Nov 22, 2012, 3:26 am
Last edit by: rustykettel
PreCheck FAQ:
What is PreCheck?
TSA Pre✓™ allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines, members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs, or randomly selected passengers to receive expedited screening benefits during domestic travel. Eligible participants use dedicated screening lanes for screening benefits which include leaving on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leaving laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. (from http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-pre%E2%9C%93%E2%84%A2)
What do I need to do to enroll in PreCheck?
There are two ways to enroll in PreCheck:
1. Be invited by Alaska Airlines, or
2. Sign up for a Trusted Traveler program
At this time, Alaska appears to have only invited a limited number of MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K flyers to use PreCheck. Anyone can sign up for a Trusted Traveler program, though.
See the Alaska Airlines PreCheck FAQ page for good, detailed information on how to ensure you are set to receive PreCheck benefits.
If you are relying on a Trusted Traveler program membership to grant PreCheck access, be sure your name in your "Personal Information" in your "Traveler Profile" (as specified in the link above) is an exact match with what is displayed in your online GOES profile. If it is not, then either contact Alaska to have your profile's name edited, or be sure to edit your SecureFlight data each time you book a new reservation so that your name is an exact match with your GOES profile. A mismatch is very likely to prevent you from being selected for PreCheck.
It is also possible that you have been randomly selected for PreCheck.
If you are randomly selected, you'll see the PreCheck logo displayed on your paper or mobile boarding pass. You'll have all the benefits of PreCheck status for that flight and can use the PreCheck lane in your city of departure.
Should I opt-in with AS or sign up for a Trusted Traveler program?
Opting in with AS is free.
The Trusted Traveler programs have an associated membership fee and interview process but grant additional benefits for international travelers Global Entry is $100 for a five-year membership, requires an interview at one of several enrollment centers across the US, and allows expedited re-entry into the U.S. NEXUS is $50 for a five-year membership, includes a complimentary Global Entry membership, requires an interview at one of a handful of selected enrollment centers near the Canadian border, and allows access to expedited lanes when crossing into Canada or the U.S. at a land crossing. SENTRI is similar to NEXUS but works for the Mexican border instead. Once you receive your approval letter, the numbers on the letter are your TSA PreCheck number. When scheduling your interview, it does not have to be the nearest center - so keep this in mind and consider your travels.
Reports are that those using a Trusted Traveler membership program tend to have higher PreCheck selection rates than those who simply opt in through AS. It's possible that elites who have opted in and provide a Known Traveler program number have the highest selection rates of all, although no method guarantees 100% selection for PreCheck.
How to Add Your PASSID to Existing Reservations
If you receive approval for PreCheck via Global Entry, Nexus or another Trusted Traveler program you will receive a card which (typically on the back) contains a PASSID number. For already existing AS reservations, go to the "My Trips" section of the Alaska website. Under each reservation, go to the "Traveler Information" section. On the right side is "Traveler Documentation." Click on the "Enter Required Documentation" link and select the traveler on the itinerary (if there is more than one traveler). Click the "Continue" button and then click on the "Enter Known Traveler/Redress Number" link. In the box for "Known Traveler Number" enter the PASSID that has been assigned. Click the "Continue" button and repeat as necessary until all the existing reservations have been populated with the PASSID.
What airports does AS participate in PreCheck?
See the map on TSA's site or download the PDF guide from TSA's site. Also note, though, if:
a) You are flying on AS, and
b) You have opted in to PreCheck, and
c) the airport has a PreCheck checkpoint (shown on the map or PDF), and
d) TSA doesn't randomly decide to deny you (hopefully not),
then (assuming you qualify for and have opted in to PreCheck) you will receive a PreCheck-enabled BP. Unless the PreCheck checkpoint leads to a concourse that is not attached to the concourse containing your departure gate, you can use PreCheck at that airport. It does not matter if TSA's map or PDF guide do not specify that Alaska participates at that particular airport.
Some airports have a version of PreCheck referred to as "PreCheck Lite." Those airports (either due to space or staffing limitations) modify the benefits of PreCheck --- you may need to remove your laptop and/or remove your liquids. Keep an eye out for signage in the PreCheck lane to see if modifications have been made to PreCheck at your departure airport. You may be able to leave your shoes on (unless they have metal shanks that will alarm) and you may be able to leave light coats and sweaters on.
Here is a list of airports and checkpoint locations confirmed by FlyerTalkers to work for AS flyers:
Others listed on TSA's site as PreCheck airports but that FlyerTalkers have not verified. If you are familiar with any of these, please edit this wiki and move them to the above category!
