Dec 26, 2012, 9:58 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
TSA Pre-Check / PreCheck Known Traveler program for AA FFs (consolidated)
You are eligible to be selected (on a flight-by-flight basis) for TSA PreCheck expedited screening if:
- You are a frequent American Airlines flyer that have been invited by American Airlines to participate and followed the instructions on the email to accept, or/and
- You participate in a "Trusted Traveler" program (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and/or TSA PreCheck application program) and have entered your "Known Traveler ID" in the reservation
- If you're using your AAdvantage number, you can enter the "Known Traveler ID" in the Personal Information and Password tab of My Account) so it will auto-populate in all new reservations bearing the AAdvantage number made anywhere
- If your reservation doesn't have your AAdvantage number, you can retrieve it and add the "Known Traveler ID" to it. The method is not very intuitive: on AA.com click on my trips, then on view all, then on find my reservation and enter either the record locator (if you know it), or the flight information using the AA operating flight number (not any eventual codeshare number from another airline).
- Your Secure Flight Information (name, sex, DOB) in the reservation must match the one with the program (except for "middle" or other names, which are ignored) (name on ticket does not matter)
- You will find your "Known Traveler ID" on the GOES website or on your program's card, under the name "PASSID". It is either 9 digits or the letters TT plus 7 digits
NOTE: 20 May 2016: "Todays announcement makes a total of 16 carriers that participate in TSA Pre✓: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Seaborne Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin America and WestJet.
Passengers who are eligible for TSA Pre✓ include: members of the TSA Pre✓ application program, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program, Global Entry, and Canadian citizens who are members of CBPs NEXUS program. TSA Pre✓ is also available for U.S. Armed Forces service members, including those serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Reserves and National Guard."
Link
How it works
In the Pre-Check lane, you no longer need to remove the following items:
- Shoes (some, such as steel-toed shoes, may require removal)
- 3-1-1 compliant bag from your carry-on (all liquid restrictions still apply)
- Laptop from your bag (if electronics are stacked on top of each other, they require removal)
- Light outerwear or jacket
- Belt (large belt buckles may require removal)
- Pre-Check Lanes are WTMD only-- No NoS in use
LOCATIONS
Link to FlyerGuide Wiki listing of American Airlines (only) PreCheck checkpoints.
Link to FT thread AA Airport / Concourse TSA PreCheck - Hours [only] (may not be current)
See also post 1 of this thread. (It contains much additional info in the Moderator's Note.)
NOTE: PreCheck is changing to a Trusted Traveler (GE/NEXUS/SENTRI) -like program, where anyone will be able apply and pay USD $85 (online or at a PreCheck enrollment center), be vetted for approval, present proof of identification and be fingerprinted at a PreCheck enrollment center (IAD and IND, opening Fall 2013, will be thie first), and be granted PreCheck status for five years from that time. It will not be airline - or airline status - tied.
"Current PreCheck participants, including those eligible via a CBP Trusted Traveler Program such as Global Entry, will continue to receive PreCheck eligibility. Participants who opted-in through their airline frequent flyer program may want to consider applying for PreCheck, as they are more likely to be selected for PreCheck expedited screening more often if they are vetted via the PreCheck application process." Link.
Trusted Traveler (Global Entry, Nexus, Sentri) and Having Problems with PreCheck?
If you belong to one of the Trusted Traveler Programs listed above, you may run into issues getting PreCheck clearance if your Secure Flight Data is not an exact match to the data that you entered into your application on the GOES (Global Online Enrollment System) website when you applied for your TT membership.
For example, if your airline account has Bob Jones, but your GOES account has Bob James Jones, then the TSA may not be associating your information properly when it "decides" who can and can not have access. Additionally, if your PASS ID # (listed above in the screen-shots) is not an exact match, there will be a mismatch when TSA processes your information, and you will not receive PreCheck.
