.
Dec 18, 2014, 8:00 am
#14
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Dec 18, 2014, 9:02 am
#15
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Ditto! Even going through DCA at peak times, PC is generally faster. Departing from BOS on Sunday nights, it's never taken more than five minutes to print out a ticket from the kiosk and get through security with PC. PC is the best thing TSA ever did. Keep the lines full so they add more of them!