-IAH (terminal C south)
-LIH (main terminal)
-MSP (checkpoint 4)
Links to other PreCheck-related threads on FlyerTalk
Airports with no Pre whatsoever:
GST
What is PreCheck?
TSA Pre✓™ allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines, members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs, or randomly selected passengers to receive expedited screening benefits during domestic travel. Eligible participants use dedicated screening lanes for screening benefits which include leaving on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leaving laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. (from http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-pre%E2%9C%93%E2%84%A2)
What do I need to do to enroll in PreCheck?
There are two ways to enroll in PreCheck:
1. Be invited by Alaska Airlines, or
2. Sign up for a Trusted Traveler program
At this time, Alaska appears to have only invited a limited number of MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K flyers to use PreCheck. Anyone can sign up for a Trusted Traveler program, though.
See the Alaska Airlines PreCheck FAQ page for good, detailed information on how to ensure you are set to receive PreCheck benefits.
If you are relying on a Trusted Traveler program membership to grant PreCheck access, be sure your name in your "Personal Information" in your "Traveler Profile" (as specified in the link above) is an exact match with what is displayed in your online GOES profile. If it is not, then either contact Alaska to have your profile's name edited, or be sure to edit your SecureFlight data each time you book a new reservation so that your name is an exact match with your GOES profile. A mismatch is very likely to prevent you from being selected for PreCheck.
It is also possible that you have been randomly selected for PreCheck.
If you are randomly selected, you'll see the PreCheck logo displayed on your paper or mobile boarding pass. You'll have all the benefits of PreCheck status for that flight and can use the PreCheck lane in your city of departure.
Should I opt-in with AS or sign up for a Trusted Traveler program?
Opting in with AS is free.
The Trusted Traveler programs have an associated membership fee and interview process but grant additional benefits for international travelers Global Entry is $100 for a five-year membership, requires an interview at one of several enrollment centers across the US, and allows expedited re-entry into the U.S. NEXUS is $50 for a five-year membership, includes a complimentary Global Entry membership, requires an interview at one of a handful of selected enrollment centers near the Canadian border, and allows access to expedited lanes when crossing into Canada or the U.S. at a land crossing. SENTRI is similar to NEXUS but works for the Mexican border instead. Once you receive your approval letter, the numbers on the letter are your TSA PreCheck number. When scheduling your interview, it does not have to be the nearest center - so keep this in mind and consider your travels.
Reports are that those using a Trusted Traveler membership program tend to have higher PreCheck selection rates than those who simply opt in through AS. It's possible that elites who have opted in and provide a Known Traveler program number have the highest selection rates of all, although no method guarantees 100% selection for PreCheck.
How to Add Your PASSID to Existing Reservations
If you receive approval for PreCheck via Global Entry, Nexus or another Trusted Traveler program you will receive a card which (typically on the back) contains a PASSID number. For already existing AS reservations, go to the "My Trips" section of the Alaska website. Under each reservation, go to the "Traveler Information" section. On the right side is "Traveler Documentation." Click on the "Enter Required Documentation" link and select the traveler on the itinerary (if there is more than one traveler). Click the "Continue" button and then click on the "Enter Known Traveler/Redress Number" link. In the box for "Known Traveler Number" enter the PASSID that has been assigned. Click the "Continue" button and repeat as necessary until all the existing reservations have been populated with the PASSID.
What airports does AS participate in PreCheck?
See the map on TSA's site or download the PDF guide from TSA's site. Also note, though, if:
a) You are flying on AS, and
b) You have opted in to PreCheck, and
c) the airport has a PreCheck checkpoint (shown on the map or PDF), and
d) TSA doesn't randomly decide to deny you (hopefully not),
then (assuming you qualify for and have opted in to PreCheck) you will receive a PreCheck-enabled BP. Unless the PreCheck checkpoint leads to a concourse that is not attached to the concourse containing your departure gate, you can use PreCheck at that airport. It does not matter if TSA's map or PDF guide do not specify that Alaska participates at that particular airport.
Some airports have a version of PreCheck referred to as "PreCheck Lite." Those airports (either due to space or staffing limitations) modify the benefits of PreCheck --- you may need to remove your laptop and/or remove your liquids. Keep an eye out for signage in the PreCheck lane to see if modifications have been made to PreCheck at your departure airport. You may be able to leave your shoes on (unless they have metal shanks that will alarm) and you may be able to leave light coats and sweaters on.