To ensure you receive PreCheck on all flights (domestic & internatioal), be sure to ensure the information in your AA profile is accurate. The name on the ticket does not matter- the "Secure Flight Data" is what is used to determine PreCheck status.
Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; wiki contents may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner)TSA Pre✓ / PreCheck / Pre Check Issues, Changes, etc.
Known issues:
- Not every airport or terminal offers the TSA Pre✓ program
- TSA Pre✓ may have limited or irregular hours or closed at times without notice
- TSA Pre✓ members are still be subject to random selection for intensified screening
- TSA Pre✓ program has changed from an airline elite invitation program to a fee-based program with certain screening requirements
- If one's TSA Pre✓ status is from the pilot invitation program and one doesn't have a Known Traveler Number ("KTN"), TSA Pre✓ status may not carry on to another airline and one may experience increasing denials (not having the TSA Pre✓ printed on boarding pass and being sent to the regular TSA screening queues
Link to TSA Application Program and TSA Pre✓ program information, links
Changes to TSA Pre✓
TSA Pre✓ was originally offered by certain airlines to their elite status members. These TSA Pre✓ members do not have a Known Traveler Number from a USDHS trusted traveler program (GOES / Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or the new $85 fee based TSA Pre✓ Application Program offered to the flying public with 5 year renewal), making TSA Pre✓ status portability challenging. See the DHS Trusted Traveler programs listing and comparison chart here. Please read the following:
From American Airlines, April 2015:
This month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is making changes to the TSA Pre✓ Trusted Traveler Program that will impact which travelers receive expedited screening. If you're not already a member of one of the Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry or the TSA Pre✓ Application Program, you will probably see a decline in how often you receive expedited screening, even if you've previously "opted-in" through a frequent flyer program.
The best way to increase your chances of receiving TSA Pre✓ on a regular basis is to register for a Trusted Traveler Program with the Department of Homeland Security at dhs.gov/tt. Once you receive your Known Traveler Number (KTN) from TSA, be sure you update your AAdvantage profile.
To add your KTN to your AAdvantage profile:For more information on TSA Pre✓, visit tsa.gov/tsa-precheck.
This month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is making changes to the TSA Pre✓ Trusted Traveler Program that will impact which travelers receive expedited screening. If you're not already a member of one of the Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry or the TSA Pre✓ Application Program, you will probably see a decline in how often you receive expedited screening, even if you've previously "opted-in" through a frequent flyer program.
The best way to increase your chances of receiving TSA Pre✓ on a regular basis is to register for a Trusted Traveler Program with the Department of Homeland Security at dhs.gov/tt. Once you receive your Known Traveler Number (KTN) from TSA, be sure you update your AAdvantage profile.
To add your KTN to your AAdvantage profile:
- Login to your account on aa.com and select My Account from the AAdvantage menu
- Within My Account, go to the Information and Password tab
- Add your Customs and Border Protection 9-digit PASS ID to your secure traveler information
[Archived] TSA Pre-Check / PreCheck Known Traveler program for AA FFs
Feb 12, 2012, 12:16 pm
#1186
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,949
Went through LAX again (only second time for me since PreCheck started) around 8:15 am Sat 2/4. I arrived to see the PreCheck line "roped" off, and no one patrolling the outside. All there was was the person actually scanning the boarding passes inside. Once again, very confusing. One other person, then another couple people, lined up behind me. I first tried to see if the "rope" (actually more like ribbon) was liftable, but no, not easily. I then waited for the one TSA person at the scanner to be between and mentioned "I'm PreCheck qualified" and moved the "rope" aside so that I (and the people behind me) could enter. No comment gotten on that. I just walked up, gave the boarding pass, got LLL'd, and was able to move to the left.
The same thing happened to me when I tried to go through Pre-Check last week at LAX. No one was there, so I queued up with the other folks. Then I saw a guy stand there and wait, and eventually another TSA guy (not wearing blue, but a gray suit) came and opened up the ribbon, so I slipped out of the main line to join.
