boycruz

Was wondering if Terminal 2 at SFO has MVP security line?

VegasGambler

There is a priority line but you have to be first class or Gold (AS doesn't offer the priority security line for MVP)

BaconSF

VegasGambler

Yeah if you are F or gold+ they will point you through the priority line.

After you get past the guy who checks your boarding pass and ID the lines merge so it's usually not worth that much.

ucdtim17

boycruz

The other morning they closed the F/MVPG security line behind us
never seen them do that at 7am

nearlysober

Premium might have the shorter line to show an agent your boarding pass & ID... but then you get tossed in the real mess which is the actual security process:
No one is ready with their shoes off, liquids out, etc.
Body scanner is considerably slower than x-ray.
Higher fail rate of people having something stupid on them or in their bag so then everyone has to stop while they go through again.

I'll stick to precheck

Often1

Rough estimates are that Pre-Check moves 7-8x the volume of the standard line. It would have to be one heck of a lot longer Pre-Check than regular line before I would shift to the regular line. Even then, the hassle factor is worth something.

brentyb

Precheck will definitely be faster.

Or just combine it with CLEAR and be through in 2 minutes

PaperGlider

CLEAR can help to ensure a short time through TSA but it isn't worth the cost for me at SFO.

For my travel times, 9 out of 10 times through SFO, TSA Pre is as about fast as having CLEAR. I'd rather go through the Pre line instead of scanning fingerprints multiple times, switching to eyeballs, and then getting an escort past the few people in line to the TSA podium.

Neither TSAPre nor CLEAR can eliminate the line time variability from the cutting in lines by the flight crews and airport workers.

jhurwitz

SFO T2 is one of the terminals where CLEAR has been least useful for me.

At most TSA checkpoints, the bulk of the Precheck line is before the ID check, with just ~5 flyers between the ID check at the x-ray at any given time. However, SFO T2 often (but not always) has it flipped: there's a very short queue before the ID check, with quite a long queue of 20-25 people between ID and x-ray. In this scenario, CLEAR saves no time (or even is slightly slower).

And don't even get me started about the numerous mornings SFO T2 has had the "K9 pilot program" that makes this even worse. A CLEAR employee escorts you through the *normal* (not even Precheck!) security line so that you can get sniffed by a K9 dog, before they then tell the TSA agent at the ID check station that you're CLEAR and can skip that step. Takes about 10 minutes of a CLEAR employee's time so that they can have a 2 second conversation to save you 5 seconds total, and that's it.

vga

Big changes at SFO's new automated security lanes. $4 million automated lanes get mixed reviews from travelers.

tom911

That's over at the United checkpoints in T3. Alaska is in T2.
SFO, TSA and United Airlines Unveil New Automated Screening Lanes

nearlysober

Sounds similar to the system used at Checkpoint 5 at SEA for TSA precheck?

I like that new system, it allows many more people to get their bins ready at the same time, then you just push it onto the conveyor when you're ready. Much better than 1 person prepping a bin at a time.

SkyTeam777

Does SFO check boarding passes anymore at security or do you just scan ID these days? Or does it vary by terminal?