Originally Posted by
GregMM
How exactly does that gate-keep determine whether you normally get Pre, and were randomly denied Pre this time, or you have never had it before? They both look exactly the same on the boarding pass.
You are mixing up the scenario again,
Chronological - GATE-Keeper only check if you are in the right line, they look at your boarding pass to see if it has PreCheck entry for the PerCheck line, or if it is the premier line, if you have a premier status on the boarding pass, or if you don't have premier status, you are accompanied by a ticket holder with premier status. Those initial gate-keeper don't care if you are going to be denied, they just making sure you belong in the line.
Again - the line checker is only checking status or Precheck for entry into the proper line.
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Once in the PreCheck line, you approach the TSA agent who scans your ID and BP, If you get the three beeps, you continue to proceed through the PreCheck line for the quick security scanning. IF "no three beeps" you are directed to the failed line, where you go through the normal screening process.
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Answer in each section -
Originally Posted by
hoopics
Lately my UA boarding passes have had the PreCheck logo on them, including on the trip I mentioned above at IAD. But my dad's BP and my son's BP did not have the PreCheck logo. Are you saying that the random denial happens at the time the BP prints, so that the logo is omitted even from someone who is usually eligible? Wouldn't that telegraph to you that you're not going to the three beeps when you arrive at the line before you get there?
The logo only shows that you can enter the PreCheck line or area.
Yes - determination has been made prior and is encoded in the bar code of the BP. Earlier threads described how to find the code, which is a "3" after the UA. If the "3" is encoded, you will get the three beeps.
Other posers have stated that the logo means you will get the three beeps, By belief is that the logo only states and shows the gate keeper you can enter the line to have the TSA agent determine if you go through the quick line or the standard line.
IF you are eligible "to enter the line", the logo will appear, but there is a chance that you will not get the three beep and have to go through standard screening.
Originally Posted by
hoopics
If that's the case, I guess I can see why they handled our group as they did. They saw one BP with the logo, knew someone was eligible, and didn't care about the rest of the group, even though the other BPs didn't have the logo. But that seems bizarre to me.
Not quite right - Once in the line, as I stated in my earlier post, the gate keeper allow your son and father in the line, You son, by the rules, is allowed, even without the logo. Your father should have been denied entry in the PreCheck line.
As stated in my earlier post, once in the line, the TSA agent only duty is to direct people to the proper screening line, if you get three beeps, proceed to the quick screening, if no three beeps, then standard screen. He doesn't care if the logo is on the ticket or not, he just scans the ticket for access to quick screening. It is not his job to police the line, unless you try to go through quick scan, and you did not get the three beeps.
In the case of your father, he didn't have the logo, but once the BP is scanned, he did not get the three beeps, so he went through standard screening.
Your son, follow a more pragmatic path, He just accompanied you through the quick screening line, because that the way you went. If you did not get the three beep, he would have follow you through the standard screening.