Here is a list of airports and checkpoint locations confirmed by FlyerTalkers to work for AS flyers:
- ANC (main [B/C] checkpoint)
- ATL (south checkpoint)
- AUS (central checkpoint to the left of the AS check-in counter)
- BLI (see post 1450 re removal of liquids)
- BNA (north checkpoint for concourses A/B)
- BOI (all passengers use one checkpoint)
- BOS (The C40-C42 area that AS now uses only has PreCheck Lite)
- BWI (C checkpoint, although A checkpoint also has it and it operates consistently throughout the day)
- BZN (single checkpoint, right side)
- DCA (south pier)
- DEN (both north and south checkpoints)
- DFW (Terminal E, near gate E15)
- EAT (PreCheck Lite at the only checkpoint)
- EUG (PreCheck Lite only)
- EWR (Terminal A3) Confirmed full-scale PreCheck, at least for the morning flight
- FAI (PreCheck Lite only)
- FLL (terminal 1, concourse C--open late afternoon to accommodate AS #33)
- GEG (Terminal C, left side of existing checkpoint, sporadic hours - see post 1403 for times)
- HNL (checkpoint 5-between Delta and United, lobbies 7 and 8)
- JNU (common upstairs checkpoint) PreCheck Lite.
- KOA Gate 7 - (AS) PreCheck Lite for the 11:55PM Redeye. Also had PreCheck Lite for the 3:00 ish flight to OAK.
- LAS (Terminal 3 (AS) next to F/elite line, Terminal 1 (AA/DL))
- LAX (T6 [where Alaska departs from]; it is also possible to use the PreCheck checkpoint in T4 [American], T5 [Delta], or T7 [United]; all are connected behind security)
- MCI (PreCheck Lite)
- MCO (Far side of terminal away from AS baggage claim/checkin counters)
- MFR (only one checkpoint in airport) PreCheck Lite. (Note: checkpoint completely closes at certain hours of the day. Very small airport.)
- MRY (PreCheck Lite)
- MSY (Concourse C)
- OAK (far right side, along exit pathway, well signed)
- OGG (right side as walking from AS check-in area)
- ORD (terminal 3, checkpoint 8)
- PDX (A/B/C checkpoint; PreCheck lane closes in evening, can use D/E PreCheck lane and airside walkway connector back to A/B/C)
- PHL (D/E checkpoint has TSA Pre✓; Pre✓ also typically available at B [far side of AA counters from AS gates] but not C [near side of AA counters]; all of PHL is connected behind security)
- PHX (First class TSA entrance in Terminal 2 is now for precheck and first)
- PSC (PreCheck Lite available at the central, and only, checkpoint)
- PSP (Left side of the TSA entry point. Note, they also send a lot of wheelchairs through there, so not always faster than the premium line.)
- RDU (Terminal 2)
- SAN (Terminal 1, far left lane)
- SEA (south checkpoint 2, central checkpoint 3 [the one leading to the central food court] and north checkpoint 5)
- SFO (International Terminal, A pier): enter at the center, the line dragon will point you to a separate line to the left if you have PreCheck on your boarding pass. Normal PreCheck.
- SIT (Central checkpoint, Gate 1: PreCheck Lite)
- SJC (terminal B)
- SLC (use Terminal 2 checkpoint, All connected airside)
- SMF (far left, terminals A and B)
- SNA (terminal 1, lane 1)
- STL (Alaska Terminal & Checkpoint, Right side)
- TPA (Airside A)
Others listed on TSA's site as PreCheck airports but that FlyerTalkers have not verified. If you are familiar with any of these, please edit this wiki and move them to the above category!
-IAH (terminal C south)
-LIH (main terminal)
-MSP (checkpoint 4)
Links to other PreCheck-related threads on FlyerTalk
- The United PreCheck Thread (the most extensive wiki and discussion on the topic)
- The Delta PreCheck Thread
- The AA PreCheck Thread
- Questions about Global Entry are best served in the Practical Travel Safety Issues forum
- The Air Canada NEXUS thread
Airports with no Pre whatsoever:
GST
TSA Pre✓™ (PreCheck) on Alaska Airlines - Questions and Experiences (2012-21)
Jan 21, 2013, 4:47 pm
#781
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Any Updates on how to make sure your information is correctly listed on existing reservations? I think i did the profile update with First Middle Last like on my GE card before booking my tickets for this year but I cannot remember
Feb 4, 2013, 1:48 pm
#783
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS Million Miler, AS MVPG-75K, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, HH Silver, Nat EE
Posts: 166
Really think SEATAC should re-think how they are managing the current precheck location. Outside of just the location, the "pre-check rules" seems to vary depending on who's manning the metal detector. The TSA agents who works the old location were all familiar faces and seemed to have the precheck process down. At the new location I hardly see the same faces (I fly every week) and are told different things - one time they told everyone in line to talk off shoes!
