Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > American Airlines | AAdvantage
Reload this Page >

Big Pushback From TSA when using the priority Lane At IAH

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Big Pushback From TSA when using the priority Lane At IAH

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 6:26 am
  #16  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
5 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
Programs: Miles & More
Posts: 774
Originally Posted by TechMarauder
There is another checkpoint on the opposite side of A (Delta/Frontier/Alaska) which sometimes is easier but more importantly has PreCheck. You can walk around to American gates from that checkpoint also but it is a decent walk.
They mentioned that but they have the pre check machine on the American Spirit side and let me keep my shoes on after showing my boarding pass
D3Kingg is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 6:28 am
  #17  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 31,464
At IAH A tsa pre is on the other side of the AA gates so you have to walk all the way back. That’s what I do.
enviroian is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 6:39 am
  #18  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
30 Countries Visited
2M
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: KARB
Programs: DL 2MM
Posts: 26,977
Originally Posted by D3KingAmerican
it’s the straight line all the way to the left no one is ever using separate from the line of 60 Spirit airlines passengers .





Numerous tiny airports like LAN and ITH also list "Priority benefits". I wouldn't assume that distinction always includes a priority security lane for AA Elites.
wrp96 and FAA1996 like this.
xliioper is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 6:44 am
  #19  
All eyes on you!
5 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,675
Originally Posted by Antarius
Ever since COVID, most of the priority lanes are gone. The IAH one hasn't existed since March 2020 from what I recall (also IAH based).

DFW, MIA etc. there now is either regular or precheck. Missed an I-D connection in DFW due to a lengthy queue and no priority line.
There is a priority lane at MIA. Has been there every time ive flown thru the pandemic, granted we dont use it but its there.
miadukes is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 6:54 am
  #20  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,784
I'm a very frequent traveler at IAH and actually consider the priority lane at A to be gone since 2020. It used to be marked and clearly set apart. Since 2020, while the space is still there, its clearly not intended for use as the signage is gone and there are usually stanchions and ropes blocking access. I haven't tried to use it because of this. Had been patiently waiting in line with everyone else lately, but I just got a Clear membership through my UA 1K status so it's now a non issue for me.
FAA1996 is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 7:07 am
  #21  
10 Countries Visited
500k
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,538
Originally Posted by D3KingAmerican
i most certainly do . Should I be able to use that line to the far left for pre check ? The tsa supervisor i spoke with seemed uninformed
TSA Pre trumps any priority benefit in my opinion. If you have it, always go there.
chrisny2, fdog, galaticos and 2 others like this.
bchandler02 is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 7:08 am
  #22  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
5 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
Programs: Miles & More
Posts: 774
Originally Posted by FAA1996
I'm a very frequent traveler at IAH and actually consider the priority lane at A to be gone since 2020. It used to be marked and clearly set apart. Since 2020, while the space is still there, its clearly not intended for use as the signage is gone and there are usually stanchions and ropes blocking access. I haven't tried to use it because of this. Had been patiently waiting in line with everyone else lately, but I just got a Clear membership through my UA 1K status so it's now a non issue for me.
Well I beg to differ. Its not always roped off. The whole point of American offering priority access is so we dont have to stand in line with everyone else. Not to sound entitled , everyone deserves a good airport experience ; even the ones that book a trip twice a year but if you fly every week or spend 10x more with American than others you should have priority at security checkpoints as is advertised
D3Kingg is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 7:53 am
  #23  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
20 Nights
30 Countries Visited
3M
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 36,864
Originally Posted by D3KingAmerican
i most certainly do . Should I be able to use that line to the far left for pre check ? The tsa supervisor i spoke with seemed uninformed
Sorry I misunderstood!
D3Kingg likes this.
vasantn is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 8:41 am
  #24  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MSP/BUF/BNA
Programs: AA Plat, Choice Privileges Plat, Trip.com Diamond, Priceline Gold
Posts: 1,374
Originally Posted by dvs7310
I've definitely seen them recently at LGA, JFK, and MIA. I have pre-check but my complaion doesn't. Interestingly AA doesn't grant Pre-check to companions on the same PNR, so had to send her through the priority lanes while I went to pre-check to avoid shoes/laptop hassles. (UA does grant pre-check to same PNR companions, don't know if it's for elites only or for everyone).
Just for clarity, neither UA not AA grants pre-check to anyone. It is purely a TSA/DHS decision and they have their own criteria and algorithms they use.
Tanic, MSPeconomist, JMN57 and 1 others like this.
dls25 is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 8:51 am
  #25  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
5 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
Programs: Miles & More
Posts: 774
I should consider giving the other checkpoint in terminal A a try. According to my calculations it would be a 5 minute walk back to the American gates. Im not trying to argue with a TSA officer once in a while and make someones job more stressful.
D3Kingg is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 9:00 am
  #26  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 31,464
Originally Posted by D3KingAmerican
I should consider giving the other checkpoint in terminal A a try. According to my calculations it would be a 5 minute walk back to the American gates. Im not trying to argue with a TSA officer once in a while and make someones job more stressful.
To be honest I don't know why you wouldn't be doing that already. I've never even remotely thought of going through the A security near AA gates that doesn't have TSA Pre. The walk is quick and offers some nice plane spotting and also usually a pianist or band playing.
galaticos and D3Kingg like this.
enviroian is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 9:13 am
  #27  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
30 Nights
1M
50 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 13,295
Originally Posted by vasantn
I'm struggling to understand why a PPRO would not have Pre-Check or Global Entry.
It is possible to not get TSA Pre on random flights.

Also, if you're traveling with family etc. they may not have it. When we missed our I-D connection, it was because I had 2 UK based kids with me and they didn't have Pre.
MSPeconomist likes this.
Antarius is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 9:28 am
  #28  
10 Countries Visited
500k
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,538
Also, if not checking a bag, you could always go to one of the other terminals at IAH for a much better experience.
D3Kingg likes this.
bchandler02 is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 10:35 am
  #29  
500k
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,790
Originally Posted by vasantn
I'm struggling to understand why a PPRO would not have Pre-Check or Global Entry.
So PPRO is only open to US Citizens or Residents?

Many elites in the US or traveling frequently to the US (myself included) are ineligible for TSA-PRE or Global Entry. The closest we are get to TSA PRE is Clear (and there are still restrictions - my spouse couldnt get CLEAR until she got a SSN).
SDQBound is offline  
Old Feb 28, 2022 | 10:37 am
  #30  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
30 Nights
1M
50 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 13,295
Originally Posted by bchandler02
Also, if not checking a bag, you could always go to one of the other terminals at IAH for a much better experience.
IAH manages to be a pretty uniformly ...... experience across all terminals. Terminal D, despite having 5 people in security at any given time manages to slow the process down to watching paint dry. With the traffic and E check in shut down, B and C are a total zoo.
Antarius is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.