Last edit by: rustykettel
Please use the following template for reporting experiences:
Airport:
Terminal:
Time of day:
Approximate wait time for TSA id check/length of line:
TSA, Priority, Pre?:
Airport:
Terminal:
Time of day:
Approximate wait time for TSA id check/length of line:
TSA, Priority, Pre?:
The Fed shutdown and TSA lines. What’s your experience?
#63
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
A quick primer on ethics rules regarding receiving gifts that apply to all federal employees: https://www2.oge.gov/Web/oge.nsf/Res...utside+Sources
While technically, they could accept a gift valued less than $20, as the page notes "employees should consider declining gifts when they believe that their integrity or impartiality would be questioned if they were to accept the gift." I'd say TSOs are likely to decline all gifts from passengers for this reason, as a reasonable person could question whether or not the officer was truly impartial in their screening based on receiving a gift from a passenger. Feel free to try though. Under current circumstances, they may be willing to make an exception, especially if presented following clearance into the secure area. Worst case, you could offer the gift card to a flight attendant or pass along to anyone else instead.
While technically, they could accept a gift valued less than $20, as the page notes "employees should consider declining gifts when they believe that their integrity or impartiality would be questioned if they were to accept the gift." I'd say TSOs are likely to decline all gifts from passengers for this reason, as a reasonable person could question whether or not the officer was truly impartial in their screening based on receiving a gift from a passenger. Feel free to try though. Under current circumstances, they may be willing to make an exception, especially if presented following clearance into the secure area. Worst case, you could offer the gift card to a flight attendant or pass along to anyone else instead.
#65
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: United, AA, KrisFlyer
Posts: 179
Airport: SFO
Terminal: 2
Date: 1/14/19
Time: 1130AM
TSA Pre-Check: Yes
Walked right up. Took 20 seconds. Non-Pre looked very short as well. SFO uses contract workers, not Fed employees. I’ve only had a relatively long line at SFO once. That was for a JAL flight and they aren’t in Pre-Check. Relatively long at SFO is about ten minutes. Will try to remember to report after my return trip tomorrow.
Terminal: 2
Date: 1/14/19
Time: 1130AM
TSA Pre-Check: Yes
Walked right up. Took 20 seconds. Non-Pre looked very short as well. SFO uses contract workers, not Fed employees. I’ve only had a relatively long line at SFO once. That was for a JAL flight and they aren’t in Pre-Check. Relatively long at SFO is about ten minutes. Will try to remember to report after my return trip tomorrow.
#66
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: Alaska MM, AA MM, BA Silver, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 321
I did give the TSA agents in EUG a box of See's candy when we were passing through near Christmas. Pre-Shutdown but the supervisor accepted it with a hearty thank you after being quite surprised. I don't think they get that kind of thing very often, even in a small station like EUG with few problems/long lines.
#67
Airport: SEA
Terminal: Main
Time of day: 8:20 AM
Approximate wait time for TSA id check/length of line: < 15 mins
TSA, Priority, Pre: PreCheck
PreCheck was at checkpoint 4, not 5, and there was a healthy line. It was moving pretty quickly but I was glad I had Clear to cut it.
Terminal: Main
Time of day: 8:20 AM
Approximate wait time for TSA id check/length of line: < 15 mins
TSA, Priority, Pre: PreCheck
PreCheck was at checkpoint 4, not 5, and there was a healthy line. It was moving pretty quickly but I was glad I had Clear to cut it.
#68
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
No Pre today- no real line at TSA ORD today. T3 checkpoint.
Did take a few minutes to get thru, but not due to TSA... it was other pax it seemed like.
Did take a few minutes to get thru, but not due to TSA... it was other pax it seemed like.
#69
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
1/16/19 - 7am - SEA
Arrived right as boarding started (as usual) and was greeted by the longest precheck line I've ever seen. The whole queue maze leading to the checkpoint was full including the premium line entrance.
I had signed up for a 6 month trial of Clear a few months ago, so I was through in a minute or two. But it almost made me reconsider my airport departure strategy
EDIT: as missamo pointed out, why does Port of Seattle keep moving the precheck line between 4 & 5 every few months?
Arrived right as boarding started (as usual) and was greeted by the longest precheck line I've ever seen. The whole queue maze leading to the checkpoint was full including the premium line entrance.
I had signed up for a 6 month trial of Clear a few months ago, so I was through in a minute or two. But it almost made me reconsider my airport departure strategy
EDIT: as missamo pointed out, why does Port of Seattle keep moving the precheck line between 4 & 5 every few months?
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
#71
#73
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AS MVPG, HH Diamond
Posts: 232
SEA
Checkpoint 1
6:45 a.m., Thursday, 1/17
9 minutes to get to ID check, with line stretching out to the check in kiosks. 15 minutes total to get through.
TSA Pre
Was going to go to The Club and figured I'd avoid the usual morning zoo on the AS end of the airport so went to Checkpoint 1. Was very surprised by the line, but it moved quickly enough.
Edit: Walled back by at 7:35 am and the line was down to maybe half the capacity of the roped lanes, so I must have just hit a rush.
Checkpoint 1
6:45 a.m., Thursday, 1/17
9 minutes to get to ID check, with line stretching out to the check in kiosks. 15 minutes total to get through.
TSA Pre
Was going to go to The Club and figured I'd avoid the usual morning zoo on the AS end of the airport so went to Checkpoint 1. Was very surprised by the line, but it moved quickly enough.
Edit: Walled back by at 7:35 am and the line was down to maybe half the capacity of the roped lanes, so I must have just hit a rush.
Last edited by RaginPlainsman; Jan 17, 2019 at 8:39 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: United, AA, KrisFlyer
Posts: 179
Airport: LAS
Terminal: 3
Time of Day: 8:30AM
TSA Pre-Check was very, very long, and people were complaining that it's been that way pretty regularly. We skipped Pre and went to the regular line. No wait. No shoe removal, no jacket removal, no iPad removal. We were through well before the Pre-Check people that were in that line ahead of us. Total time for us was about 5 minutes.
Terminal: 3
Time of Day: 8:30AM
TSA Pre-Check was very, very long, and people were complaining that it's been that way pretty regularly. We skipped Pre and went to the regular line. No wait. No shoe removal, no jacket removal, no iPad removal. We were through well before the Pre-Check people that were in that line ahead of us. Total time for us was about 5 minutes.
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
Airport: BUR
Terminal: B
Date: 1/17
Time: 19:30
Fully staffed, one x-ray conveyer going, pre-check lite operating- all normal for this time of day. TSA seem in good spirits- generally friendly, as is typical for BUR
Terminal: B
Date: 1/17
Time: 19:30
Fully staffed, one x-ray conveyer going, pre-check lite operating- all normal for this time of day. TSA seem in good spirits- generally friendly, as is typical for BUR