Keeping the ribbon blocked off can work, if they have someone standing there to lift the ribbon when folks who know they have Pre-Check come by.
Keeping the ribbon blocked off can work, if they have someone standing there to lift the ribbon when folks who know they have Pre-Check come by.
And I LLL'd now 3/3 (again, I'm NEXUS in case it matters).
(I won't be going through again for almost two weeks.)
Feb 12, 2012, 12:24 pm
#1187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,949
It's one of the codes that dispalyed on the scanner terminal that the TSA agent who scans your boarding pass barcode uses. (You see it, upside down from your view, if you're looking at the scanner terminal after the TSA agent has scanned your barcode.)
It displays LLL if you're deemed (by the machine) to be OK to go through the expedited screening (or would be, if it was up an running*), while it displays CLR if you're rejected this time. (The pass/reject results can vary from one trip to the next.)
*In a line where expedited PreCheck screening is actually available already, such as LAX T4 A4, LLL means you get to use it. At some airports where PreCheck is not yet installed, but "coming soon", you may get LLL which in that case means you would have been qualified to use the PreCheck expedited screening line had PreCheck been fully functional already, but it's not fully funcitonal so all it does is make you hopeful about future trips through that airport!
Feb 12, 2012, 12:45 pm
#1188
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 599
Another glorious experience Saturday morning at LAX. PriorityAccess line was terribly long and full of family travelers, at least a 20 minute wait, but nobody in the separate precheck line. Walked right up and said I was enrolled, scanned LLL, and was through in 30 seconds. Screeners were extremely friendly (and obviously bored with nobody in their line).
Feb 12, 2012, 4:42 pm
#1189
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
It's just a code that's displayed. It's not clear to us whether it was chosen because of a meaning (to someone in the TSA), or just randomly chosen.
It's one of the codes that dispalyed on the scanner terminal that the TSA agent who scans your boarding pass barcode uses. (You see it, upside down from your view, if you're looking at the scanner terminal after the TSA agent has scanned your barcode.)
It displays LLL if you're deemed (by the machine) to be OK to go through the expedited screening (or would be, if it was up an running*), while it displays CLR if you're rejected this time. (The pass/reject results can vary from one trip to the next.)
*In a line where expedited PreCheck screening is actually available already, such as LAX T4 A4, LLL means you get to use it. At some airports where PreCheck is not yet installed, but "coming soon", you may get LLL which in that case means you would have been qualified to use the PreCheck expedited screening line had PreCheck been fully functional already, but it's not fully funcitonal so all it does is make you hopeful about future trips through that airport!
It's one of the codes that dispalyed on the scanner terminal that the TSA agent who scans your boarding pass barcode uses. (You see it, upside down from your view, if you're looking at the scanner terminal after the TSA agent has scanned your barcode.)
It displays LLL if you're deemed (by the machine) to be OK to go through the expedited screening (or would be, if it was up an running*), while it displays CLR if you're rejected this time. (The pass/reject results can vary from one trip to the next.)
*In a line where expedited PreCheck screening is actually available already, such as LAX T4 A4, LLL means you get to use it. At some airports where PreCheck is not yet installed, but "coming soon", you may get LLL which in that case means you would have been qualified to use the PreCheck expedited screening line had PreCheck been fully functional already, but it's not fully funcitonal so all it does is make you hopeful about future trips through that airport!
Sdsearch, thanks for the explanation!
After reading about the positive experiences, I changed my AA profile to Opt In (I was previously sent an invite). We'll see how this works out. My few times using Clear (when it lasted during the first iteration) were positive.
Feb 13, 2012, 5:40 am
#1190
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM+, A3 GLD
Posts: 214
Last edited by gabrielbf; Feb 13, 2012 at 6:03 am
Feb 13, 2012, 8:03 am
#1191
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, DL, UAL, SWA, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Silver
Posts: 74
LAX this morning. Fairly long line. Went to the pre check line. Thy scanned my boarding pass and said ' I wasnt chosen for pre check today'. My first experience with that. Is it common? Is there a way to know prior to me asking? I haven't ha an issue with that before today. Thoughts? (. FYI I tried to search for an answer. No luck on the phone).