Example 1: If you go through SEA at the "newer" checkpoint 3 , then its 50-50 if they tell you to take off lightweight jacket. When it was at old location, I was never told to take my jacket off (same jacket too). As my "travel jacket" I I wear it through precheck at many airports across country and have never been told to "you must remove your jacket".
Example 2: Ever since it moved to checkpoint 3, the lines are completely unpredictable - either empty or completely backed up with a long line to just get your boarding pass scanned. Other airports have a precheck only line - no first/no elites - this make processing thru the line so much faster (ex. SNA, LAS, HNL). 3 weeks ago went thru precheck with a friend - He did not get triple beep so was diverted to "failure lane" - note not the regular line. He ended up beating me by at least 6 people. This never happened at the old location.
Example 3: At this new checkpoint when I wear flat heeled boots, I am told to take them off in SEA. At the old checkpoint was never told to remove them and walked through without beeping - same with other airports. 2 weeks ago I flew down to SNA for 1 nighter - wore the boots and was told remove them. I said since I don't have a problem at other airports I'd like to try them. Of course I beeped.
Coming back from SNA - wore the boots and started to take them off when precheck guy said "you don't have to take them off - that defeats the purpose of precheck". I told him I beeped in SEA wearing them, he said "keep them off, and we'll see what happens". NO BEEP!
Someone at the boardroom provided me with the email address of the SEA person who oversaw security check point locations,etc. And was encouraged to write him because she has been having so many people complain about pre-check ever since they moved it. She said it was important for the airport to hear from their most frequent travelers - that we are dissatisfied and how flying through SEA is a poor experience compares to other airports and the more of us who complain the better.
I plan to do that this week. I wasn't sure if I can post his email here ....Is that something I can do?
Feb 4, 2013, 2:28 pm
#784
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Wirelessly posted (beckoa's PWP wondrousdevice3.0: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
Re beeping- there are different sensitivities one can adjust the magnometer too- sounds like SEA Pre needs turned down a bit...
Re beeping- there are different sensitivities one can adjust the magnometer too- sounds like SEA Pre needs turned down a bit...
Feb 4, 2013, 2:41 pm
#785
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SEA, SoCal
Programs: AS 75K, DL Plat, AA, WN, Hertz, HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 1,306
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Re beeping- there are different sensitivities one can adjust the magnometer too- sounds like SEA Pre needs turned down a bit...
Re beeping- there are different sensitivities one can adjust the magnometer too- sounds like SEA Pre needs turned down a bit...
Feb 4, 2013, 2:46 pm
#786
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 328
Wirelessly posted (beckoa's PWP wondrousdevice3.0: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
Re beeping- there are different sensitivities one can adjust the magnometer too- sounds like SEA Pre needs turned down a bit...
Re beeping- there are different sensitivities one can adjust the magnometer too- sounds like SEA Pre needs turned down a bit...
Totally not worth it. Heading out of D1 wasn't *terrible* for the new location (vs. N), but between the time it took me to walk down to the PreCheck, wait through the line (which was ABSOLUTELY not faster than the Gold security line) and walk back, it wasn't working.
Amusingly, when I've mentioned it to any of the agents checking ID at PreCheck, zero of them are surprised. In fact, when I go through other security areas at SEA and get a triple beep, they always point out that I'm PreCheck, and just grin when I mention how far it is and that it's longer to use now. Kind of a downer - but it works great elsewhere, so I'll stick to that, I suppose.
Feb 4, 2013, 4:27 pm
#787
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Wirelessly posted (beckoa's PWP wondrousdevice3.0: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
TSA does have the special comment cards... might help to fill them out too.
TSA does have the special comment cards... might help to fill them out too.
Feb 4, 2013, 6:31 pm
#788
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
PDX-SFO today no precheck.
Couple of questions for the veterans:
Can you get precheck on a one way ticket?
What is your success rate as a 75K on precheck?
got
I am only 1 for my last 5 this year at precheck aiports and the one time I got the triple beep I also got the beep for additional screening after going through the magnometer and had my hands swabbed for bomb materials.
