Big Pushback From TSA when using the priority Lane At IAH
 

I’m IAH based and there is a single lane obviously for priority access at terminal A. American has maybe 30 flights a day ? Prior to COVID there was a small American Priority sign. For whatever reason it’s no longer there. Most of the time I use that lane to get to the front of the cue with no questions asked. Sometimes I get pushback but explain that I have priority access with American and get through. I got a lot of pushback this evening and spoke with the TSA supervisor. I tried to explain that American offers it’s elite members expedited access through tsa check points and Americans website even specifies George Bush Intercontinental. I was polite and the TSA supervisor was abrasive. I passed thru anyhow. Should I contact American about this and have them reach out to IAH management ? Or am I wrong there is no priority access at IAH ? Or just let it go ? I usually use the lane without any issues.

What did the TSA guy say were the qualifications for using the lane?

Good question. I didn’t ask. Maybe TSA pre check but they know I have that. Maybe wheelchair accessible ? The pushback goes something like “sir you need to go to the back of the line “ The TSA supervisor immediately went into we have nothing to do with the airport or American Airlines mode. Unwilling to help but I told him American and George Bush Intercontinental have an agreement to give their elite members priority access.

Are you an AC member? If so, have you thought about mentioning it to the IAH AC agents? They likely have more faster and more direct access to AA's management in IAH who could correct the issue. Maybe AA's not even aware the AA priority sign is missing. Could potentially be a quicker resolution than just sending in a complaint on AA.com.

-FlyerBeek

I buy one day passes a few times a year. Maybe tomorrow I can use the lounge twice. Once in DFW and then upon landing again at IAH. Good idea. Thanks for the feedback.

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.

What?? There's no priority security at DFW for elites and F/J pax???

There is a Priority lane at LGA. When I went through on Thursday evening it was estimated to be a minute faster than pre-check. However, I still stuck with pre check just to avoid the shoe and laptop hassle.

If the lane wasn’t identified as a priority lane, then how was it obvious that’s still what it was for? Also, where on the AA website does it state that IAH has such access? I couldn’t find it.

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).

Interesting that AA offers (offered?) priority screening at IAH when they don't at PHL, one of their larger hubs. OTOH, I suspect that most AA elites at PHL have PreCheck.

I think one of the reasons they offered priority line there was because they share that security checkpoint with Spirit which can get really backed up at peak times. 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.

I'm struggling to understand why a PPRO would not have Pre-Check or Global Entry.

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 .

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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