Feb 13, 2012, 8:19 am
#1192
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,440
LAX this morning. Fairly long line. Went to the pre check line. Thy scanned my boarding pass and said ' I wasnt chosen for pre check today'. My first experience with that. Is it common? Is there a way to know prior to me asking? I haven't ha an issue with that before today. Thoughts? (. FYI I tried to search for an answer. No luck on the phone).
If you do not know, positively, that you are Pre-Check eligible, then you are probably not. If you want to be Pre-Check eligible, then do what it takes to gain that status. Either opt-in to a Plat/ExPlat invitation or get Global Entry, Nexus, etc approved.
Feb 13, 2012, 9:24 am
#1193
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Posts: 3,733
From what I've gathered so far in this thread along with my own experiences, there are 2 ways documented so far where even if you are a "Known Passenger/Trusted Traveler", you could still not get LLL'd at the pre-check line:
1. When you're randomly chosen to not receive expedited screening ("CLR" is displayed vs. "LLL") = go through the regular line.
2. When you standby for earlier flights at the kiosk, those standby requests are immediately confirmed and you receive new boarding passes at the kiosk prior to clearing security. For whatever reason the system is not pulling your Known Traveler status in with those new boarding passes. Not sure yet if this also applies to doing a confirmed same-day flight change at the kiosk as well. In this case it's certainly worthwhile to either use your old boarding passes to get through security which should be properly encoded or if that won't work, wait to make the flight changes post-security.
1. When you're randomly chosen to not receive expedited screening ("CLR" is displayed vs. "LLL") = go through the regular line.
2. When you standby for earlier flights at the kiosk, those standby requests are immediately confirmed and you receive new boarding passes at the kiosk prior to clearing security. For whatever reason the system is not pulling your Known Traveler status in with those new boarding passes. Not sure yet if this also applies to doing a confirmed same-day flight change at the kiosk as well. In this case it's certainly worthwhile to either use your old boarding passes to get through security which should be properly encoded or if that won't work, wait to make the flight changes post-security.
Feb 13, 2012, 11:04 am
#1194
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
I am now 2 for 2 in FAILING to get the LLL on the domestic segment AFTER an international return. At JFK today the ID checker made a comment about my EXP and not getting LLL (he scanned my BP and wasn't scanning the BPs of passengers that didn't have EXECPLT), pointing out that I should opt in. Not that it would have made any difference today, but that's now 2 data points for me on having any international segment in the itinerary = FAIL.
Check-in was online last night via VPN (meaning the IP address for the check-in was a US IP address): I reprinted the boarding pass at the kiosk at JFK.
Check-in was online last night via VPN (meaning the IP address for the check-in was a US IP address): I reprinted the boarding pass at the kiosk at JFK.
Feb 13, 2012, 12:23 pm
#1195
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Miami,FL
Posts: 243
From what I've gathered so far in this thread along with my own experiences, there are 2 ways documented so far where even if you are a "Known Passenger/Trusted Traveler", you could still not get LLL'd at the pre-check line:
1. When you're randomly chosen to not receive expedited screening ("CLR" is displayed vs. "LLL") = go through the regular line.
2. When you standby for earlier flights at the kiosk, those standby requests are immediately confirmed and you receive new boarding passes at the kiosk prior to clearing security. For whatever reason the system is not pulling your Known Traveler status in with those new boarding passes. Not sure yet if this also applies to doing a confirmed same-day flight change at the kiosk as well. In this case it's certainly worthwhile to either use your old boarding passes to get through security which should be properly encoded or if that won't work, wait to make the flight changes post-security.
1. When you're randomly chosen to not receive expedited screening ("CLR" is displayed vs. "LLL") = go through the regular line.