Couple of questions for the veterans:
Can you get precheck on a one way ticket?
What is your success rate as a 75K on precheck?
got
I am only 1 for my last 5 this year at precheck aiports and the one time I got the triple beep I also got the beep for additional screening after going through the magnometer and had my hands swabbed for bomb materials.
Feb 4, 2013, 7:07 pm
#789
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS Million Miler since 2011, Lifetime MVPG
Posts: 853
That being said, I agree that the new location of precheck at SEA is worthless. I did use it once and sailed through but really to walk all of the way down there and then back to D to get the train to N is silly as long as they have the Gold line at D. I'm loving it elsewhere though!
Feb 4, 2013, 7:13 pm
#790
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Thanks slopeboy. All 4 of my non triple beeps were one way tickets (with return tickets on AS just from different airports) and was curious.
At a loss how I can be so infrequent in 2013.
At a loss how I can be so infrequent in 2013.
Feb 4, 2013, 7:57 pm
#791
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PAC NW
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 376
That being said, I agree that the new location of precheck at SEA is worthless. I did use it once and sailed through but really to walk all of the way down there and then back to D to get the train to N is silly as long as they have the Gold line at D. I'm loving it elsewhere though!
Feb 5, 2013, 7:52 am
#792
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 328
TSA Adds AS to Pre✓™ Program
So this morning, TSA agent at the entrance for elite at N was actually dissuading people from entering and almost telling us to go back to CP3. So, I ended up in PreCheck again which was nice, but my shoes went off again.
They *never* went off at N, and don't at LAS, LAX or any other airport I've worn them at, just this location. The person ahead of me also had to remove his shoes, but the guy behind me (who was wearing something moc-like) didn't. Agent informed me that "there was something below this section of the airport, the belts for baggage or something" that was probably affecting it. Seems kind of silly for PreCheck to be in a place where a lot of pax are removing shoes, no?
Anywho, is what it is. Perhaps the location is better for some but it's not going to be when we're all in N, IMO.
They *never* went off at N, and don't at LAS, LAX or any other airport I've worn them at, just this location. The person ahead of me also had to remove his shoes, but the guy behind me (who was wearing something moc-like) didn't. Agent informed me that "there was something below this section of the airport, the belts for baggage or something" that was probably affecting it. Seems kind of silly for PreCheck to be in a place where a lot of pax are removing shoes, no?
Anywho, is what it is. Perhaps the location is better for some but it's not going to be when we're all in N, IMO.
Feb 5, 2013, 7:41 pm
#793
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,195
That being said, I agree that the new location of precheck at SEA is worthless. I did use it once and sailed through but really to walk all of the way down there and then back to D to get the train to N is silly as long as they have the Gold line at D. I'm loving it elsewhere though!
It's a very central location. Even with the walk from the D/N security checkpoint, it's pretty darned fast.
Feb 5, 2013, 9:29 pm
#794
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS Million Miler since 2011, Lifetime MVPG
Posts: 853
Worthless in the fact that I bet from bag drop off at the Gold line to the train at D I could beat you just by going through the gold line right there versus walking down to the pre-check line and back. That makes it worthless. Not the walking.
Feb 5, 2013, 9:38 pm
#795
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVPG 75K
Posts: 2,574
So this morning, TSA agent at the entrance for elite at N was actually dissuading people from entering and almost telling us to go back to CP3. So, I ended up in PreCheck again which was nice, but my shoes went off again.
They *never* went off at N, and don't at LAS, LAX or any other airport I've worn them at, just this location. The person ahead of me also had to remove his shoes, but the guy behind me (who was wearing something moc-like) didn't. Agent informed me that "there was something below this section of the airport, the belts for baggage or something" that was probably affecting it. Seems kind of silly for PreCheck to be in a place where a lot of pax are removing shoes, no?
Anywho, is what it is. Perhaps the location is better for some but it's not going to be when we're all in N, IMO.
They *never* went off at N, and don't at LAS, LAX or any other airport I've worn them at, just this location. The person ahead of me also had to remove his shoes, but the guy behind me (who was wearing something moc-like) didn't. Agent informed me that "there was something below this section of the airport, the belts for baggage or something" that was probably affecting it. Seems kind of silly for PreCheck to be in a place where a lot of pax are removing shoes, no?
Anywho, is what it is. Perhaps the location is better for some but it's not going to be when we're all in N, IMO.