2. When you standby for earlier flights at the kiosk, those standby requests are immediately confirmed and you receive new boarding passes at the kiosk prior to clearing security. For whatever reason the system is not pulling your Known Traveler status in with those new boarding passes. Not sure yet if this also applies to doing a confirmed same-day flight change at the kiosk as well. In this case it's certainly worthwhile to either use your old boarding passes to get through security which should be properly encoded or if that won't work, wait to make the flight changes post-security.
) . The weird thing is I was talking to at least 4 or 5 others around me who also got rejected and they also said they usually get selected for expedite. (3 were explats as well as myself). If it's random it just seemed very strange this morning that in the 15-20 minutes I was in the security line, 2 people period went thru expedite. The only other time at MIA I haven't been selected also happened to be an early Monday. Perhaps the system was in need of a Monday morning coffee to wake up just like the rest of us
Feb 13, 2012, 2:21 pm
#1196
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA2mm,HGPdiamond, AAExPlat, MarriottGold
Posts: 335
LAX this morning. Fairly long line. Went to the pre check line. Thy scanned my boarding pass and said ' I wasnt chosen for pre check today'. My first experience with that. Is it common? Is there a way to know prior to me asking? I haven't ha an issue with that before today. Thoughts? (. FYI I tried to search for an answer. No luck on the phone).
Feb 13, 2012, 2:56 pm
#1197
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
Programs: DL (duh), AA 1MM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 4,699
Feb 13, 2012, 3:23 pm
#1198
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,938
^ Sure sounds better than "Lose the Liquids, Loser!"
In my view, this lends credence to the idea that the TSA updates information in PNRs during an advance sweep. (I'd been skeptical regarding potential difficulties with this when a couple of people posted in upthread, but your experience adds support for it.)
Just to clarify: you had no international segments remaining in your itinerary? (I assume so, but just wanted to be sure.)
This is good news, at least.
2. When you standby for earlier flights at the kiosk, those standby requests are immediately confirmed and you receive new boarding passes at the kiosk prior to clearing security. For whatever reason the system is not pulling your Known Traveler status in with those new boarding passes.
I am now 2 for 2 in FAILING to get the LLL on the domestic segment AFTER an international return. At JFK today the ID checker made a comment about my EXP and not getting LLL (he scanned my BP and wasn't scanning the BPs of passengers that didn't have EXECPLT), pointing out that I should opt in. Not that it would have made any difference today, but that's now 2 data points for me on having any international segment in the itinerary = FAIL.
Check-in was online last night via VPN (meaning the IP address for the check-in was a US IP address): I reprinted the boarding pass at the kiosk at JFK.
Check-in was online last night via VPN (meaning the IP address for the check-in was a US IP address): I reprinted the boarding pass at the kiosk at JFK.
Same thing happened to me Sat evening at LAX. Had two positive experiences prior. This time, no such luck, the good news: you get to jump the longer Priority Access Que and when you don't get the LLL, you do get to go directly in the post-checkpoint line for screening. Does save time in both cases!
Feb 13, 2012, 3:30 pm
#1199
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Posts: 3,733
Same thing happened to me Sat evening at LAX. Had two positive experiences prior. This time, no such luck, the good news: you get to jump the longer Priority Access Que and when you don't get the LLL, you do get to go directly in the post-checkpoint line for screening. Does save time in both cases!
You still have to plan for spending the full time in line, and not try to rely on the short pre-check lane and cut your budgeted time for security processing. There's too many cases (CLR vs. LLL, kiosk or counter flight changes, etc.) where you will be spending your time in the non pre-check line. If you get pre-check, it's a bonus.
Feb 13, 2012, 4:55 pm
#1200
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
You still have to plan for spending the full time in line, and not try to rely on the short pre-check lane and cut your budgeted time for security processing. There's too many cases (CLR vs. LLL, kiosk or counter flight changes, etc.) where you will be spending your time in the non pre-check line. If you get pre-check, it's a bonus.